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Reducing Carbon Loss In Fields Where Stover is Removed for Cellulosic Ethanol
2 January 2009
Michigan State University researchers are finding that farming practices such as planting cover crops and adding manure and compost can reduce carbon loss in fields where corn stover is removed for production into cellulosic ethanol.
Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES) crop and soil scientists Kurt Thelen and Doo-Hong Min and graduate student Bradley Fronning measured soil carbon changes as well as greenhouse gas emissions of nitrous oxide and methane from several test fields. They also considered the cost of carbon crops and fuel use, as well as the methane and nitrous oxides generated by manure.
Carbon amendments included compost, manure, and a winter cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop.
Compost and manure amendments raised soil carbon levels in the 0 to 5 and 0 to 25 cm soil profile but not in the 5 to 25 cm soil profile over the relatively short-term duration of the study. Total soil organic C (SOC) (kg ha–1) in the 0 to 25 cm profile increased by 41 and 25% for the compost and manure treatments, respectively, and decreased by 3% for the untreated check. Compost and manure soil amendments resulted in a net GWP of –1811 and –1060 g CO2 m–2 yr–1, respectively, compared to 12 g CO2 m–2 yr–1 for untreated.
—Fronning et al. (2008)
These results demonstrate that bio-energy cropping systems, particularly those integrating livestock manure into their management scheme, are a win-win option on both alternative energy and environmental fronts. Under proper management, livestock manure can replace carbon lost from corn stover removal and actually provide an environmental benefit, both in terms of greenhouse gas mitigation and the improved soil properties associated with increasing (soil carbon) levels, such as increased water retention.
—Kurt Thelen
Research continues at MSU to evaluate the environmental, agronomic and economic sustainability of bio-energy cropping systems.
Research funding was provided by the MAES, the US Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, and the Consortium for Agricultural Soils Mitigation of Greenhouse Gases program. The team’s study was recently published in the Agronomy Journal.
Resources
Bradley E. Fronning, Kurt D. Thelen and Doo-Hong Min (2008) Use of Manure, Compost, and Cover Crops to Supplant Crop Residue Carbon in Corn Stover Removed Cropping Systems. Agron J 100:1703-1710 doi: 10.2134/agronj2008.0052
January 2, 2009 in Brief | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
Comments
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | January 02, 2009 at 02:49 AM
In the 'natural' state soil carbon migrates in time to the top strata approximately that which ic aerobic and requires both water and nutrient.
It seems this is because the carbon is rapidly taken up and utilised by living organisms including larger invertebrate, plants and fungi as well as unicellular forms. These also require the other elements necessary for life.
This means the actual depth depends on the structure and the depths suggested are indicative of this.
The interesting aspect to biochar is that it is observed to be stable over extended time frame and provides a rich harbor for life.
In this way no only does the same volume usually have an increased holding capacity for the necessary building blocks, but can retain the condition on a semi permanent basis.
As a carbon store It can be considered ideal.
research in this area may find other ways of establishing greater depth of bio activity.
When we consider the original applications are estimated as being thousand(s) and still function, surely there is a clue for research.
Chemical fertilisers are generally considered destructive to the soil building process but the interpretation of 'chemical' 'mineral', purity balance deficiency needs to be fully considered.
Posted by: arnold | January 02, 2009 at 01:50 PM
the original applications are estimated as being thousand(s) of years old
Posted by: arnold | January 03, 2009 at 02:56 PM
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We need studies on the effect of the (partial) return of stover as biochar on water retention, soil structure and fertility. If the dry matter is pyrolized for energy (which is the desired product) and the ash and remaining char returned, the soil could build carbon in forms which cannot oxidize easily and capture nutrients as well or better than organics. The better the soil holds NPK against leaching, the more we reduce both costs and pollution from runoff.