Tuesday, November 6, 2007 - 10:30 AM
221-3
Can We Balance Biomass Harvest for Bioenergy and Protecting Soil Quality?.
Interest in bioenergy is exploding. The numbers of plants fermenting corn grain for ethanol are expanding. In addition, crop biomass is being considered as feedstock for ethanol production, as a replacement for natural gas other thermochemical platforms. Utilization of biomass for energy presents opportunity and risk. If carefully and thoughtfully developed environmental and economic benefits may be realized, by reducing fossil fuel consumption, and reducing the need for imported petroleum products. However, there are environmental risks that must be addressed as the biomass industry develops. If the fragile soil and water resources are degraded, they will not be able to provide the food, fiber, feed and fuel. The primary roles of crop biomass are to protect the soil from erosion, and provide carbon inputs to support the below ground ecosystem and thus build and maintain soil organic matter (SOM)/soil organic carbon (SOC). The big question is how much biomass must stay on the field to provide these ecosystem services. The literature provides initial estimates of the biomass inputs needed to maintain SOC. Grain yield and harvest index can be used to estimate if sufficient biomass is available for protecting the soil resource, then by difference what may be available for other uses. A brief discussion of current research that is underway to address establish biomass harvest guidelines that protect the soil natural resource. As the industry develops guideline for sustainable biomass harvest is critical.
Audio File