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Boosting climate change mitigation potential of perennial lignocellulosic crops grown on marginal lands

R. Martinez-Feria,B. Basso,Seung-Yong Kim

Published 2022 in Environmental Research Letters

ABSTRACT

Nitrogen fertilizer (NF) is a major uncertainty surrounding the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of lignocellulosic biofuels. NF enhances agronomic yields and soil C inputs via plant litters, but results in soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition, soil N2O fluxes, and a large fossil energy footprint. Thus, whether NF is beneficial or detrimental to the GHG mitigation of biofuels is unknown. Here, we show the potential GHG mitigation of fertilizing switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) at the NF rate that minimizes net GHG emissions across 7.1 million ha of marginal lands in the Midwest US, with long-term production advantages surpassing emitted GHG by 0.66 Mg CO2e ha−1 yr−1 on the aggregate. Marginal lands limited by poor N fertility could see a much greater benefit, but not SOC-rich lands, limited by low precipitation, or short growing seasons. The objectives of maximizing yield and minimizing GHG overlap only in a few environments, suggesting that maximum yield will reduce the climate benefit of cellulosic biofuels.

PUBLICATION RECORD

  • Publication year

    2022

  • Venue

    Environmental Research Letters

  • Publication date

    2022-02-09

  • Fields of study

    Agricultural and Food Sciences, Physics, Environmental Science

  • Identifiers
    DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ac541b
  • External record

    Open on Semantic Scholar

  • Source metadata

    Semantic Scholar

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