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Clifton‐Brown J, Hastings A, von Cossel M, Murphy‐Bokern D, McCalmont J, Whitaker J, Alexopoulou E, Amaducci S, Andronic L, Ashman C, Awty‐Carroll D, Bhatia R, Breuer L, Cosentino S, Cracroft‐Eley W, Donnison I, Elbersen B, Ferrarini A, Ford J, Greef J, Ingram J, Lewandowski I, Magenau E, Mos M, Petrick M, Pogrzeba M, Robson P, Rowe RL, Sandu A, Schwarz K, Scordia D, Scurlock J, Shepherd A, Thornton J, Trindade LM, Vetter S, Wagner M, Wu P, Yamada T, Kiesel A. Perennial biomass cropping and use: Shaping the policy ecosystem in European countries. Glob Change Biol Bioenergy 2023; 15:538-558. [PMID: 38505831 PMCID: PMC10946487 DOI: 10.1111/gcbb.13038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Demand for sustainably produced biomass is expected to increase with the need to provide renewable commodities, improve resource security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with COP26 commitments. Studies have demonstrated additional environmental benefits of using perennial biomass crops (PBCs), when produced appropriately, as a feedstock for the growing bioeconomy, including utilisation for bioenergy (with or without carbon capture and storage). PBCs can potentially contribute to Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) (2023-27) objectives provided they are carefully integrated into farming systems and landscapes. Despite significant research and development (R&D) investment over decades in herbaceous and coppiced woody PBCs, deployment has largely stagnated due to social, economic and policy uncertainties. This paper identifies the challenges in creating policies that are acceptable to all actors. Development will need to be informed by measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas emissions reductions and other environmental, economic and social metrics. It discusses interlinked issues that must be considered in the expansion of PBC production: (i) available land; (ii) yield potential; (iii) integration into farming systems; (iv) R&D requirements; (v) utilisation options; and (vi) market systems and the socio-economic environment. It makes policy recommendations that would enable greater PBC deployment: (1) incentivise farmers and land managers through specific policy measures, including carbon pricing, to allocate their less productive and less profitable land for uses which deliver demonstrable greenhouse gas reductions; (2) enable greenhouse gas mitigation markets to develop and offer secure contracts for commercial developers of verifiable low-carbon bioenergy and bioproducts; (3) support innovation in biomass utilisation value chains; and (4) continue long-term, strategic R&D and education for positive environmental, economic and social sustainability impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Clifton‐Brown
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding I, Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition (iFZ)Justus Liebig UniversityGießenGermany
| | - Astley Hastings
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AberdeenAberdeenUK
| | - Moritz von Cossel
- Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy (340b), Institute of Crop ScienceUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | | | - Jon McCalmont
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AberdeenAberdeenUK
| | - Jeanette Whitaker
- UK Centre for Ecology and HydrologyLancaster Environment CentreLancasterUK
| | - Efi Alexopoulou
- Center for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving (CRES)Pikermi AttikisGreece
| | - Stefano Amaducci
- Department of Sustainable Crop ProductionUniversità Cattolica del Sacro CuorePiacenzaItaly
| | - Larisa Andronic
- Institute of Genetics and Plant Physiology of the Academy of Sciences of MoldovaChisinauRepublic of Moldova
| | - Christopher Ashman
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Danny Awty‐Carroll
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Rakesh Bhatia
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding I, Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition (iFZ)Justus Liebig UniversityGießenGermany
| | - Lutz Breuer
- Institute for Landscape Ecology and Resources Management (ILR), Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition (iFZ)Justus Liebig University GiessenGiessenGermany
- Centre for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU)Justus Liebig UniversityGiessenGermany
| | - Salvatore Cosentino
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A)University of CataniaCataniaItaly
| | | | - Iain Donnison
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Berien Elbersen
- Team Earth InformaticsWageningen Environmental ResearchWageningenNetherlands
| | - Andrea Ferrarini
- Department of Sustainable Crop ProductionUniversità Cattolica del Sacro CuorePiacenzaItaly
| | - Judith Ford
- School of Chemical and Process EngineeringUniversity of LeedsLeedsUK
| | - Jörg Greef
- Institute for Crop and Soil Science, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated PlantsJulius Kühn InstituteBraunschweigGermany
| | - Julie Ingram
- Countryside & Community Research InstituteUniversity of GloucestershireGloucestershireUK
| | - Iris Lewandowski
- Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy (340b), Institute of Crop ScienceUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | - Elena Magenau
- Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy (340b), Institute of Crop ScienceUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | - Michal Mos
- Energene Seeds Limited, AIEC Office Block, GogerddanAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Martin Petrick
- Centre for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU)Justus Liebig UniversityGiessenGermany
- Institute for Agricultural Policy and Market ResearchJustus Liebig University GiessenGiessenGermany
| | | | - Paul Robson
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Rebecca L. Rowe
- UK Centre for Ecology and HydrologyLancaster Environment CentreLancasterUK
| | - Anatolii Sandu
- Institute of Genetics and Plant Physiology of the Academy of Sciences of MoldovaChisinauRepublic of Moldova
| | - Kai‐Uwe Schwarz
- Institute for Crop and Soil Science, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated PlantsJulius Kühn InstituteBraunschweigGermany
| | - Danilo Scordia
- Dipartmento di Scienze VeterinarieUniversity of Messina, Polo Universitario dell'AnnunziataMessinaItaly
| | | | - Anita Shepherd
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AberdeenAberdeenUK
| | - Judith Thornton
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Luisa M. Trindade
- Plant BreedingWageningen University and ResearchWageningenNetherlands
| | - Sylvia Vetter
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological SciencesUniversity of AberdeenAberdeenUK
| | - Moritz Wagner
- Department of Applied EcologyGeisenheim UniversityGeisenheimGermany
| | - Pei‐Chen Wu
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Toshihiko Yamada
- Field Science Center for Northern BiosphereHokkaido UniversityHokkaidoJapan
| | - Andreas Kiesel
- Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy (340b), Institute of Crop ScienceUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
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Shepherd A, Awty‐Carroll D, Kam J, Ashman C, Magenau E, Martani E, Kontek M, Ferrarini A, Amaducci S, Davey C, Jurišić V, Petrie G, Al Hassan M, Lamy I, Lewandowski I, de Maupeou E, McCalmont J, Trindade L, van der Cruijsen K, van der Pluijm P, Rowe R, Lovett A, Donnison I, Kiesel A, Clifton‐Brown J, Hastings A. Novel Miscanthus hybrids: Modelling productivity on marginal land in Europe using dynamics of canopy development determined by light interception. Glob Change Biol Bioenergy 2023; 15:444-461. [PMID: 38505760 PMCID: PMC10947340 DOI: 10.1111/gcbb.13029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
New biomass crop hybrids for bioeconomic expansion require yield projections to determine their potential for strategic land use planning in the face of global challenges. Our biomass growth simulation incorporates radiation interception and conversion efficiency. Models often use leaf area to predict interception which is demanding to determine accurately, so instead we use low-cost rapid light interception measurements using a simple laboratory-made line ceptometer and relate the dynamics of canopy closure to thermal time, and to measurements of biomass. We apply the model to project the European biomass potentials of new market-ready hybrids for 2020-2030. Field measurements are easier to collect, the calibration is seasonally dynamic and reduces influence of weather variation between field sites. The model obtained is conservative, being calibrated by crops of varying establishment and varying maturity on less productive (marginal) land. This results in conservative projections of miscanthus hybrids for 2020-2030 based on 10% land use conversion of the least (productive) grassland and arable for farm diversification, which show a European potential of 80.7-89.7 Mt year-1 biomass, with potential for 1.2-1.3 EJ year-1 energy and 36.3-40.3 Mt year-1 carbon capture, with seeded Miscanthus sacchariflorus × sinensis displaying highest yield potential. Simulated biomass projections must be viewed in light of the field measurements on less productive land with high soil water deficits. We are attempting to model the results from an ambitious and novel project combining new hybrids across Europe with agronomy which has not been perfected on less productive sites. Nevertheless, at the time of energy sourcing issues, seed-propagated miscanthus hybrids for the upscaled provision of bioenergy offer an alternative source of renewable energy. If European countries provide incentives for growers to invest, seeded hybrids can improve product availability and biomass yields over the current commercial miscanthus variety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Shepherd
- Biological SciencesUniversity of AberdeenAberdeen, ScotlandUK
| | - Danny Awty‐Carroll
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | | | - Chris Ashman
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Elena Magenau
- Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, Institute of Crop ScienceUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | - Enrico Martani
- Department of Sustainable Crop ProductionUniversità Cattolica del Sacro CuorePiacenzaItaly
| | - Mislav Kontek
- Department of Ag Technology, Faculty of AgricultureUniversity of ZagrebZagrebCroatia
| | - Andrea Ferrarini
- Department of Sustainable Crop ProductionUniversità Cattolica del Sacro CuorePiacenzaItaly
| | - Stefano Amaducci
- Department of Sustainable Crop ProductionUniversità Cattolica del Sacro CuorePiacenzaItaly
| | - Chris Davey
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Vanja Jurišić
- Department of Ag Technology, Faculty of AgricultureUniversity of ZagrebZagrebCroatia
| | | | - Mohamad Al Hassan
- Plant BreedingWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Isabelle Lamy
- French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and EnvironmentParisFrance
| | - Iris Lewandowski
- Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, Institute of Crop ScienceUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | | | - Jon McCalmont
- Biological SciencesUniversity of AberdeenAberdeen, ScotlandUK
| | - Luisa Trindade
- Plant BreedingWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | | | | | - Rebecca Rowe
- NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment CentreLancasterUK
| | - Andrew Lovett
- School of Environmental SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwichUK
| | - Iain Donnison
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
| | - Andreas Kiesel
- Department of Biobased Resources in the Bioeconomy, Institute of Crop ScienceUniversity of HohenheimStuttgartGermany
| | - John Clifton‐Brown
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesAberystwyth UniversityAberystwythUK
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding I, Research Centre for Biosystems, Land‐Use and Nutrition (iFZ)Justus Liebig UniversityGießenGermany
| | - Astley Hastings
- Biological SciencesUniversity of AberdeenAberdeen, ScotlandUK
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McCalmont J, Kho LK, Teh YA, Chocholek M, Rumpang E, Rowland L, Basri MHA, Hill T. Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantation on tropical peatland in South East Asia: Photosynthetic response to soil drainage level for mitigation of soil carbon emissions. Sci Total Environ 2023; 858:159356. [PMID: 36270353 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
While existing moratoria in Indonesia and Malaysia should preclude continued large-scale expansion of palm oil production into new areas of South-East Asian tropical peatland, existing plantations in the region remain a globally significant source of atmospheric carbon due to drainage driven decomposition of peatland soils. Previous studies have made clear the direct link between drainage depth and peat carbon decomposition and significant reductions in the emission rate of CO2 can be made by raising water tables nearer to the soil surface. However, the impact of such changes on palm fruit yield is not well understood and will be a critical consideration for plantation managers. Here we take advantage of very high frequency, long-term monitoring of canopy-scale carbon exchange at a mature oil palm plantation in Malaysian Borneo to investigate the relationship between drainage level and photosynthetic uptake and consider the confounding effects of light quality and atmospheric vapour pressure deficit. Canopy modelling from our dataset demonstrated that palms were exerting significantly greater stomatal control at deeper water table depths (WTD) and the optimum WTD for photosynthesis was found to be between 0.3 and 0.4 m below the soil surface. Raising WTD to this level, from the industry typical drainage level of 0.6 m, could increase photosynthetic uptake by 3.6 % and reduce soil surface emission of CO2 by 11 %. Our study site further showed that despite being poorly drained compared to other planting blocks at the same plantation, monthly fruit bunch yield was, on average, 14 % greater. While these results are encouraging, and at least suggest that raising WTD closer to the soil surface to reduce emissions is unlikely to produce significant yield penalties, our results are limited to a single study site and more work is urgently needed to confirm these results at other plantations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon McCalmont
- College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK.
| | - Lip Khoon Kho
- Peat Ecosystem and Biodiversity Unit, Biology and Sustainability Research Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia; Economic Planning Unit, Sarawak Chief Minister's Dept., 93502 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Yit Arn Teh
- School of Natural and Environmental Science, Newcastle University, Drummond Building, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Melanie Chocholek
- Dept. Earth and Environmental Science, University of St. Andrews, Irvine Building, North Street, St. Andrews KY16 9AL, UK
| | - Elisa Rumpang
- Peat Ecosystem and Biodiversity Unit, Biology and Sustainability Research Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, 6, Persiaran Institusi, Bandar Baru Bangi, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Lucy Rowland
- College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK
| | - Mohd Hadi Akbar Basri
- College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK; Dept. of Crop Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Tim Hill
- College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK
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Cardenas LM, Olde L, Loick N, Griffith B, Hill T, Evans J, Cowan N, Segura C, Sint H, Harris P, McCalmont J, Zhu S, Dobermann A, Lee MRF. CO 2 fluxes from three different temperate grazed pastures using Eddy covariance measurements. Sci Total Environ 2022; 831:154819. [PMID: 35346701 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Grasslands cover around 25% of the global ice-free land surface, they are used predominantly for forage and livestock production and are considered to contribute significantly to soil carbon (C) sequestration. Recent investigations into using 'nature-based solutions' to limit warming to <2 °C suggest up to 25% of GHG mitigation might be achieved through changes to grassland management. In this study we evaluate pasture management interventions at the Rothamsted Research North Wyke Farm Platform, under commercial farming conditions, over two years and consider their impacts on net CO2 exchange. We investigate if our permanent pasture system (PP) is, in the short-term, a net sink for CO2 and whether reseeding this with deep-rooting, high-sugar grass (HS) or a mix of high-sugar grass and clover (HSC) might increase the net removal of atmospheric CO2. In general CO2 fluxes were less variable in 2018 than in 2017 while overall we found that net CO2 fluxes for the PP treatment changed from a sink in 2017 (-5.40 t CO2 ha-1 y-1) to a source in 2018 (6.17 t CO2 ha-1 y-1), resulting in an overall small source of 0.76 t CO2 ha-1 over the two years for this treatment. HS showed a similar trend, changing from a net sink in 2017 (-4.82 t CO2 ha-1 y-1) to a net source in 2018 (3.91 t CO2 ha-1 y-1) whilst the HSC field was a net source in both years (3.92 and 4.10 t CO2 ha-1 y-1, respectively). These results suggested that pasture type has an influence in the atmospheric CO2 balance and our regression modelling supported this conclusion, with pasture type and time of the year (and their interaction) being significant factors in predicting fluxes.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Cardenas
- Rothamsted Research, Sustainable Agriculture Sciences, North Wyke, Devon EX20 2SB, UK
| | - L Olde
- Rothamsted Research, Sustainable Agriculture Sciences, North Wyke, Devon EX20 2SB, UK.
| | - N Loick
- Rothamsted Research, Sustainable Agriculture Sciences, North Wyke, Devon EX20 2SB, UK
| | - B Griffith
- Rothamsted Research, Sustainable Agriculture Sciences, North Wyke, Devon EX20 2SB, UK
| | - T Hill
- University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QE, UK
| | - J Evans
- Rothamsted Research, Computational and Analytical Sciences, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - N Cowan
- UK Centre of Ecology and Hydrology, Bush Estate, Midlothian EH26 0QB, UK
| | - C Segura
- Rothamsted Research, Sustainable Agriculture Sciences, North Wyke, Devon EX20 2SB, UK
| | - H Sint
- Rothamsted Research, Sustainable Agriculture Sciences, North Wyke, Devon EX20 2SB, UK
| | - P Harris
- Rothamsted Research, Sustainable Agriculture Sciences, North Wyke, Devon EX20 2SB, UK
| | | | - S Zhu
- University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QE, UK
| | - A Dobermann
- International Fertilizer Association, Paris, France
| | - M R F Lee
- Rothamsted Research, Sustainable Agriculture Sciences, North Wyke, Devon EX20 2SB, UK; Harper Adams University, Edgmond, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK
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McCalmont J, Kho LK, Teh YA, Lewis K, Chocholek M, Rumpang E, Hill T. Short- and long-term carbon emissions from oil palm plantations converted from logged tropical peat swamp forest. Glob Chang Biol 2021; 27:2361-2376. [PMID: 33528067 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Need for regional economic development and global demand for agro-industrial commodities have resulted in large-scale conversion of forested landscapes to industrial agriculture across South East Asia. However, net emissions of CO2 from tropical peatland conversions may be significant and remain poorly quantified, resulting in controversy around the magnitude of carbon release following conversion. Here we present long-term, whole ecosystem monitoring of carbon exchange from two oil palm plantations on converted tropical peat swamp forest. Our sites compare a newly converted oil palm plantation (OPnew) to a mature oil palm plantation (OPmature) and combine them in the context of existing emission factors. Mean annual net emission (NEE) of CO2 measured at OPnew during the conversion period (137.8 Mg CO2 ha-1 year-1 ) was an order of magnitude lower during the measurement period at OPmature (17.5 Mg CO2 ha-1 year-1 ). However, mean water table depth (WTD) was shallower (0.26 m) than a typical drainage target of 0.6 m suggesting our emissions may be a conservative estimate for mature plantations, mean WTD at OPnew was more typical at 0.54 m. Reductions in net emissions were primarily driven by increasing biomass accumulation into highly productive palms. Further analysis suggested annual peat carbon losses of 24.9 Mg CO2 -C ha-1 year-1 over the first 6 years, lower than previous estimates for this early period from subsidence studies, losses reduced to 12.8 Mg CO2 -C ha-1 year-1 in the later, mature phase. Despite reductions in NEE and carbon loss over time, the system remained a large net source of carbon to the atmosphere after 12 years with the remaining 8 years of a typical plantation's rotation unlikely to recoup losses. These results emphasize the need for effective protection of tropical peatlands globally and strengthening of legislative enforcement where moratoria on peatland conversion already exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon McCalmont
- College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Lip Khoon Kho
- Tropical Peat Research Institute, Biological Research Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Yit Arn Teh
- School of Natural and Environmental Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Kennedy Lewis
- College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Melanie Chocholek
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, UK
| | - Elisa Rumpang
- Tropical Peat Research Institute, Biological Research Division, Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Timothy Hill
- College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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Izumi S, Basin B, McCalmont J, Presley M, Baggs J. REGISTERED NURSES PROVIDING PRIMARY PALLIATIVE CARE DURING TRANSITION FROM HOSPITAL TO HOME. Innov Aging 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igx004.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- S. Izumi
- Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - B. Basin
- Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - J. McCalmont
- Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - M. Presley
- Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - J.G. Baggs
- Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
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Hastings A, Mos M, Yesufu JA, McCalmont J, Schwarz K, Shafei R, Ashman C, Nunn C, Schuele H, Cosentino S, Scalici G, Scordia D, Wagner M, Clifton-Brown J. Economic and Environmental Assessment of Seed and Rhizome Propagated Miscanthus in the UK. Front Plant Sci 2017; 8:1058. [PMID: 28713395 PMCID: PMC5491852 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Growth in planted areas of Miscanthus for biomass in Europe has stagnated since 2010 due to technical challenges, economic barriers and environmental concerns. These limitations need to be overcome before biomass production from Miscanthus can expand to several million hectares. In this paper, we consider the economic and environmental effects of introducing seed based hybrids as an alternative to clonal M. x giganteus (Mxg). The impact of seed based propagation and novel agronomy was compared with current Mxg cultivation and used in 10 commercially relevant, field scale experiments planted between 2012 and 2014 in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Ukraine. Economic and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions costs were quantified for the following production chain: propagation, establishment, harvest, transportation, storage, and fuel preparation (excluding soil carbon changes). The production and utilization efficiency of seed and rhizome propagation were compared. Results show that new hybrid seed propagation significantly reduces establishment cost to below £900 ha-1. Calculated GHG emission costs for the seeds established via plugs, though relatively small, was higher than rhizomes because fossil fuels were assumed to heat glasshouses for raising seedling plugs (5.3 and 1.5 kg CO2 eq. C Mg [dry matter (DM)]-1), respectively. Plastic mulch film reduced establishment time, improving crop economics. The breakeven yield was calculated to be 6 Mg DM ha-1 y-1, which is about half average United Kingdom yield for Mxg; with newer seeded hybrids reaching 16 Mg DM ha-1 in second year United Kingdom trials. These combined improvements will significantly increase crop profitability. The trade-offs between costs of production for the preparation of different feedstock formats show that bales are the best option for direct firing with the lowest transport costs (£0.04 Mg-1 km-1) and easy on-farm storage. However, if pelleted fuel is required then chip harvesting is more economic. We show how current seed based propagation methods can increase the rate at which Miscanthus can be scaled up; ∼×100 those of current rhizome propagation. These rapid ramp rates for biomass production are required to deliver a scalable and economic Miscanthus biomass fuel whose GHG emissions are ∼1/20th those of natural gas per unit of heat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astley Hastings
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of AberdeenAberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Michal Mos
- Blankney Estates Ltd.Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jon McCalmont
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth UniversityAberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Kai Schwarz
- Julius Kühn-Institut - Bundesforschungsinstitut für KulturpflanzenBraunschweig, Germany
| | - Reza Shafei
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth UniversityAberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Ashman
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth UniversityAberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Nunn
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth UniversityAberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | | | - Salvatore Cosentino
- Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente (Di3A), Università degli Studi di CataniaCatania, Italy
| | - Giovanni Scalici
- Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente (Di3A), Università degli Studi di CataniaCatania, Italy
| | - Danilo Scordia
- Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente (Di3A), Università degli Studi di CataniaCatania, Italy
| | - Moritz Wagner
- Institute of Crop Science, University of HohenheimStuttgart, Germany
| | - John Clifton-Brown
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth UniversityAberystwyth, United Kingdom
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