Wind Erodibility and Soil Physical Property Effects of Dedicated Energy Crops for Cellulosic Ethanol Production In Kansas.

Increased interest in renewable energy production and concerns over soil and environmental degradation warrant the development of sustainable dedicated energy crops in the central Great Plains.  A number of cellulosic ethanol plants are being constructed across the USA. Crop residues particularly corn (Zea mays L.) stover will be the primary initial feedstock for these facilities.  However, dedicated energy crops such as perennial warm season grasses may be a more sustainable feedstock alternative for ethanol production due to their high potential biomass yield, deep-root system, rapid growth, low-maintenance, drought-tolerance, and high adaptability to marginal lands as compared to other common grass species.  Dedicated energy crops can provide a number of soil and environmental services while supplying renewable energy. The dedicated energy crops can enhance soil organic carbon sequestration, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve soil and water quality. Most importantly, energy crops can reduce risks of water and wind erosion by providing a permanent surface cover and by increasing soil aggregate stability and strength. The objective of this project was to assess the impacts of energy crops on soil water and wind erodiblity parameters across three long-term energy crop experiments at Manhattan, Hays and Colby, KS. Wet aggregate stability and wind erosion parameters including aggregate size distribution, aggregate strength, and surface roughness were measured. Data from the first year show that perennial crops such as switchgrass improve macroaggregation and reduce soil’s susceptibility to water and wind erosion.