Authors: Sarah C Davis William J Parton Frank G Dohleman Candice M Smith Stephen Del Grosso Angela D Kent Evan H DeLucia
Publish Date: 2009/12/22
Volume: 13, Issue: 1, Pages: 144-156
Abstract
We evaluated the biogeochemical cycling and relative greenhouse gas GHG mitigation potential of proposed biofuel feedstock crops by modeling growth dynamics of Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deuter miscanthus Panicum virgatum L switchgrass Zea mays L corn and a mixed prairie community under identical field conditions DAYCENT model simulations for miscanthus were parameterized with data from trial plots in Europe and Illinois USA Switchgrass corn and prairie ecosystems were simulated using parameters published in the literature A previously unknown source of nitrogen N was necessary to balance the plant nutrient budget in miscanthus crops leading us to hypothesize that miscanthus growth depends on Nfixation We tested for nitrogenase activity by acetylene reduction of whole rhizomes and bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere and miscanthus tissue Our results supported the hypothesis that biological Nfixation contributed to the N demand of miscanthus a highly productive perennial grass Corn agroecosystems emit 956 to 1899 g CO2eq m−2y−1 greater GHGs including CO2 N2O CH4 to the atmosphere than the other biofuel crop alternatives because of greater N2O emissions from fertilizer additions Of the feedstock crops evaluated in this study miscanthus would result in the greatest GHG reductionSCD ADK and WJP performed the research contributed new methods and models analyzed the data and wrote the paper FGD SDG and CMS contributed new methods and analyzed data EHD conceived of the study and contributed to data analysis and writing
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