Assessing the impacts of the establishment of Miscanthus on soil organic carbon on two contrasting land‐use types in Ireland
Abstract
Summary: In recent years the use of biomass for energy production has become an increasingly important measure for mitigating global change. However, the scientific debate has been inconclusive with regard to the risks and benefits of bioenergy use. There is particular concern that land‐use change to bioenergy production can lead to increased CO 2 emissions. These emissions result from the loss of vegetation and the soil disturbance. The use of Miscanthus x giganteus as a bioenergy feedstock offers a possible solution, as it shows a large soil carbon (C) sequestration potential. The aim of the present study was to analyse the impacts of land‐use change to Miscanthus on soil fractions and associated soil organic carbon (SOC). Four young commercial Miscanthus sites, as well as adjacent sites representing the former land‐use, in SE Ireland were analysed for changes in SOC stocks and newly sequestered Miscanthus ‐derived C. The fraction with which the SOC is associated significantly influenced its decomposability and turnover time. Using the 13 C natural abundance method, we found that newly sequestered C was found mainly as particulate organic matter (79.7% of Miscanthus ‐derived C) and therefore in a labile state with short turnover times. No significant differences were found in the distribution of the different soil fractions and SOC between the Miscanthus and the control sites, and it was shown that the share of fractions on the bulk soil as well as the proportion of the SOC associated with these fractions in young Miscanthu s sites depends mainly on the previous land‐use.
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Carbon inputs originate from and feed into pools of different stability, and initially carbon is stored as particulate organic matter, which is a relatively slow soil organic carbon pool under switchgrass.
“C inputs originate from and feed into pools of different stability [45, 141], and initially, C is stored as particulate organic matter (POM) [139], which is a relatively slow SOC pool under switchgrass [25, 47].”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [139]
Considering the enrichment in the labile fraction, it was suggested that at least 20 years was needed to evaluate the impact of Miscanthus in terms of sustainable soil organic carbon enrichment, which contradicted earlier estimates.
“Considering the enrichment in the labile fraction [86, 135, 139], it was suggested that at least 20 years was needed to evaluate the impact of Miscanthus in terms of sustainable SOC enrichment, which contradicted earlier estimates [19, 45, 106, 135].”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [139]
Especially when planted into grassland soils, the initial residue input and turnover rates from perennial energy crops are too low to compensate for the loss.
“Especially when planted into grassland soils [86, 139], the initial residue input and turnover rates from PEC are too low to compensate for the loss.”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [139]
The intra-aggregate fraction of particulate organic matter is small but could be a close approximation.
“The intra-aggregate fraction of POM [45, 139] is small but could be a close approximation.”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [139]
So far, modelling SOC under biofuel crops has mainly relied on C inputs approximated from crop yields.
“So far, modelling SOC under biofuel crops has mainly relied on C inputs approximated from crop yields [19, 45, 86, 139].”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [139]
Initially new SOC is part of easily decomposable POM and later part of the inter-aggregate fraction.
“The modelling of SOC fractionation seems essential for the persistence and sustainability of C sequestration, showing that initially new SOC is part of easily decomposable POM [139] and later part of the inter-aggregate fraction [25, 45].”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [139]
The modelling of SOC fractionation seems essential for the persistence and sustainability of C sequestration.
“The modelling of SOC fractionation seems essential for the persistence and sustainability of C sequestration, showing that initially new SOC is part of easily decomposable POM [139] and later part of the inter-aggregate fraction [25, 45].”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [139]
Assumptions that the soil-crop system was at potential productivity and equilibrium could be wrong where net SOC formation is delayed, cover is patchy, or residues vary in decomposability.
“Their assumptions that the soil-crop system was at potential productivity, and equilibrium could be wrong where net SOC formation is delayed [86], cover is patchy [46, 139] or residues vary in their decomposability [108].”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [139]
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- Authors
- Zimmermann, J., Dondini, M., & Jones, M. B.
- Affiliations
- Trinity College Dublin (IE)
- University of Aberdeen (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Zimmermann, J.
- Venue
- European Journal of Soil Science
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2013-10-08
- Volume
- 64
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 747-756
- ISSN
- 1351-0754 (ISSN-L)
- 1365-2389
- OpenAlex
- W1825017014
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 2.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- European Journal of Soil Science (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of St Andrews
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Bioenergy crop production and management
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Keywords
- Miscanthus × giganteus, soil organic carbon, biomass feedstock, land use change, soil carbon sequestration, particulate organic matter, soil organic matter fractions, carbon turnover time, 13C natural abundance, biomass energy
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