Abstract
Bioenergy crops may help achieve multiple energy, economic, and environmental objectives in the US Midwest, but a portfolio of crops must first be developed and tested in comparison to the current standard, maize (Zea mays L.). The nascent, but long-term and ongoing Landscape Biomass Project in Boone County, Iowa, USA examines five cropping systems including continuous maize, a modified maize–soy [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation, nurse cropped maize–switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), double-cropped triticale (Triticosecale × Whit.)/sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), and intercropped triticale–aspen (Crandon [Populus alba × Populus grandidentata]) over an elevation gradient. Here, we report perennial establishment and crop productivity across five landscape positions during the first 4 years (2009–2012) of this experiment. Perennials (switchgrass and aspen) established successfully across the gradient with minimal effect of landscape position. Continuous maize had the highest biomass yields both within and over growing seasons, but they declined over time. In comparison, the diversified and perennial systems had lower, but stable or increasing yields over time, despite extreme weather conditions. Landscape position did not consistently influence biomass yield; its effect depended on year and cropping system. Cropping system productivity was generally consistent across the landscape within a given year with greater variability between years. Findings help explain why landscape is often disregarded in Midwestern crop management: it does not seem to substantially drive crop, and thus economic, performance in the short term. Conversely, related Landscape Biomass studies find landscape influences important ecosystem functions (e.g., soil carbon storage) and should be an integral management consideration.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Perlack RD, Wright LL, Turhollow AF, Graham RL, Stokes BJ, Erbach DC (2011) U.S. billion-ton update: biomass supply for a bioenergy and bioproducts industry. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge
Heaton EA, Schulte LA, Berti M, Langeveld H, Zegada-Lizarazu W, Parrish D, Monti A (2013) Managing a second-generation crop portfolio through sustainable intensification: examples from the USA and the EU. Biofpr. doi:10.1002/bbb.1429
Tilman D, Socolow R, Foley JA, Hill J, Larson E, Lynd L, Pacala S, Reilly J, Searchinger T, Somerville C, Williams R (2009) Beneficial biofuels: the food, energy, and environment trilemma. Science 325:270–271. doi:10.1126/science.1177970
Foley JA, DeFries R, Asner GP, Barford C, Bonan G, Carpenter SR, Chapin FS, Coe MT, Daily GC, Gibbs HK, Helkowski JH, Holloway T, Howard EA, Kucharik CJ, Monfreda C, Patz JA, Prentice IC, Ramankutty N, Snyder PK (2005) Global consequences of land use. Science 309:570–574. doi:10.1126/science.1111772
Schulte LA, Liebman M, Asbjornsen H, Crow TR (2006) Agroecosystem restoration through strategic integration of perennials. J Soil Water Conserv 61:164A–169A
NASS (2013) Statistics by Subject: Corn. National Agriculture Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.nass.usda.gov/Quick_Stats/. Accessed 29 Aug 2013
DuPont (2013) Nevada site cellulosic ethanol facility. http://biofuels.dupont.com/cellulosic-ethanol/nevada-site-ce-facility/. Accessed 14 June 2013
Poet (2012) Ongoing research supports biomass harvesting for Project Liberty. http://www.poet.com/pr/ongoing-research-supports-biomass-harvesting-for-project-liberty. Accessed 13 Feb 2013
Duffy MD (2011) Continuous corn verses corn/soybeans: do the relative prices change the profit comparison? Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. http://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/articles/duffy/DuffyDec11.html. Accessed 29 Aug 2013
Wright CK, Wimberly MC (2013) Recent land use change in the Western Corn Belt threatens grasslands and wetlands. PNAS 110:4134–4139. doi:10.1073/pnas.1215404110
Gentry LF, Ruffo ML, Below FE (2013) Identifying factors controlling the continuous corn yield penalty. Agron J 105:295–303. doi:10.2134/agronj2012.0246
Mannat RK, Hallam A, Schulte LA, Heaton EA, Gunther T, Hall RB, Moore KJ (2013) Farm-scale costs and returns for second-generation bioenergy cropping systems in the U.S. Corn Belt. Environ Res Lett 8, 035037
Fouli Y, Duiker SW, Fritton DD, Hall MH, Watson JE, Johnson DH (2012) Double cropping effects on forage yield and the field water balance. Agric Water Manag 115:104–117. doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2012.08.014
Munkholm LJ, Heck RJ, Deen B (2013) Long-term rotation and tillage effects on soil structure and crop yield. Soil Tillage Res 127:85–91. doi:10.1016/j.still.2012.02.007
Wright L, Turhollow A (2010) Switchgrass selection as a “model” bioenergy crop: a history of the process. Biomass Bioenergy 34:851–868. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2010.01.030
Wilson DM, Dalluge DL, Rover M, Heaton EA, Brown RC (2013) Crop management impacts biofuel quality: influence of switchgrass harvest time on yield, nitrogen and ash of fast pyrolysis products. BioEnergy Res 6:103–113. doi:10.1007/s12155-012-9240-0
Wilson DM, Heaton EA, Liebman M, Moore KJ (2013) Intraseasonal changes in switchgrass nitrogen distribution compared with corn. Agron J 105:285–294. doi:10.2134/agronj2012.0233
Fike JH, Parrish DJ, Wolf DD, Balasko JA, Green JJT, Rasnake M, Reynolds JH (2006) Switchgrass production for the upper southeastern USA: influence of cultivar and cutting frequency on biomass yields. Biomass Bioenergy 30:207–213
Casler MD, Boe AR (2003) Cultivar × environment interactions in switchgrass. Crop Sci 43:2226–2233
Vogel KP (2004) Switchgrass. In: Moser LE, Burson BL, Sollenberger LE (eds) Warm-season C4 grasses. American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, Madison, WI, pp 561–588
USDA SunGrant Initiative (2008) Feedstock Partnerships. Sun Grant Association. http://www.sungrant.org/Feedstock+Partnerships/Research+Plots/. Accessed 25 June 2013
Hintz RL, Harmoney KR, Moore KJ, George JR, Brummer EC (1998) Establishment of switchgrass and big bluestem in corn with atrazine. Agron J 90:591–596
Heggenstaller AH, Anex RP, Liebman M, Sundberg DN, Gibson LR (2008) Productivity and nutrient dynamics in bioenergy double-cropping systems. Agron J 100:1740–1748. doi:10.2134/agronj2008.0087
Snapp SS, Swinton SM, Labarta R, Mutch D, Black JR, Leep R, Nyiraneza J, O’Neil K (2005) Evaluating cover crops for benefits, costs and performance within cropping system niches. Agron J 97:322–332
Buxton DR, Anderson IC, Hallam A (1999) Performance of sweet and forage sorghum grown continuously, double-cropped with winter rye, or in rotation with soybean and maize. Agron J 91:93–101
Goerndt ME, Mize C (2008) Short-rotation woody biomass as a crop on marginal lands in Iowa. North J Appl For 25:82–86
Lithourgidis AS, Dordas CA, Damalas CA, Vlachostergios DN (2011) Annual intercrops: an alternative pathway for sustainable agriculture. Aust J Crop Sci 5:396–410
Thelemann R, Johnson G, Sheaffer C, Banerjee S, Cai HW, Wyse D (2010) The effect of landscape position on biomass crop yield. Agron J 102:513–522. doi:10.2134/agronj2009.0058
Dale VH, Kline KL, Wiens J, Fargione J (2010) Biofuels: Implications for land use and biodiversity. Available from http://www.esa.org/biofuelsreports
Bennett AF, Radford JQ, Haslem A (2006) Properties of land mosaics: implications for nature conservation in agricultural environments. Biol Conserv 133:250–264
Ontl TA, Hofmockel KS, Cambardella CA, Schulte LA, Kolka RK (2013) Topographic and soil influences on root productivity of three bioenergy cropping systems. New Phytol 199:727–737. doi:10.1111/nph.12302
Ontl TA (2013) Soil carbon cycling and storage of bioenergy cropping systems acros a heterogeneous agroecosystem. Iowa State University, Ames
Iowa Environmental Mesonet (2013) Iowa Ag Climate Network. Iowa State University Available via Iowa State University. Available from mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/climodat/index.phtml. Accessed 3 June 2013
Elmore R, Abendroth L (2009) Update on corn plant populations and seed costs. Iowa State University Extension. Available from http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/2009/0423elmoreabendroth.htm
Vogel KP, Masters RA (2001) Frequency grid—a simple tool for measuring grassland establishment. J Range Manag 54:653–655. doi:10.2307/4003666
Schmer MR, Vogel KP, Mitchell RB, Moser LE, Eskridge KM, Perrin RK (2006) Establishment stand thresholds for switchgrass grown as a bioenergy crop. Crop Sci 46:157–161. doi:10.2135/cropsci2005.0264
Headlee W, Hall R, Zalesny R (2013) Establishment of alleycropped hybrid aspen “Crandon” in central Iowa, USA: effects of topographic position and fertilizer rate on aboveground biomass production and allocation. Sustainability 5:2874–2886
Sanderson MA, Adler PR (2008) Perennial forages as second generation bioenergy crops. Int J Mol Sci 9:768–788. doi:10.3390/ijms9050768
Rhinehart L (2006) Switchgrass as a bioenergy crop. National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Butte, MT
Parrish DJ, Wolf DD, Peterson PR, Daniels WL (1999) Successful establishment and management of switchgrass. Paper presented at the 2nd Eastern Native Grass Symposium, Baltimore, MD
Holzumeller EJ, Mize CW (2002) Improving tree establishment with forage crops. In: Van Sambeek JW, Dawson JO, Ponder Jr F, Loewenstein EF, Fralish JS (eds) 13th Central Harwood Forest Conference, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL, 2002. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and North Central Research Station, pp 447–448
Delate K, Holzmueller E, Frederick DD, Mize C, Brummer C (2005) Tree establishment and growth using forage ground covers in an alley-cropped system in Midwestern USA. Agrofor Syst 65:43–52. doi:10.1007/s10457-004-5228-x
EISA (2007) Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Public Law 110–140. 121 Stat. 1492. 19 Dec. 2007, vol 121
Wilhelm WW, Johnson JMF, Karlen DL, Lightle DT (2007) Corn stover to sustain soil organic carbon further constrains biomass supply. Agron J 99:1665–1667. doi:10.2134/agronj2007.0150
Jarchow M, Liebman M, Dhungel S, Dietzel R, Sundberg D, Anex R, Chua T (2014) Tradeoffs among agronomic, energetic, and environmental performance characteristics of corn and prairie bioenergy cropping systems. GCB Bioenergy. doi:10.1111/gcbb.12096
Heaton E, Voigt T, Long SP (2004) A quantitative review comparing the yields of two candidate C4 perennial biomass crops in relation to nitrogen, temperature and water. Biomass Bioenergy 27:21–30
McLaughlin SB, Kszos LA (2005) Development of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) as a bioenergy feedstock in the United States. Biomass Bioenergy 28:515–535
Parrish DJ, Fike JH (2005) The biology and agronomy of switchgrass for biofuels. Crit Rev Plant Sci 24:423–459. doi:10.1080/07352680500316433
Monti A, Zatta A (2009) Root distribution and soil moisture retrieval in perennial and annual energy crops in Northern Italy. Agric Ecosyst Environ 132:252–259
Beringer T, Lucht W, Schaphoff S (2011) Bioenergy production potential of global biomass plantations under environmental and agricultural constraints. GCB Bioenergy 3:299–312. doi:10.1111/j.1757-1707.2010.01088.x
Lemus R, Brummer EC, Moore KJ, Molstad NE, Burras CL, Barker MF (2002) Biomass yield and quality of 20 switchgrass populations in southern Iowa, USA. Biomass Bioenergy 23:433–442
Vogel KP, Mitchell RB (2008) Heterosis in switchgrass: biomass yield in swards. Crop Sci 48:2159–2164. doi:10.2135/cropsci2008.02.0117
Teel A, Barnhart S, Miller G (2003) Management guide for the production of switchgrass for biomass fuel in Southern Iowa. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Ames
Neamatollahi E, Jahansuz M, Mazaheri D, Bannayan M (2013) Intercropping. In: Lichtfouse E (ed) Sustain Agric Rev, vol 12. Sustainable Agriculture Reviews. Springer Netherlands, pp 119–142. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-5961-9_4
Parton WJ, Pouyat RV, Duke CS (2011) Ecological dimensions of biofuels. Ecol Appl 21:1037–1038
Davis AS, Hill JD, Chase CA, Johanns AM, Liebman M (2012) Increasing cropping system diversity balances productivity, profitability and environmental health. Plos One 7:e47149. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0047149
Liebman M, Helmers MJ, Schulte LA, Chase CA (2013) Using biodiversity to link agricultural productivity with environmental quality: results from three field experiments in Iowa. Renew Agric Food Syst 28:115–128. doi:10.1017/S1742170512000300
Asbjornsen H, Hernandez-Santana V, Liebman M, Bayala J, Chen J, Helmers M, Ong CK, Schulte LA (2013) Targeting perennial vegetation in agricultural landscapes for enhancing ecosystem services. Renew Agric Food Syst:1–25. doi:10.1017/S1742170512000385
Zhou X, Helmers MJ, Asbjornsen H, Kolka R, Tomer MD (2010) Perennial filter strips reduce nitrate levels in soil and shallow groundwater after grassland-to-cropland conversion. J Environ Qual 39:2006–2015. doi:10.2134/jeq2010.0151
Hernandez-Santana V, Zhou X, Helmers MJ, Asbjornsen H, Kolka R, Tomer M (2013) Native prairie filter strips reduce runoff from hillslopes under annual row-crop systems in Iowa, USA. J Hydrol 477:94–103. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.11.013
Helmers MJ, Zhou X, Asbjornsen H, Kolka R, Tomer MD, Cruse RM (2012) Sediment removal by prairie filter strips in row-cropped ephemeral watersheds. J Environ Qual 41:1531–1539. doi:10.2134/jeq2011.0473
Tyndall J, Schulte L, Liebman M, Helmers M (2013) Field-level financial assessment of contour prairie strips for enhancement of environmental quality. Environ Manag 52:736–747. doi:10.1007/s00267-013-0106-9
Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (2012) A science and technology-based framework to assess and reduce nutrients to Iowa waters and the Gulf of Mexico, Iowa Dept. of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources, and Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, p. 197
Acknowledgments
This project was funded by the Iowa State University through the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station (Project IOW 38-3803), the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture (Project E2008-24), the United States Department of Agriculture AFRI (Project IOW5249), and the U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies. This work was also supported in part by the National Science Foundation Iowa EPSCOR (Project EPS-1101284) and the Iowa State University Department of Agronomy. We thank the Forage, Biomass Crop Production, and Cropping Systems research teams, Committee for Agricultural Development, and other members of the Landscape Biomass team for research support and logistical assistance.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic Supplementary Material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Online Resource 1
(DOCX 22 kb)
Online Resource 2
(DOCX 17 kb)
Online Resource 3
(DOCX 17 kb)
Online Resource 4
(DOCX 17 kb)
Online Resource 5
(DOCX 17 kb)
Online Resource 6
(DOCX 24 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wilson, D.M., Heaton, E.A., Schulte, L.A. et al. Establishment and Short-term Productivity of Annual and Perennial Bioenergy Crops Across a Landscape Gradient. Bioenerg. Res. 7, 885–898 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-014-9409-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-014-9409-9