Influence of spatially dependent, modeled soil carbon emission factors on life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of corn and cellulosic ethanol

Converting land to biofuel feedstock production incurs changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) that can influence biofuel life‐cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Estimates of these land use change (LUC) and life‐cycle GHG emissions affect biofuels' attractiveness and eligibility under a number of re...

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Main Authors: Qin, Zhangcai, Dunn, Jennifer B., Kwon, Ho Young, Mueller, Steffen, Wander, Michelle M.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Wiley 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/147875
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author Qin, Zhangcai
Dunn, Jennifer B.
Kwon, Ho Young
Mueller, Steffen
Wander, Michelle M.
author_browse Dunn, Jennifer B.
Kwon, Ho Young
Mueller, Steffen
Qin, Zhangcai
Wander, Michelle M.
author_facet Qin, Zhangcai
Dunn, Jennifer B.
Kwon, Ho Young
Mueller, Steffen
Wander, Michelle M.
author_sort Qin, Zhangcai
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Converting land to biofuel feedstock production incurs changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) that can influence biofuel life‐cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Estimates of these land use change (LUC) and life‐cycle GHG emissions affect biofuels' attractiveness and eligibility under a number of renewable fuel policies in the USA and abroad. Modeling was used to refine the spatial resolution and depth extent of domestic estimates of SOC change for land (cropland, cropland pasture, grassland, and forest) conversion scenarios to biofuel crops (corn, corn stover, switchgrass, Miscanthus, poplar, and willow) at the county level in the USA. Results show that in most regions, conversions from cropland and cropland pasture to biofuel crops led to neutral or small levels of SOC sequestration, while conversion of grassland and forest generally caused net SOC loss. SOC change results were incorporated into the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model to assess their influence on life‐cycle GHG emissions of corn and cellulosic ethanol. Total LUC GHG emissions (g CO2eq MJ−1) were 2.1–9.3 for corn‐, −0.7 for corn stover‐, −3.4 to 12.9 for switchgrass‐, and −20.1 to −6.2 for Miscanthus ethanol; these varied with SOC modeling assumptions applied. Extending the soil depth from 30 to 100 cm affected spatially explicit SOC change and overall LUC GHG emissions; however, the influence on LUC GHG emission estimates was less significant in corn and corn stover than cellulosic feedstocks. Total life‐cycle GHG emissions (g CO2eq MJ−1, 100 cm) were estimated to be 59–66 for corn ethanol, 14 for stover ethanol, 18–26 for switchgrass ethanol, and −7 to −0.6 for Miscanthus ethanol. The LUC GHG emissions associated with poplar‐ and willow‐derived ethanol may be higher than that for switchgrass ethanol due to lower biomass yield.
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spelling CGSpace1478752025-02-24T06:49:12Z Influence of spatially dependent, modeled soil carbon emission factors on life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of corn and cellulosic ethanol Qin, Zhangcai Dunn, Jennifer B. Kwon, Ho Young Mueller, Steffen Wander, Michelle M. panicum virgatum greenhouse gases models populus life cycle analysis greenhouse gas emissions biofuels pollution forests ethanol maize capacity development farmland salix land use grasslands switchgrass miscanthus emissions Converting land to biofuel feedstock production incurs changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) that can influence biofuel life‐cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Estimates of these land use change (LUC) and life‐cycle GHG emissions affect biofuels' attractiveness and eligibility under a number of renewable fuel policies in the USA and abroad. Modeling was used to refine the spatial resolution and depth extent of domestic estimates of SOC change for land (cropland, cropland pasture, grassland, and forest) conversion scenarios to biofuel crops (corn, corn stover, switchgrass, Miscanthus, poplar, and willow) at the county level in the USA. Results show that in most regions, conversions from cropland and cropland pasture to biofuel crops led to neutral or small levels of SOC sequestration, while conversion of grassland and forest generally caused net SOC loss. SOC change results were incorporated into the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model to assess their influence on life‐cycle GHG emissions of corn and cellulosic ethanol. Total LUC GHG emissions (g CO2eq MJ−1) were 2.1–9.3 for corn‐, −0.7 for corn stover‐, −3.4 to 12.9 for switchgrass‐, and −20.1 to −6.2 for Miscanthus ethanol; these varied with SOC modeling assumptions applied. Extending the soil depth from 30 to 100 cm affected spatially explicit SOC change and overall LUC GHG emissions; however, the influence on LUC GHG emission estimates was less significant in corn and corn stover than cellulosic feedstocks. Total life‐cycle GHG emissions (g CO2eq MJ−1, 100 cm) were estimated to be 59–66 for corn ethanol, 14 for stover ethanol, 18–26 for switchgrass ethanol, and −7 to −0.6 for Miscanthus ethanol. The LUC GHG emissions associated with poplar‐ and willow‐derived ethanol may be higher than that for switchgrass ethanol due to lower biomass yield. 2016-12-23 2024-06-21T09:23:26Z 2024-06-21T09:23:26Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/147875 en https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12237 Open Access Wiley Qin, Zhangcai; Dunn, Jennifer B.; Kwon, Ho Young; Mueller, Steffen; and Wander, Michelle M. 2016. Influence of spatially dependent, modeled soil carbon emission factors on life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of corn and cellulosic ethanol. GCB Bioenergy 8(6): 1136 – 1149. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12333
spellingShingle panicum virgatum
greenhouse gases
models
populus
life cycle analysis
greenhouse gas emissions
biofuels
pollution
forests
ethanol
maize
capacity development
farmland
salix
land use
grasslands
switchgrass
miscanthus
emissions
Qin, Zhangcai
Dunn, Jennifer B.
Kwon, Ho Young
Mueller, Steffen
Wander, Michelle M.
Influence of spatially dependent, modeled soil carbon emission factors on life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of corn and cellulosic ethanol
title Influence of spatially dependent, modeled soil carbon emission factors on life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of corn and cellulosic ethanol
title_full Influence of spatially dependent, modeled soil carbon emission factors on life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of corn and cellulosic ethanol
title_fullStr Influence of spatially dependent, modeled soil carbon emission factors on life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of corn and cellulosic ethanol
title_full_unstemmed Influence of spatially dependent, modeled soil carbon emission factors on life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of corn and cellulosic ethanol
title_short Influence of spatially dependent, modeled soil carbon emission factors on life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of corn and cellulosic ethanol
title_sort influence of spatially dependent modeled soil carbon emission factors on life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of corn and cellulosic ethanol
topic panicum virgatum
greenhouse gases
models
populus
life cycle analysis
greenhouse gas emissions
biofuels
pollution
forests
ethanol
maize
capacity development
farmland
salix
land use
grasslands
switchgrass
miscanthus
emissions
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/147875
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