Landscape and Species Diversity: Optimizing the Use of Land and Species for Biofuel Feedstock Production Systems.

Biomass crops have the potential to produce a variety of products for use in the expanding bioeconomy. Numerous perennial plant species have been identified to serve as dedicated and custom-tailored feedstocks for the production of bioenergy and bioproducts, while also providing numerous positive environmental quality benefits. However, no single species is adapted to all of the diverse soil environments found within a typical production field. We propose a new strategy that optimizes the placement of energy crops on the landscape to promote economic growth, ecological and enterprise diversification, and improve environmental quality. The objective of this study is to determine differences in plant growth and development between a diverse set of plant species as a function of landscape position and to understand the relationship between plant growth and environment. Field experiments are being conducted at the Agricultural Ecology Research Farm (AERF) at the University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center in Waseca, MN. Seven landscape positions were identified based on a detailed terrain analysis of the site. These seven landscape positions encompass a range of terrain features including depositional, summit, flat, and hillslope areas. Hillslope areas were further delineated based on slope and aspect. Eight industrial crops were established within each landscape position. Crops included alfalfa, willow, poplar, cottonwood, false indigo, switchgrass, corn, and a polyculture. Plant growth and development data was collected over time in each landscape position. Soil physical/chemical characteristics and weather data were also obtained. Preliminary results show significant differences in plant growth and development between species within a landscape position as well as differences in individual species growth between landscape positions. From this data, we can begin formulating a strategy for designing perennial-based cropping systems that optimize eco-industrial systems to produce renewable energy and biobased products.