Energy crops are perennials that require less cultivation and inputs than conventional crops, and are low maintenance harvest crops used for biofuels

Freier, Jeffrey N.

Kubik, Sierra R.

Oder, Allie J.

Weber, Adam P.

English

Energy crops are perennials that require less cultivation and inputs than conventional crops, and are low maintenance harvest crops used for biofuels.</p

Kubik, Sierra

Oder, Allie

Freier, Jeffrey

Weber, Adam

Digital Repository @ Iowa State University (ISU)

TSM/ABE 325Sierra Kubik, Allie Oder, Jeffrey Freier, and Adam WeberImpact of Energy Crops on Soil Management and ErosionIntroduction• What are energy crops? • Energy crops [Figure 1] are perennials that require less cultivation and inputs than conventional crops, and are low maintenance harvest crops used for biofuels. [3]• “Energy crops are considered to be a less intensive form of agriculture.” [1]• Why are energy crops important?• [U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, 24]• Heavier deeper root system:• Releases more carbon into soil creating productive• Higher water retention • Enhances soil nutrients• Intercept leaching fertilizers or other agricultural chemicals.• Erosion control managed by crop residue (organic matter), soil type, and slope of land.Potential Solutions• Energy Crops can be planted in areas where conventional crop are consistently not profitable. [2]• Crops like miscanthus should be planted in valleys where soil runoff is problematic. [Figure 3]• More research and money need to be allocated to energy crops because cultivation and use of the energy crop post-harvest is still at the forefront of research today. [2]References[1] U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Potential Environmental Impacts of Bioenergy Crop Production-Background Paper, OTA-BP-E-118 (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, September 1993) [2] Daniel G. De La Torre Ugarte, Marie E. Walsh, HoseinShapouri, and Stephen P. Slinsky. The Economic Impacts of Bioenergy Crop Production in U.S. Agriculture, 1999.[3] J. W. RANNEYANDL. K. MANN. "Growing Energy on the Farm: Biomass and Agriculture." Union of Concerned Scientists. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.[4] Heaton, Emily. "Iowa State University Energy Crop Research." TSM 325. Iowa State University. 20 Oct. 2015. [5] RALPHE.H.SIMS. "Energy Crops: Current Status and Future Prospects." Global Change Biology. N.p., n.d.Web.[6] Favis-Mortlock, Dave. "Soil Erosion Site: Water Erosion." Soil Erosion Site: Water Erosion. N.p., Feb. 2005. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.Biorenewable SystemsSemester Project – Fall 2015Figure 3.  An example of erosion in a low-lying area [6]Figure 1.  An example of different energy crops used in the state of Iowa. [4]Background Information• Provides a physical buffer reducing rain and wind impact resulting to less soil erosion.• Low residue crops like soybeans, rarely produce enough residues to maintain adequate soil cover compared to high residue crops like miscanthus & sugarcane.• High residue can contribute to soil organic matter by chemical, physical, and biological properties.• “Converting a corn farm of average size to switchgrass could save 66 truckloads of soil from erosion each year.” [2]• Energy crops are currently a small proportion of the total energy produced from biomass each year, but is set to grow in the coming years. [5]• “Perennial energy crops require less maintenance and fewer inputs than do annual row crops, so they are cheaper and more sustainable to produce.”[2]Figure 2. Is a representation of erosion rates of various crops. [3]Opportunities and ConstraintsOpportunities:• Energy crops could have a substantial impact on the environment and soil conditions of fields all over the heartland.• ~15% of Iowa’s corn crop areas are not profitable. [4]• Energy crops most likely won’t increase profitability, but they will make an impact on the environment by decreasing runoff in water, nitrogen, and phosphorus. [4]• Costs of planting energy crops are less expensive than installing terraces. [4]• “Several million dollars of federal incentives are available through the 2002 Farm Bill to develop advanced technologies and crops to produce energy, chemicals, and other products from biomass.” [2]Constraints:• Convincing growers that energy crops can improve farm ground compared to traditional crops.• Energy crops are high in silica, which creates slag when combusted.  • Making a profit on energy crops is very difficult.• Improvements in technology are needed to increase the efficiency of harvesting and producing fuel from the harvested crops.

Impact of Energy Crops on Soil Management and Erosion

https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/handle/20.500.12876/11109

Impact of Energy Crops on Soil Management and Erosion

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