Energy Potential and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Bioenergy Cropping Systems on Marginally Productive Cropland
Open accessAbstract
Low-carbon biofuel sources are being developed and evaluated in the United States and Europe to partially offset petroleum transport fuels. Current and potential biofuel production systems were evaluated from a long-term continuous no-tillage corn (Zea mays L.) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) field trial under differing harvest strategies and nitrogen (N) fertilizer intensities to determine overall environmental sustainability. Corn and switchgrass grown for bioenergy resulted in near-term net greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions of -29 to -396 grams of CO2 equivalent emissions per megajoule of ethanol per year as a result of direct soil carbon sequestration and from the adoption of integrated biofuel conversion pathways. Management practices in switchgrass and corn resulted in large variation in petroleum offset potential. Switchgrass, using best management practices produced 3919±117 liters of ethanol per hectare and had 74±2.2 gigajoules of petroleum offsets per hectare which was similar to intensified corn systems (grain and 50% residue harvest under optimal N rates). Co-locating and integrating cellulosic biorefineries with existing dry mill corn grain ethanol facilities improved net energy yields (GJ ha-1) of corn grain ethanol by >70%. A multi-feedstock, landscape approach coupled with an integrated biorefinery would be a viable option to meet growing renewable transportation fuel demands while improving the energy efficiency of first generation biofuels.
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?
On marginal land, annual switchgrass yields with <67 kg N ha−1 have ranged from 2.0 to 19.0 Mg DM ha−1.
“On marginal land, annual yields with < 67 kg N ha -1 have ranged from 2.0 to 19.0 Mg DM ha -1 for switchgrass [5, 6, 11, 15, 16, 49, 54, 55].”
From Switchgrass and Giant Miscanthus Biomass and Theoretical Ethanol Production from Reclaimed Mine Lands (2018) · cites this paper as [11]
Materials and Methods describes switchgrass grown on marginal cropland with 0 and 60 kg N ha−1 treatments, both below the claimed threshold. Results and Discussion reports biomass yields, but our copy does not give the claimed 2.0–19.0 Mg DM ha−1 range for those treatments. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredCorn may be less well suited than herbaceous perennials for fuel production.
“An annual crop with large soil nutrient requirements and risks of soil erosion and runoff that is cultivated primarily on productive agricultural lands, corn may be less well suited than herbaceous perennials for fuel production [7 -11].”
From Switchgrass and Giant Miscanthus Biomass and Theoretical Ethanol Production from Reclaimed Mine Lands (2018) · cites this paper as [11]
The Introduction (page unavailable) says excessive corn-stover removal can increase soil erosion, and the Results and Discussion report that optimally managed switchgrass exceeded corn grain-only systems in ethanol potential on marginally productive cropland. But that section also finds switchgrass and corn with stover removal performed similarly. The paper therefore supports a conditional comparison, not a general conclusion that corn is less suited; the cited passages do not establish the sentence’s runoff or predominantly productive-land claims. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSwitchgrass glucan and xylan values were higher than those in Schmer et al. [11] and Vogel et al. [29], and similar to those in Dien et al. [43, 60] and Adler et al. [56].
“Switchgrass glucan and xylan values were higher than those in Schmer et al. [11] and V ogel et al. [29], and similar to those in Dien et al. [43, 60] and Adler et al. [56], with approximately the same proportions as in the present study in all cases.”
From Switchgrass and Giant Miscanthus Biomass and Theoretical Ethanol Production from Reclaimed Mine Lands (2018) · cites this paper as [11]
The Life-cycle assessment section says Schmer et al. analyzed switchgrass cell-wall composition using glucan and xylose concentrations. Our copy gives ethanol-recovery estimates, but not the glucan or xylan values or proportions needed to verify the citing paper’s comparison. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredBiofuels derived from switchgrass can be carbon negative due to SOC sequestration during switchgrass production or due to CCS during its biorefining.
“Biofuels derived from switchgrass can be carbon negative due to SOC sequestration during switchgrass production (Dwivedi et al.,2015; Schmer et al.,2014) or due to CCS during its biorefining (Gelfand et al.,2020).”
From Global warming intensity of biofuel derived from switchgrass grown on marginal land in Michigan (2023) · cites this paper as Schmer et al.,2014
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
Use of U.S. Croplands for Biofuels Increases Greenhouse Gases Through Emissions from Land-Use Change
Searchinger, T., Heimlich, R., Houghton, R. A., Dong, F., Elobeid, A., Fabiosa, J., Tokgoz, S., Hayes, D., & Yu, T.-H. (2008) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1151861 · Cited by 4,888 · cited 1× · see citing works
“The effect of dedicated energy crops and corn grain on indirect land use change varies significantly based on the assumptions and models used [13,41,42] but bioenergy crops grown on marginally-productive cropland will have less impact on indirect land use change than bioenergy crops grown on more productive cropland.”
Land Clearing and the Biofuel Carbon Debt
Fargione, J., Hill, J., Tilman, D., Polasky, S., & Hawthorne, P. (2008) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1152747 · Cited by 3,902 · see citing works
Ethanol Can Contribute to Energy and Environmental Goals
Farrell, A. E., Plevin, R. J., Turner, B. T., Jones, A. D., O'Hare, M., & Kammen, D. M. (2006) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1121416 · Cited by 2,823 · 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
Self-citationU.S. Billion-Ton Update: Biomass Supply for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry
Downing, M. E., Eaton, L., Graham, R. L., Langholtz, M. H., Perlack, R. D., Turhollow, A., Stokes, B. J., & Brandt, C. C. (2011) · doi:10.2172/1023318 · Cited by 1,006 · see citing works
Recent land use change in the Western Corn Belt threatens grasslands and wetlands
Wright, C. K., & Wimberly, M. C. (2013) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1215404110 · Cited by 860 · see citing works
Sustainable bioenergy production from marginal lands in the US Midwest
Gelfand, I., Sahajpal, R., Zhang, X., Izaurralde, R. C., Gross, K. L., & Robertson, G. P. (2013) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature11811 · Cited by 736 · 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 1× · see citing works
“corn stover, dedicated perennial energy grasses) are expected to have lower GHG emissions than conventional gasoline or corn grain ethanol [9–13].”
BackgroundEnergy and Environmental Aspects of Using Corn Stover for Fuel Ethanol
Sheehan, J., Aden, A., Paustian, K., Killian, K., Brenner, J., Walsh, M., & Nelson, R. (2003) · Journal of Industrial Ecology · doi:10.1162/108819803323059433 · Cited by 567 · see citing works
Wang, M., Han, J., Dunn, J. B., Cai, H., & Elgowainy, A. (2012) · Environmental Research Letters · doi:10.1088/1748-9326/7/4/045905 · Cited by 536 · see citing works
Corn Stover to Sustain Soil Organic Carbon Further Constrains Biomass Supply
Wilhelm, W. W., Johnson, J. M. F., Karlen, D. L., & Lightle, D. T. (2007) · Agronomy Journal · doi:10.2134/agronj2007.0150 · Cited by 528 · see citing works
Life-cycle energy and greenhouse gas emission impacts of different corn ethanol plant types
Wang, M., Wu, M. M., & Huo, H. (2007) · Environmental Research Letters · doi:10.1088/1748-9326/2/2/024001 · Cited by 481 · see citing works
USDOE Energy Information Administration (EIA), O. O. E. A., Dutta, A., USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Talmadge, M. S., Hensley, J. E., Worley, M., Dudgeon, D., Barton, D. G., Groenendijk, P., Ferrari, D., et al. (2011) · doi:10.2172/1219435 · Cited by 427 · see citing works
Switchgrass Biomass Production in the Midwest USA: Harvest and Nitrogen Management
Vogel, K. P., Brejda, J. J., Walters, D. T., & Buxton, D. R. (2002) · Agronomy Journal · doi:10.2134/agronj2002.0413 · Cited by 409 · see citing works
Self-citationCorn-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
Improvements in Life Cycle Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Corn‐Ethanol
Liska, A. J., Yang, H. S., Bremer, V. R., Klopfenstein, T. J., Walters, D. T., Erickson, G. E., & Cassman, K. G. (2009) · Journal of Industrial Ecology · doi:10.1111/j.1530-9290.2008.00105.x · Cited by 293 · see citing works
Attribution of climate forcing to economic sectors
Unger, N., Bond, T. C., Wang, J. S., Koch, D. M., Menon, S., Shindell, D. T., & Bauer, S. E. (2010) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0906548107 · Cited by 286 · see citing works
Life cycle evaluation of emerging lignocellulosic ethanol conversion technologies
Spatari, S., Bagley, D. M., & MacLean, H. L. (2009) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2009.08.067 · Cited by 244 · 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
Carbon debt of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grasslands converted to bioenergy production
Gelfand, I., Zenone, T., Jasrotia, P., Chen, J., Hamilton, S. K., & Robertson, G. P. (2011) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1017277108 · Cited by 216 · see citing works
Soil Carbon Storage by Switchgrass Grown for Bioenergy
Liebig, M. A., Schmer, M. R., Vogel, K. P., & Mitchell, R. B. (2008) · BioEnergy Research · doi:10.1007/s12155-008-9019-5 · Cited by 203 · see citing works
Self-citationComparison 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
Self-citationDavis, S. C., Parton, W. J., Grosso, S. J. D., Keough, C., Marx, E., Adler, P. R., & DeLucia, E. H. (2012) · Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment · doi:10.1890/110003 · Cited by 185 · see citing works
Land-use change and greenhouse gas emissions from corn and cellulosic ethanol
Dunn, J. B., Mueller, S., Kwon, H.-Y., & Wang, M. Q. (2013) · Biotechnology for Biofuels · doi:10.1186/1754-6834-6-51 · Cited by 167 · see citing works
Assessing corn stover composition and sources of variability via NIRS
Templeton, D. W., Sluiter, A. D., Hayward, T. K., Hames, B. R., & Thomas, S. R. (2009) · Cellulose · doi:10.1007/s10570-009-9325-x · Cited by 160 · see citing works
Quantifying Actual and Theoretical Ethanol Yields for Switchgrass Strains Using NIRS Analyses
Vogel, K. P., Dien, B. S., Jung, H. G., Casler, M. D., Masterson, S. D., & Mitchell, R. B. (2011) · BioEnergy Research · doi:10.1007/s12155-010-9104-4 · Cited by 151 · 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
Self-citationThe contribution of enzymes and process chemicals to the life cycle of ethanol
MacLean, H. L., & Spatari, S. (2009) · Environmental Research Letters · doi:10.1088/1748-9326/4/1/014001 · Cited by 138 · see citing works
Heterosis in Switchgrass: Biomass Yield in Swards
Vogel, K. P., & Mitchell, R. B. (2008) · Crop Science · doi:10.2135/cropsci2008.02.0117 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
Self-citationFossil Energy Use in the Manufacture of Corn Ethanol
Graboski, M. S. (2002) · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Wiens, J. A., Fargione, J., & Hill, J. (2011) · Ecological Applications · doi:10.1890/09-0673.1 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Claassen, R., Carriazo, F., Cooper, J., Hellerstein, D., & Ueda, K. (2011) · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · doi:10.22004/ag.econ.262239 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
The feasibility of switchgrass for biofuel production
Mitchell, R. B., Vogel, K. P., & Uden, D. R. (2011) · Biofuels · doi:10.4155/bfs.11.153 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Ethanol Decade: An Expansion of U.S. Corn Production, 2000-09Preprint
Wallander, S., Claassen, R., & Nickerson, C. J. (2011) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.2131399 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Wallace, R. M., Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), USDA, Ibsen, K. N., McAloon, A. J., & Yee, W. (2005) · doi:10.2172/1216377 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Liska, A. J., & Cassman, K. G. (2008) · Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy · doi:10.1166/jbmb.2008.402 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Soil Carbon Dynamics for Irrigated Corn under Two Tillage Systems
Follett, R. F., Jantalia, C. P., & Halvorson, A. D. (2013) · Soil Science Society of America Journal · doi:10.2136/sssaj2012.0413 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Self-citationThe effect of CO 2 regulations on the cost of corn ethanol production
Plevin, R. J., & Mueller, S. (2008) · Environmental Research Letters · doi:10.1088/1748-9326/3/2/024003 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Uden, D. R., Mitchell, R. B., Allen, C. R., Guan, Q., & McCoy, T. D. (2013) · BioEnergy Research · doi:10.1007/s12155-013-9311-x · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Self-citationLiska, A. J., Yang, H. S., Walters, D. T., Cassman, K. G., Klopfenstein, T. J., Erickson, G. E., Bremer, V. R., Koelsch, R. K., Kenney, D., & Tracy, P. (2009) · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Sweet sorghum as biofuel feedstock: recent advances and available resources
Mathur, S., Umakanth, A. V., Tonapi, V. A., Sharma, R. A., & Sharma, M. K. (2017) · Biotechnology for Biofuels · doi:10.1186/s13068-017-0834-9 · Cited by 270 · see citing works
Biomass production for bioenergy using marginal lands
Mehmood, M. A., Ibrahim, M., Rashid, U., Nawaz, M., Ali, S., Hussain, A., & Gull, M. (2017) · Sustainable Production and Consumption · doi:10.1016/j.spc.2016.08.003 · Cited by 266 · see citing works
Habiyaremye, C., Matanguihan, J. B., Guedes, J. D., Ganjyal, G. M., Whiteman, M. R., Kidwell, K. K., & Murphy, K. (2017) · Frontiers in Plant Science · doi:10.3389/fpls.2016.01961 · Cited by 257 · see citing works
Role of root microbiota in plant productivity
Tkacz, A., & Poole, P. S. (2015) · Journal of Experimental Botany · doi:10.1093/jxb/erv157 · Cited by 222 · see citing works
Shahid, M. K., Batool, A., Kashif, A., Nawaz, M. H., Aslam, M., Iqbal, N., & Choi, Y. (2021) · Journal of Environmental Management · doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113268 · Cited by 137 · see citing works
Dedicated Energy Crops and Crop Residues for Bioenergy Feedstocks in the Central and Eastern USA
Mitchell, R. B., Schmer, M. R., Anderson, W. F., Jin, V. L., Balkcom, K. S., Kiniry, J. R., Coffin, A. W., & White, P. M. (2016) · BioEnergy Research · doi:10.1007/s12155-016-9734-2 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Self-citationGelfand, I., Hamilton, S. K., Kravchenko, A. N., Jackson, R. D., Thelen, K. D., & Robertson, G. P. (2020) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.9b07019 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Basavalingaiah, K., Ramesha, Y. M., Paramesh, V., Rajanna, G. A., JAT, S. L., Dhar, S., Gaddi, A. K., Girisha, H. C., Yogesh, G. S., Raveesha, S., et al. (2020) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su12166439 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Perin, G., & Jones, P. R. (2019) · Current Opinion in Biotechnology · doi:10.1016/j.copbio.2019.04.004 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Twelve Years of Stover Removal Increases Soil Erosion Potential without Impacting Yield
Jin, V. L., Schmer, M. R., Wienhold, B. J., Stewart, C. E., Varvel, G. E., Sindelar, A. J., Follett, R. F., Mitchell, R. B., & Vogel, K. P. (2015) · Soil Science Society of America Journal · doi:10.2136/sssaj2015.02.0053 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Self-citationJin, V. L., Schmer, M. R., Stewart, C. E., Sindelar, A. J., Varvel, G. E., & Wienhold, B. J. (2017) · Global Change Biology · doi:10.1111/gcb.13637 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Self-citationScagline-Mellor, S., Griggs, T., Skousen, J., Wolfrum, E., & Holásková, I. (2018) · BioEnergy Research · doi:10.1007/s12155-018-9915-2 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Tang, C., Yang, X., Chen, X., Ameen, A., & Xie, H. (2017) · Field Crops Research · doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2017.09.031 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Sweet sorghum ideotypes: genetic improvement of the biofuel syndrome
Anami, S. E., Zhang, L., Xia, Y., Zhang, Y., Liu, Z., & Jing, H. (2015) · Food and Energy Security · doi:10.1002/fes3.63 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Identification of superior lipid producing Lipomyces and Myxozyma yeasts
Dien, B. S., Slininger, P. J., Kurtzman, C. P., Moser, B. R., & O’Bryan, P. J. (2016) · AIMS environmental science · doi:10.3934/environsci.2016.1.1 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Tillage and Residue Management Effects on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Under Irrigated Continuous Corn
Schmer, M. R., Jin, V. L., Wienhold, B. J., Varvel, G. E., & Follett, R. F. (2014) · Soil Science Society of America Journal · doi:10.2136/sssaj2014.04.0166 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Self-citationGenetic Transformation of Recalcitrant Upland Switchgrass Using Morphogenic Genes
Xu, N., Kang, M., Zobrist, J. D., Wang, K., & Fei, S. (2022) · Frontiers in Plant Science · doi:10.3389/fpls.2021.781565 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Bioethanol Potential of Energy Sorghum Grown on Marginal and Arable Lands
Tang, C., Li, S., Li, M., & Xie, H. (2018) · Frontiers in Plant Science · doi:10.3389/fpls.2018.00440 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Biofuel technologies: Lessons learned and pathways to decarbonization
Cantarella, H., Silva, J. F. L., Nogueira, L. A. H., Filho, R. M., Rossetto, R., Ekbom, T., Souza, G. M., & Mueller‐Langer, F. (2023) · GCB Bioenergy · doi:10.1111/gcbb.13091 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Bosco, S., Nasso, N. N. O. D., Roncucci, N., Mazzoncini, M., & Bonari, E. (2016) · European Journal of Agronomy · doi:10.1016/j.eja.2016.04.006 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Ameen, A., Yang, X., Chen, F., Tang, C., Du, F., Fahad, S., & Xie, H. (2016) · BioEnergy Research · doi:10.1007/s12155-016-9804-5 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
Chaudhary, V. P., Chandra, R., Chaudhary, R., & Bhattacharyya, R. (2021) · Journal of Environmental Management · doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113182 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Jin, V. L., Schmer, M. R., Stewart, C. E., Mitchell, R. B., Williams, C. O., Wienhold, B. J., Varvel, G. E., Follett, R. F., Kimble, J., & Vogel, K. P. (2019) · Science Advances · doi:10.1126/sciadv.aav9318 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Self-citationSsegane, H., Zumpf, C. R., Negri, M. C., Campbell, P., Heavey, J. P., & Volk, T. A. (2016) · Biofuels Bioproducts and Biorefining · doi:10.1002/bbb.1679 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Tang, C., Yang, X., & Xie, H. (2018) · Field Crops Research · doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2018.08.011 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Carbon dioxide exchange dynamics over a mature switchgrass stand
Eichelmann, E., Wagner‐Riddle, C., Warland, J., Deen, B., & Voroney, P. (2016) · GCB Bioenergy · doi:10.1111/gcbb.12259 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Field-to-farm gate greenhouse gas emissions from corn stover production in the Midwestern U.S.
Locker, C. R., Torkamani, S., Laurenzi, I. J., Jin, V. L., Schmer, M. R., & Karlen, D. L. (2019) · Journal of Cleaner Production · doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.154 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Self-citationAmeen, A., Liu, J., Han, L., & Xie, H. (2019) · Industrial Crops and Products · doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.04.066 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Briones, M. J. I., Elias, D. M. O., Grant, H. K., & McNamara, N. P. (2019) · Soil Biology and Biochemistry · doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2019.107603 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Global warming intensity of biofuel derived from switchgrass grown on marginal land in Michigan
Kim, S., Dale, B. E., Martinez‐Feria, R., Basso, B., Thelen, K., Maravelias, C. T., Landis, D., Lark, T. J., & Robertson, G. P. (2023) · GCB Bioenergy · doi:10.1111/gcbb.13024 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
“Biofuels derived from switchgrass can be carbon negative due to SOC sequestration during switchgrass production (Dwivedi et al., 2015; Schmer et al., 2014) or due to CCS during its biorefining (Gelfand et al.”
BackgroundSub-surface soil carbon changes affects biofuel greenhouse gas emissions
Schmer, M. R., Jin, V. L., & Wienhold, B. J. (2015) · Biomass and Bioenergy · doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.05.011 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Self-citationBiofuels for a Sustainable Future: Generations, Technologies, and Key Challenges in Renewable Energy
Bisht, G. S., & Pandey, S. (2025) · BioEnergy Research · doi:10.1007/s12155-025-10842-y · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Diversifying bioenergy crops increases yield and yield stability by reducing weed abundance
Jungers, J. M., Yang, Y., Fernandez, C. W., Isbell, F. I., Lehman, C. L., Wyse, D., & Sheaffer, C. C. (2021) · Science Advances · doi:10.1126/sciadv.abg8531 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Cui, X., Kavvada, O., Huntington, T. T., & Scown, C. D. (2018) · Environmental Research Letters · doi:10.1088/1748-9326/aae6e3 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Production of lignofuels and electrofuels by extremely thermophilic microbes
Keller, M. W., Loder, A. J., Basen, M., Izquierdo, J. A., Kelly, R. M., & Adams, M. W. W. (2014) · Biofuels · doi:10.1080/17597269.2014.996729 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
AGRONOMIC ASPECTS OF SWITCHGRASS CULTIVATION AND USE FOR ENERGY PURPOSES
Brodowska, M. S., Muszyński, P., Haliniarz, M., Brodowski, R., Kowalczyk-Juśko, A., Sekutowski, T., & Kurzyna-Szklarek, M. (2018) · Applied Ecology and Environmental Research · doi:10.15666/aeer/1605_57155743 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Fertitta‐Roberts, C., Spatari, S., Grantz, D. A., & Jenerette, G. D. (2017) · GCB Bioenergy · doi:10.1111/gcbb.12471 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Quantifying Global Potential Marginal Land Resources for Switchgrass
Fan, P., Hao, M., Ding, F., Jiang, D., & Dong, D. (2020) · Energies · doi:10.3390/en13236197 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Patel, P., Vaezi, M., Billal, M. M., & Kumar, A. (2023) · Resources Conservation & Recycling Advances · doi:10.1016/j.rcradv.2023.200188 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Land use/land cover of petroleum activities in the framework of sustainable development
Velástegui-Montoya, A., Escandón-Panchana, P., Peña-Villacreses, G., & Herrera-Franco, G. (2023) · Cleaner Engineering and Technology · doi:10.1016/j.clet.2023.100659 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Adoption of switchgrass cultivation for biofuel under uncertainty: A discrete-time modeling approach
Burli, P., Forgoston, E., Lal, P., Billings, L., & Wolde, B. T. (2017) · Biomass and Bioenergy · doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2017.06.012 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Supply costs, energy use, and GHG emissions of biomass from marginal lands in Brittany, France
Djomo, S. N., Staritsky, I. G., Elbersen, B. S., Annevelink, B., & Gabrielle, B. (2023) · Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.rser.2023.113244 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Verma, S., Chowdhury, R., Das, S. K., Franchetti, M. J., & Liu, G. (2021) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su132111937 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Grass Invasion into Switchgrass Managed for Biomass Energy
Mitchell, R. B., & Vogel, K. P. (2015) · BioEnergy Research · doi:10.1007/s12155-015-9656-4 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Self-citationZhang, Q., Shi, Z., Zhang, P., Zhang, M., Li, Z., Chen, X., & Zhou, J. (2018) · Energies · doi:10.3390/en11051214 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Tang, C., Han, L., & Xie, G.-H. (2020) · Agronomy · doi:10.3390/agronomy10081147 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Shu, M., Harfouche, A. L., Trtílek, M., Panzarová, K., Alasia, O., Lagergren, J. H., Labbe, A. D., Engle, N. L., Clark, M. M., Chen, J.-G., et al. (2025) · Environmental and Experimental Botany · doi:10.1016/j.envexpbot.2025.106218 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Wang, J., Pei, F., Kang, T., Cheng, P., & Yang, K. (2024) · Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for sustainable development · doi:10.1016/j.esd.2024.101590 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Ramírez, S. V., Schmer, M. R., Jin, V. L., Mitchell, R. B., Stewart, C. E., Parsons, J., Redfearn, D. D., Quinn, J. J., Varvel, G. E., Vogel, K. P., et al. (2024) · Frontiers in Energy Research · doi:10.3389/fenrg.2023.1272877 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Self-citationPorter, W. C., Rosenstiel, T. N., Guenther, A., Lamarque, J., & Barsanti, K. C. (2015) · Environmental Research Letters · doi:10.1088/1748-9326/10/5/054004 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Microbiome-Based Sustainable Agriculture Targeting Plant Protection
Mohan, R., Zhang, F., Pericak, O., Wynkoop, M. R., Schwab, N., Spells, S., Stroscio, K., Olson, C., Hermann, C., Hricovec, M., et al. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-19-3696-8_9 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Mandah, V. P., Tématio, P., Onana, A. A., Fiaboe, K. K. M., Arthur, E., Giweta, M., Ndango, R., Silatsa, F. B. T., Biloa, J. B., & Masso, C. (2025) · Environmental Sustainability · doi:10.1007/s42398-025-00338-y · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Perennial Plant Establishment and Productivity Can Be Influenced by Previous Annual Crops
Schmer, M. R., Hendrickson, J., Liebig, M. A., & Johnson, H. A. (2017) · Agronomy Journal · doi:10.2134/agronj2016.11.0660 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Self-citationGreener gas? Impact of biosolids on carbon intensity of switchgrass ethanol
Brown, S. L., Pannu, M. W., & Fransen, S. C. (2020) · Journal of Environmental Quality · doi:10.1002/jeq2.20082 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Munarti, Wirnas, D., TRIKOESOEMANINGTYAS, T., Syukur, M., Sobir, S., & Sopandie, D. (2022) · Jurnal Agronomi Indonesia (Indonesian Journal of Agronomy) · doi:10.24831/jai.v50i1.39067 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Kumar, P. S., Palety, K. K., Uma, A., & Umakanth, A. V. (2020) · Journal of scientific research · doi:10.37398/jsr.2020.640316 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Potential Offered by a Willow–Grassland Alley Cropping System as a Biogenic Source of Energy
Ehret, M., Graß, R., & Wachendorf, M. (2015) · doi:10.1002/9783527682973.ch11 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Nanocomposites/Nanomaterials and the Risk Management of Biofuels Production
Patel, S. B., Sanjay, M. S. S. S., Chakraborty, G., & Paul, A. K. (2025) · Clean Energy Production Technologies · doi:10.1007/978-981-96-1706-7_7 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Life cycle analysis of dedicated energy crops for fuel production in the United States
Kwon, H., Langholtz, M. H., Liu, X., Clark, R. J., Taheripour, F., Cai, H., & Wang, M. (2026) · Biomass and Bioenergy · doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2026.109329 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Corn and Switchgrass Derived Sustainable Aviation Fuel Carbon Intensity
Ramírez, S. V., Schmer, M. R., Jin, V. L., Mitchell, R. B., Stewart, C. E., Redfearn, D. D., Quinn, J. J., & Afi, M. (2026) · GCB Bioenergy · doi:10.1111/gcbb.70121 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationParamesh, V., Kumar, P., Manohara, K. K., Reddy, K. V., Jinger, D., & Das, B. (2023) · Indian Journal of Agronomy · doi:10.59797/ija.v67i4.137 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Paramesh, V., Kumar, P., Manohara, K. K., Viswanatha Reddy., K., Jinger, D., & Das, B. (2022) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-1715643/v1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Prospects for Switchgrass as an Energy CropPreprint
Perrin, R. K., Fulginiti, L. E., & Alhassan, M. (2016) · RePEc: Research Papers in Economics · doi:10.22004/ag.econ.306943
Microbiome Genomics and Functional Traits for Agricultural Sustainability
Novinscak, A., Zboralski, A., Roquigny, R., & Filion, M. (2020) · doi:10.1002/9781119505457.ch14
Genomics and functional traits required for the successful use of biofertilizers
Novinscak, A., Zboralski, A., Roquigny, R., & Filion, M. (2021) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-821667-5.00005-1
Perennial Plants and Soil Management
Blanco, H., & Lal, R. (2023) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-30341-8_11
The impacts of biorefinery investments on employment, income, and food security in Nigeria
Anyokwu, E. E., de Oliveira, G. M., & Börner, J. (2025) · Review of Regional Research · doi:10.1007/s10037-025-00261-z
Geo-Environmental Consequences of Bioenergy Production Compared to Fossil Fuels
Kayusi, F., & Chavula, P. (2026) · Clean Energy Production Technologies · doi:10.1007/978-981-95-5875-9_11
Jeon, H., Namoi, N., Jang, C., Hwang, S., Lin, C., Zumpf, C. R., Heaton, E. A., & Lee, D. (2026) · Agricultural & Environmental Letters · doi:10.1002/ael2.70105
- Authors
- Schmer, M. R., Vogel, K. P., Varvel, G. E., Follett, R. F., Mitchell, R. B., & Jin, V. L.
- Affiliations
- Agricultural Research Service (US)
- Corresponding author
- Schmer, Marty R.
- Venue
- PLoS ONE
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Published
- 2014-03-04
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- e89501
- ISSN
- 1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3942357
- OpenAlex
- W2139753225
- Cited by
- 74
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 17.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, public-domain)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, public-domain)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Lincoln (University of Nebraska) (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Agricultural Research Service
- Natural Resources Conservation Service
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Bioenergy crop production and management
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Energy, Environment, Agriculture Analysis
- Keywords
- bioenergy cropping systems, switchgrass, maize, greenhouse gas emissions, net energy analysis, ethanol, cellulosic biorefinery, nitrogen fertilization, soil carbon sequestration, no-tillage, marginal cropland
- MeSH terms
- Zea mays, Gases, Panicum, Nitrogen, Greenhouse Effect, Crops, Agricultural, Biofuels
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
