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Research Project: MANAGING FORAGE AND GRAZING LANDS FOR MULTIPLE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

Location: Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research

Title: Environmental impacts of switchgrass management for bioenergy production

Authors
item Skinner, Robert
item Zegada-Lizarazu, Walter -
item Schmidt, John

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: December 9, 2011
Publication Date: February 21, 2012
Citation: Skinner, R.H., Zegada-Lizarazu, W., Schmidt, J.P. 2012. Environmental impacts of switchgrass management for bioenergy production. In: Monti, A. editor. Switchgrass: a valuable biomass crop for energy. London, United Kingdom: Springer-Verlag. p. 129-152.

Interpretive Summary: Switchgrass is increasingly being grown as a biomass crop for bioenergy production, both because of its high yield potential and also for its presumed environmental benefits. However, little information is actually available on the environmental services provided by switchgrass such as carbon sequestration, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced runoff and soil erosion and reduced nutrient leaching. This chapter reviews that available literature and concludes that switchgrass does provide multiple environmental benefits compared to annual crop cultivation. However, benefits generally appear to be similar to other perennial crops.

Technical Abstract: In this chapter, we review major environmental impacts of growing switchgrass as a bioenergy crop, including effects on carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions, soil erosion, nutrient leaching, and runoff. Information from life-cycle analyses, including the effects of indirect land-use change, is examined to quantify the full impact of migration to bioenergy cropping systems on both managed and natural ecosystems. Information on the environmental impacts of switchgrass cultivation is scarce and there exists a critical need for additional research. What limited information there is suggests that switchgrass provides multiple environmental benefits compared to annual crop cultivation. However, benefits generally appear to be similar to other perennial crops.

   

 
Project Team
Skinner, Robert - Howard
Soder, Kathy
Goslee, Sarah
Adler, Paul
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Bioenergy (213)
  Food Animal Production (101)
  Pasture, Forage and Rangeland Systems (215)
 
Related Projects
   PASTURELAND CONSERVATION EFFECTS ASSESSMENT PROJECT LITERATURE SYNTHESEIS
   CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN NORTHEASTERN GRAZING LANDS
   U.S. NATIVE GRASS BREEDING CONSORTIUM TO IDENTIFY REGIONAL OPTIMUM BIOMASS PRODUCTIVITY ON MARGINAL LAND
   MECHANISTIC MODELING OF MULTISPECIES PASTURE GROWTH AND MANAGEMENT
   INTEGRATED PASTURE-CROP ROTATION
   GRAZINGLAND CONSERVATION ASSESSMENT
   GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND NITRATE LOSSES FROM ORGANIC SOILS IN DAIRY FARMING SYSTEMS IN NORTHERN GERMANY
   REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF BIOFUEL AND FORAGE SPECIES
   IMPACT OF CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON NUTRIENT TRANSPORT AND FATE IN PASTURE SYSTEMS
   REGIONAL CORN STOVER REMOVAL IMPACT STUDY - AMES (II)
   ASSISTING ORGANIC DAIRY PRODUCERS TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF NEW AND EMERGING MILK MARKETS
   GRAZING LANDS CEAP
   GREENHOUSE GAS LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS OF BIOCHAR EFFECTS ON MARGINAL LAND CONVERSION TO SWITCHGRASS PRODUCTION
 
 
Last Modified: 05/22/2013
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