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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #328014
Title: Ecosystem services of woody crop production systems

Author
item ZALESNY JR., RONALD - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item STANTURF, JOHN - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item GARDINER, EMILE - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item PERDUE, JAMES - US Department Of Agriculture (USDA)
item YOUNG, TIMOTHY - University Of Tennessee
item COYLE, DAVID - University Of Georgia
item HEADLEE, WILLIAM - University Of Arkansas
item Banuelos, Gary
item HASS, AMIR - West Virginia University

Submitted to: BioEnergy Research
Publication Type: Literature Review
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2016
Publication Date: 4/28/2016
Citation: Zalesny Jr., R.S., Stanturf, J.A., Gardiner, E.S., Perdue, J.H., Young, T.M., Coyle, D.R., Headlee, W.L., Banuelos, G.S., Hass, A. 2016. Ecosystem services of woody crop production systems. BioEnergy Research. 9(2):465-491. doi: 10.1007/s12155-016-9737-z.

Interpretive Summary: Throughout history societies have utilized trees for energy as well as other uses (e.g., building materials, fodder, and medicinals). In the United States, wood provided 21% of energy consumption in 1900 but declined to 5% by 1950 and has remained below that level. Nevertheless, woody biomass remains one of the most important renewable resources worldwide. In particular, short rotation woody crops are an integral component of regional and national energy portfolios, as well as providing essential ecosystem services such as biomass supplies, carbon sinks, clean water, and healthy soils. We review recent research and development efforts from the USDA Biomass Research Centers on the provisioning of such ecosystem services from woody crop production systems. For biomass, we highlight productivity and yield potential, pest susceptibility, and bioenergy siting applications. We describe carbon storage in aboveground woody biomass and studies assessing the provision of clean and plentiful water. Soil protection and wildlife habitat are also showcased, in the context of converting lands from traditional row-crop agriculture to woody production systems.

Technical Abstract: The use of fast growing forest tree species to produce biomass for fuel, fodder, and building materials has a long history. Research programs on short rotation wood crops began in the 1960s; 50 years ago, the concept of silage sycamore (Platanus sp.) was conceived in Georgia. The basic premise was to grow woody crops in a fashion similar to agronomic crops, with close spacing and short rotation cycles. A series of hardwood plantations was established, beginning in 1966 on a variety of sites. The objectives were to screen species for differences in productivity, and to evaluate different spacings and rotation lengths. The Millenium Ecosystem Assessment categorizes ecosystem services into four groups. Provisioning services are the goods and products obtained from ecosystems (e.g., biomass, freshwater), while Ecosystem services of woody crop production systems regulating services include the benefits obtained from an ecosystem’s control of natural processes (e.g., carbon sequestration, soil quality). The four specific ecosystem services listed are highlighted with respect to recent research conducted at the USDA Biomass Research Centers. For biomass, we describe productivity potential and realized yields, as well as growth impacts from pests. The section ends with a discussion about the development of bioenergy siting applications. For carbon, regional implications are discussed, followed by a section highlighting water quality and quantity across genera. The final ecosystem services section describes research on soils and wildlife habitat. Although it is beyond the scope of this paper, the remaining two groups include cultural services which are the nonmaterial benefits obtained from ecosystems (e.g., spiritual and educational values) and supporting services that include the natural processes that maintain the other ecosystem services (e.g., nitrogen and water cycles).