Ecosystem services fueled by bioenergy feedstocks

Authors: REDFEARN, DAREN - University Of Nebraska; LITTLE, ANDY - University Of Nebraska; PARSONS, J - University Of Nebraska; Jin, Virginia; Mitchell, Robert - Rob; QUINN, JOHN - Argonne National Laboratory; CACHO, JULES - Argonne National Laboratory; ZUMPF, COLLEEN - Argonne National Laboratory; PETERSON, JULIE - University Of Nebraska; AFI, MAROUA - University Of Nebraska; Ramirez, Salvador; NEGRI, CHRISINA - Argonne National Laboratory; Schmer, Marty; WALSTON, LEE - Argonne National Laboratory

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/11/2024
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Multifunctional landscapes that include perennial crops such as switchgrass can provide reliably profitable bioenergy feedstocks while provisioning ecosystem services. The goal of Expanding the Conversion of Habitat in the Northern Great Plains Ecosystem (EXCHANGE) project is to assess the benefits of integrating perennial bioenergy crops into existing annual row crop systems using a combination of (1) small-plot experiments located in western and central Nebraska, (2) six on-farm sites with irrigated, continuous corn (cropland) and grassland (CRP) and (3) data from a USDA-ARS long-term experiment (1998-present). EXCHANGE is a collaboration between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USDA-ARS, and Argonne National Laboratory. Ecosystem services were measured on either small plot or on-farm studies and included (1) water resources, (2) insect and avian abundance and biodiversity, and (3) soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Water resource data analysis is on-going and consists of a regional groundwater flow model for a portion of the High Plains (Ogallala) Aquifer. In the on-farm sites, total avian species richness was greater in CRP compared with adjacent cropland. Likewise, total microbial biomass was greater in CRP compared with adject cropland. Conversely, chemical soil properties such as NO3-N and SO4-S were greater under cropland, likely due to the application of inorganic fertilizers. Lastly, data from the long-term experiment was used to inform the technoeconomic analysis (TEA) and model life cycle assessment (LCA) for (1) cropland and switchgrass cultivation and (2) producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from corn and switchgrass. LCAs suggest that both the cultivation of switchgrass and its conversion into SAF is a GHG sink due to soil organic C sequestration during the crop production phase while corn production and producing SAF from corn are both GHG sources. Understanding the multiple benefits from perennializing bioenergy systems will lead to improving their design, while optimizing their profitability and sustainability.