Biogeochemical research priorities for sustainable biofuel and bioenergy feedstock production in the Americas

Authors: Gollany, Hero; TITUS, BRIAN - Canadian Forest Service; SCOTT, ANDREW - Us Forest Service (FS); ASBJORNSEN, HEIDI - University Of New Hampshire; RESH, SIGRID - Michigan Technological University; CHIMNER, RODNEY - Michigan Technological University; KACZMAREK, DONALD - Retired Non ARS Employee; LEITE, LUIZ - Embrapa; FERREIRA, ANN - Embrapa; ROD, KENTON - Washington State University; HILBERT, JORGE - Instituto Nacional Tecnologia Agropecuaria; GALDOS, MARCELO - Brazilian Bioethanol Science & Technology Laboratory; CISZ, MICHELLE - Michigan Technological University

Submitted to: Environmental Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/3/2015
Publication Date: 5/26/2015
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/4492895
Citation: Gollany, H.T., Titus, B.D., Scott, A., Asbjornsen, H., Resh, S., Chimner, R.A., Kaczmarek, D.J., Leite, L., Ferreira, A.C., Rod, K., Hilbert, J., Galdos, M.V., Cisz, M. 2015. Biogeochemical research priorities for sustainable biofuel and bioenergy feedstock production in the Americas. Environmental Management. 56(6):1330-1355. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-015-0536-7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-015-0536-7

Interpretive Summary: Rapid expansion in biomass production for biofuels and bioenergy in the Pan-American region is increasing demands on the ecosystem resources required to sustain soil and site productivity. We review the current state of knowledge and highlight gaps in research on biogeochemical processes and ecosystem sustainability related to biomass production. Biomass production systems incrementally remove greater quantities of site organic matter, which in turn affects soil organic matter and associated carbon and nutrient storage (and hence long-term soil productivity) and off-site impacts. While these consequences have been extensively studied for some crops and sites, the ongoing and impending impacts of biomass removal require management strategies for ensuring that soil properties and functions are sustained for all combinations of crops, soils, sites, climates and management systems, and that impacts of biomass management (including off-site impacts) are environmentally acceptable. In a changing global environment, knowledge of cumulative impacts will also become increasingly important. Long-term experiments are essential for key crops, soils and management systems because short-term results do not necessarily reflect long-term impacts, although improved modeling capability may help to predict these impacts. Identification and validation of soil sustainability indicators for both site prescriptions and spatial applications would better inform commercial and policy decisions. In an increasingly inter-related but constrained global context, researchers should engage across inter-disciplinary, inter-agency, and international lines to better ensure long-term soil productivity across a range of scales, from site to landscape [GRACEnet and REAP publication].

Technical Abstract: Rapid expansion in biomass production for biofuels and bioenergy in the Americas is increasing demands on the ecosystem resources required to sustain soil and site productivity. We review the current state of knowledge and highlight gaps in research on biogeochemical processes and ecosystem sustainability related to biomass production. Biomass production systems incrementally remove greater quantities of organic matter, which in turn affects soil organic matter and associated carbon and nutrient storage (and hence long-term soil productivity) and off-site impacts. While these consequences have been extensively studied for some crops and sites, the ongoing and impending impacts of biomass removal require management strategies for ensuring that soil properties and functions are sustained for all combinations of crops, soils, sites, climates and management systems, and that impacts of biomass management (including off-site impacts) are environmentally acceptable. In a changing global environment, knowledge of cumulative impacts will also become increasingly important. Long-term experiments are essential for key crops, soils and management systems because short-term results do not necessarily reflect long-term impacts, although improved modeling capability may help to predict these impacts. Identification and validation of soil sustainability indicators for both site prescriptions and spatial applications would better inform commercial and policy decisions. In an increasingly inter-related but constrained global context, researchers should engage across inter-disciplinary, inter-agency, and international lines to better ensure long-term soil productivity across a range of scales, from site to landscape.