Aboveground productivity and soil carbon storage of biofuel crops in O hio
Open accessAbstract
Biofuel crops may help achieve the goals of energy‐efficient renewable ethanol production and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation through carbon (C) storage. The objective of this study was to compare the aboveground biomass yields and soil organic C (SOC) stocks under four crops (no‐till corn, switchgrass, indiangrass, and willow) 7 years since establishment at three sites in O hio to determine if high‐yielding biofuel crops are also capable of high levels of C storage. Corn grain had the highest potential ethanol yields, with an average of more than 4100 L ha−1, and ethanol yields increased if both corn grain and stover were converted to biofuel, while willow had the lowest yields. The SOC concentration in soils under biofuels was generally unaffected by crop type; at one site, soil in the top 10 cm under willow contained nearly 13 Mg C ha−1 more SOC(or 29% more) than did soils under switchgrass or corn. Crop type affected SOC content of macroaggregates in the top 10 cm of soil, where macroaggregates in soil under corn had lower C, N and C : N ratios than those under perennial grasses or trees. Overall, the results suggest that no‐till corn is capable of high ethanol yields and equivalent SOC stocks to 40 cm depth. Long‐term monitoring and measurement of SOC stocks at depth are required to determine whether this trend remains. In addition, ecological, energy, and GHG assessments should be made to estimate the C footprint of each feedstock.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Results presented in this study are in agreement with those reported by Bonin & Lal (2014), in which lower SOC stock increments were found in switchgrass compared to willow.
“The results presented in this study are in agreement with those reported by Bonin & Lal (2014), in which lower SOC stock increments were found in switchgrass compared to willow.”
From Carbon sequestration potential in perennial bioenergy crops: the importance of organic matter inputs and its physical protection (2016) · cites this paper as Bonin & Lal (2014)
The Soil organic carbon section reports a higher SOC stock under willow than switchgrass in the top 10 cm at one Ohio site. It found no significant crop differences at other depths or sites, however, and says the rate of SOC change remains unknown. The paper therefore supports a limited difference in measured stocks, not a general claim about lower SOC stock increments under switchgrass. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredUnder switchgrass, a large number of studies showed sequestration rates that were similar but higher on average.
“Under switchgrass, a large number of studies [8, 9, 47, 57, 75, 77, 137, 138] showed sequestration rates, which were similar (Table 3) but higher on average (Fig. 4).”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [137]
New data show high sequestration rates for switchgrass on arable soils but no long-term change for short-rotation coppice willow on former grassland soils.
“New data show high sequestration rates for switchgrass on arable soils [137] but no long-term change for SRC-willow on former grassland soils [143].”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [137]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Organic matter and water-stable aggregates in soils
TISDALL, J. M., & OADES, J. M. (1982) · Journal of Soil Science · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2389.1982.tb01755.x · Cited by 6,267 · see citing works
THE VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF SOIL ORGANIC CARBON AND ITS RELATION TO CLIMATE AND VEGETATION
Jobbagy, E. G., & Jackson, R. B. (2000) · Ecological Applications · doi:10.1890/1051-0761(2000)010[0423:tvdoso]2.0.co;2 · Cited by 5,473 · see citing works
Stabilization mechanisms of soil organic matter: Implications for C-saturation of soils
Six, J., Conant, R. T., Paul, E. A., & Paustian, K. (2002) · Plant and Soil · doi:10.1023/a:1016125726789 · Cited by 4,633 · see citing works
Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Rates by Tillage and Crop Rotation: A Global Data Analysis
West, T. O., & Post, W. M. (2002) · Soil Science Society of America Journal · doi:10.2136/sssaj2002.1930 · Cited by 2,215 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Changes to SOC typically follow a pattern of few or no changes in the first 5 years, followed by peak rates of change for the next 5 years, and a gradual decline to equilibrium within as little as 15 years since initiating a change in land management (West & Post, 2002).”
BackgroundCalculation of organic matter and nutrients stored in soils under contrasting management regimes
Ellert, B. H., & Bettany, J. R. (1995) · Canadian Journal of Soil Science · doi:10.4141/cjss95-075 · Cited by 1,686 · see citing works
Six, J., Paustian, K. H., Elliott, E. T., & Combrink, C. (2000) · Soil Science Society of America Journal · doi:10.2136/sssaj2000.642681x · Cited by 1,639 · see citing works
Carbon emission from farm operations
Lal, R. (2004) · Environment International · doi:10.1016/j.envint.2004.03.005 · Cited by 1,472 · see citing works
Self-citationA Direct Method of Aggregate Analysis of Soils and a Study of the Physical Nature of Erosion Losses1
Yoder, R. E. (1936) · Agronomy Journal · doi:10.2134/agronj1936.00021962002800050001x · Cited by 1,415 · see citing works
2.1 Bulk Density and Linear Extensibility
Grossman, R. B., & Reinsch, T. (2002) · Soil Science Society of America book series · doi:10.2136/sssabookser5.4.c9 · Cited by 1,222 · see citing works
Net energy of cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass
Schmer, M. R., Vogel, K. P., Mitchell, R. B., & Perrin, R. K. (2008) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0704767105 · Cited by 1,067 · see citing works
Climatic, edaphic, and biotic controls over storage and turnover of carbon in soils
Schimel, D. S., Braswell, B. H., Holland, E. A., McKeown, R., Ojima, D. S., Painter, T. H., Parton, W. J., & Townsend, A. R. (1994) · Global Biogeochemical Cycles · doi:10.1029/94gb00993 · Cited by 1,060 · see citing works
LIFE-CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF NET GREENHOUSE-GAS FLUX FOR BIOENERGY CROPPING SYSTEMS
Adler, P. R., Grosso, S. J. D., & Parton, W. J. (2007) · Ecological Applications · doi:10.1890/05-2018 · Cited by 652 · cited 2× · see citing works
“Perennial biofuel crops may have higher net energy production and emit fewer GHGs than corn grain feedstock systems (Adler et al., 2007; Bonin & Lal, 2012c).”
BackgroundLorenz, K. E., & Lal, R. (2005) · Advances in agronomy · doi:10.1016/s0065-2113(05)88002-2 · Cited by 631 · see citing works
Self-citationCarbon Dynamics of Aggregate‐Associated Organic Matter Estimated by Carbon‐13 Natural Abundance
JASTROW, J. D., Miller, R. M., & Boutton, T. W. (1996) · Soil Science Society of America Journal · doi:10.2136/sssaj1996.03615995006000030017x · Cited by 458 · see citing works
Randall, G. W., Huggins, D. R., Russelle, M. P., Fuchs, D. J., Nelson, W. W., & Anderson, J. L. (1997) · Journal of Environmental Quality · doi:10.2134/jeq1997.00472425002600050007x · Cited by 434 · see citing works
Corn-based ethanol production compromises goal of reducing nitrogen export by the Mississippi River
Donner, S. D., & Kucharik, C. J. (2008) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0708300105 · Cited by 406 · see citing works
Changes in soil organic carbon under biofuel crops
ANDERSON‐TEIXEIRA, K. J., DAVIS, S. C., MASTERS, M. D., & DELUCIA, E. H. (2009) · GCB Bioenergy · doi:10.1111/j.1757-1707.2008.01001.x · Cited by 391 · see citing works
Climate change and health costs of air emissions from biofuels and gasoline
Hill, J., Polasky, S., Nelson, E., Tilman, D., Huo, H., Ludwig, L., Neumann, J., Zheng, H., & Bonta, D. (2009) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0812835106 · Cited by 335 · see citing works
Footprints of water and energy inputs in food production – Global perspectives
Khan, S. A., & Hanjra, M. A. (2008) · Food Policy · doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2008.09.001 · Cited by 333 · see citing works
Yield and spatial supply of bioenergy poplar and willow short-rotation coppice in the UK
Aylott, M. J., Casella, E., Tubby, I., Street, N. R., Smith, P., & Taylor, G. (2008) · New Phytologist · doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2008.02396.x · Cited by 301 · see citing works
Larson, W. E., Clapp, C. E., Pierre, W. H., & Morachan, Y. B. (1972) · Agronomy Journal · doi:10.2134/agronj1972.00021962006400020023x · Cited by 287 · see citing works
Soil and crop response to harvesting corn residues for biofuel production
Blanco-Canqui, H., & Lal, R. (2007) · Geoderma · doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2007.06.012 · Cited by 286 · see citing works
Self-citationLife-cycle analysis and the ecology of biofuels
Davis, S. C., Anderson-Teixeira, K. J., & DeLucia, E. H. (2009) · Trends in Plant Science · doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2008.12.006 · Cited by 262 · see citing works
Labrecque, M., & Teodorescu, T. I. (2005) · Biomass and Bioenergy · doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2004.12.004 · Cited by 257 · see citing works
Bioenergy and Wildlife: Threats and Opportunities for Grassland Conservation
Fargione, J., Cooper, T. R., Flaspohler, D. J., Hill, J., Lehman, C. L., Tilman, D. G., McCoy, T. D., McLeod, S. J., Nelson, E. J., & Oberhauser, K. S. (2009) · BioScience · doi:10.1525/bio.2009.59.9.8 · Cited by 255 · see citing works
Biomass and Carbon Partitioning in Switchgrass
Frank, A. B., Berdahl, J. D., Hanson, J. D., Liebig, M. A., & Johnson, H. A. (2004) · Crop Science · doi:10.2135/cropsci2004.1391 · Cited by 243 · see citing works
Long-term yield potential of switchgrass-for-biofuel systems
Fike, J. H., Parrish, D. J., Wolf, D. D., Balasko, J. A., Green, J. T., Rasnake, M., & Reynolds, J. H. (2006) · Biomass and Bioenergy · doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2005.10.006 · Cited by 230 · see citing works
Soil carbon under switchgrass stands and cultivated cropland
Liebig, M. A., Johnson, H. A., Hanson, J. D., & Frank, A. B. (2005) · Biomass and Bioenergy · doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2004.11.004 · Cited by 225 · see citing works
Carbon sequestration in perennial bioenergy, annual corn and uncultivated systems in southern Quebec
Zan, C. S., Fyles, J. W., Girouard, P., & Samson, R. A. (2001) · Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment · doi:10.1016/s0167-8809(00)00273-5 · Cited by 218 · see citing works
Adegbidi, H. G., Volk, T. A., White, E. H., Abrahamson, L. P., Briggs, R. D., & Bickelhaupt, D. H. (2001) · Biomass and Bioenergy · doi:10.1016/s0961-9534(01)00009-5 · Cited by 216 · see citing works
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007: A Summary of Major Provisions
Sissine, F. (2007) · University of North Texas Digital Library (University of North Texas) · Cited by 209 · see citing works
Tufekcioglu, A., Raich, J. W., Isenhart, T. M., & Schultz, R. C. (1998) · Agroforestry Systems · doi:10.1023/a:1006221921806 · Cited by 207 · see citing works
Comparison of corn and switchgrass on marginal soils for bioenergy
Varvel, G. E., Vogel, K. P., Mitchell, R. B., Follett, R. F., & Kimble, J. M. (2008) · Biomass and Bioenergy · doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2007.07.003 · Cited by 197 · see citing works
Soil Carbon Inventories under a Bioenergy Crop (Switchgrass): Measurement Limitations
Garten, C. T., & Wullschleger, S. D. (1999) · Journal of Environmental Quality · doi:10.2134/jeq1999.00472425002800040041x · Cited by 181 · see citing works
Soil respiration within riparian buffers and adjacent crop fields
Tüfekçioğlu, A., Raich, J. W., Isenhart, T. M., & Schultz, R. C. (2001) · Plant and Soil · doi:10.1023/a:1004818422908 · Cited by 174 · see citing works
Soil management impacts on soil carbon sequestration by switchgrass
Ma, Z., Wood, C. W., & Bransby, D. I. (2000) · Biomass and Bioenergy · doi:10.1016/s0961-9534(00)00013-1 · Cited by 166 · see citing works
Implications of Three Biofuel Crops for Beneficial Arthropods in Agricultural Landscapes
Gardiner, M. A., Tuell, J. K., Isaacs, R., Gibbs, J., Ascher, J. S., & Landis, D. A. (2010) · BioEnergy Research · doi:10.1007/s12155-009-9065-7 · Cited by 155 · see citing works
Tillage effects on soil organic carbon storage and dynamics in Corn Belt of Ohio USA
Mishra, U., Ussiri, D. A. N., & Lal, R. (2010) · Soil and Tillage Research · doi:10.1016/j.still.2010.02.005 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
Self-citationSoil carbon sequestration by switchgrass and no-till maize grown for bioenergy
Follett, R. F., Vogel, K. P., Varvel, G. E., Mitchell, R. B., & Kimble, J. (2012) · BioEnergy Research · doi:10.1007/s12155-012-9198-y · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Impacts of soil management on root characteristics of switchgrass
Ma, Z., Wood, C. W., & Bransby, D. I. (2000) · Biomass and Bioenergy · doi:10.1016/s0961-9534(99)00076-8 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
The New Gold Rush: Fueling Ethanol Production while Protecting Water Quality
Simpson, T., Sharpley, A. N., Howarth, R. W., Paerl, H. W., & Mankin, K. R. (2008) · Journal of Environmental Quality · doi:10.2134/jeq2007.0599 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
Carbon exchange by establishing biofuel crops in Central Illinois
Zeri, M., Anderson-Teixeira, K., Hickman, G., Masters, M., DeLucia, E., & Bernacchi, C. J. (2011) · Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment · doi:10.1016/j.agee.2011.09.006 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
Nitrogen influences biomass and nutrient partitioning by perennial, warm-season grasses
Heggenstaller, A. H., Moore, K. J., Liebman, M., & Anex, R. P. (2009) · Agronomy Journal · doi:10.2134/agronj2008.0225x · Cited by 135 · see citing works
Effects of residue harvesting on water runoff, soil erosion and nutrient loss
Lindstrom, M. J. (1986) · Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment · doi:10.1016/0167-8809(86)90097-6 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
Stroup, J. (2002) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/s0960-8524(02)00102-5 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Coleman, M. D., Isebrands, J. G., Tolsted, D. N., & Tolbert, V. R. (2004) · Environmental Management · doi:10.1007/s00267-003-9139-9 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Cradle-to-farm gate life cycle assessment in perennial energy crops
Monti, A., Fazio, S., & Venturi, G. (2009) · European Journal of Agronomy · doi:10.1016/j.eja.2009.04.001 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
The potential for short-rotation woody crops to reduce U.S. CO2 emissions
Graham, R. L., Wright, L. L., & Turhollow, A. (1992) · Climatic Change · doi:10.1007/bf00143029 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
RAPID CHANGES IN SOIL CARBON AND STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES DUE TO STOVER REMOVAL FROM NO-TILL CORN PLOTS
Blanco‐Canqui, H., Lal, R., Post, W. M., Izaurralde, R. C., & Owens, L. B. (2006) · Soil Science · doi:10.1097/01.ss.0000209364.85816.1b · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Self-citationJung, J. Y., & Lal, R. (2011) · Geoderma · doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2011.07.023 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Self-citationTemporal and Spatial Variation in Switchgrass Biomass Composition and Theoretical Ethanol Yield
Schmer, M. R., Vogel, K. P., Mitchell, R. B., Dien, B. S., Jung, H. G., & Casler, M. D. (2012) · Agronomy Journal · doi:10.2134/agronj2011.0195 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Ney, R. (2002) · Biomass and Bioenergy · doi:10.1016/s0961-9534(02)00004-1 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Bioethanol Potentials and Life-Cycle Assessments of Biofuel Feedstocks
Bonin, C. L., & Lal, R. (2012) · Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences · doi:10.1080/07352689.2011.645438 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Self-citationAgronomic and Ecological Implications of Biofuels
Bonin, C. L., & Lal, R. (2012) · Advances in agronomy · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-394278-4.00001-5 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Self-citationMaize cellulosic biofuels: soil carbon loss can be a hidden cost of residue removal
Kochsiek, A. E., & Knops, J. M. H. (2011) · GCB Bioenergy · doi:10.1111/j.1757-1707.2011.01123.x · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Jenny, H. (1980) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.209.4455.444 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Physical Properties of an Alfisol Under Biofuel Crops in Ohio
Bonin, C. L., & Lal, R. (2012) · Journal of Technology Innovations in Renewable Energy · doi:10.6000/1929-6002.2012.01.01.1 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Self-citationKlein, P. (1933) · Columbia University Press eBooks · doi:10.7312/klei92874-004 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 2
- Best LB, Campa H III, Kemp KE et al. (1997) Bird abundance and nesting in CRP fields and cropland in the Midwest: a regional approach. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 25, 864-877.
- Grossman RB, Reinsch TG (2002) Bulk density and linear extensibility. In: Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 4; SSSA Book Series 5 (eds Dane JH, Topp GC), pp. 201-225.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Soil carbon sequestration and land use change associated with biofuel production: empirical evidence
Qin, Z., Dunn, J. B., Kwon, H., Mueller, S., & Wander, M. M. (2016) · GCB Bioenergy · doi:10.1111/gcbb.12237 · Cited by 208 · see citing works
Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out?
Agostini, F., Gregory, A. S., & Richter, G. M. (2015) · BioEnergy Research · doi:10.1007/s12155-014-9571-0 · Cited by 155 · see citing works
Chimento, C., Almagro, M., & Amaducci, S. (2016) · GCB Bioenergy · doi:10.1111/gcbb.12232 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
Hydrologic and water quality impacts and biomass production potential on marginal land
Feng, Q., Chaubey, I., Her, Y. G., Cibin, R., Engel, B., Volenec, J., & Wang, X. (2015) · Environmental Modelling & Software · doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.07.004 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
- Authors
- Bonin, C. L., & Lal, R.
- Affiliations
- The Ohio State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bonin, Catherine L.
- ORCID
- Lal, Rattan
- Venue
- GCB Bioenergy
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-12-31
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 67-75
- ISSN
- 1757-1693 (ISSN-L)
- 1757-1707
- OpenAlex
- W2134392664
- Cited by
- 41
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 8.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- GCB Bioenergy (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Office of Science
- Biological and Environmental Research
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Bioenergy crop production and management
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Keywords
- energy crops, soil organic carbon, aboveground biomass yield, ethanol yield, no-till corn, switchgrass, indiangrass, willow, macroaggregates, carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, perennial grasses, carbon footprint
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
