sustainability & energy crops peter scharf university of missouri plant sciences
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Sustainability & Energy Crops
Peter ScharfPeter Scharf
University of Missouri Plant SciencesUniversity of Missouri Plant Sciences
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Argolis, Greece
• 7000 B.C.—Simple agriculture begins7000 B.C.—Simple agriculture begins• 4000 B.C.—Agriculture intensifies4000 B.C.—Agriculture intensifies• 3000 B.C.—Major civilization3000 B.C.—Major civilization• 2500 B.C.—Civilization collapses2500 B.C.—Civilization collapses• 1500 B.C.—New civilization1500 B.C.—New civilization• 200 B.C.—Civilization collapses200 B.C.—Civilization collapses• 900 A.D.—New civilization900 A.D.—New civilization• 1200 A.D.—Civilization collapses1200 A.D.—Civilization collapses
SOIL EROSIONSOIL EROSION
SOIL EROSIONSOIL EROSION
SOIL EROSIONSOIL EROSION
Importing half of their foodImporting half of their food
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Argolis, Greece
• Q: How do they know that erosion occurred?Q: How do they know that erosion occurred?
• A: Find topsoil deposits ‘downstream’A: Find topsoil deposits ‘downstream’
• Q: How do they know it caused civilizations to fail?Q: How do they know it caused civilizations to fail?
• A: Erosion peaks = civilization peaksA: Erosion peaks = civilization peaks
• Q: How do they know it was caused by agriculture?Q: How do they know it was caused by agriculture?
• A: Written records: Plow 3 times/yearA: Written records: Plow 3 times/year
• Q: How do they know it wasn’t caused by weather?Q: How do they know it wasn’t caused by weather?
• A: Within-region differences in erosion/collapse A: Within-region differences in erosion/collapse schedulesschedules
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What is ‘sustainability’?
• Can continue the same practices for a long period of time– Outputs stable– Inputs stable– Off-site effects acceptable
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Closer to home
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Piedmont, Virginia
Tell me what you seeTell me what you see
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Closer to home• Used to be a
major ag region• “Soil erosion
was rampant from early times”
• “Most old agricultural fields are now in pine forests”
Div
erse
ag
Toba
cco
Cotton
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Erosion: a familiar face in Missouri
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Biofuels: potential impact on erosion
• Pressure to:– Put more land into crops (marginal)– Increase cropping intensity
• More continuous corn– Reduced erosion?
• Corn stover removal? (cellulosic ethanol)
• Continuous soybean? (biodiesel)
• Grass for cellulosic ethanol—thumbs up!
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Biofuels: potential impact on erosion
• Pressure to:– Put more land into crops (marginal)Put more land into crops (marginal)– Increase cropping intensity
• More continuous corn– Reduced erosion?
• Corn stover removal? (cellulosic ethanol)Corn stover removal? (cellulosic ethanol)
• Continuous soybean? (biodiesel)Continuous soybean? (biodiesel)
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Erosion and C
System C
No-till corn 0.03
No-till soybean 0.07
Corn silage 10% cover 0.22
Corn silage spring plow 0.43
CornStalkEthanol7-15XHigher
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What is ‘sustainability’?
• Can continue the same practices for a long period of time– Outputs stable?
• Maintain topsoil• Maintain nutrients
– Inputs stable?• Continued availability of energy inputs?
– Off-site effects acceptable?• N, P, sediment, atrazine in water
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Energy inputs & balance• Nitrogen fertilizer is by far the biggest
single energy input
• Efficient N use will be crucial to a positive energy balance– In-season N application timing– Diagnose correct rate (varies across the field)– Avoid streaky applications (equipment
problems)
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Energy budget for corn productionEnergy budget for corn production
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000kJ
per
kg
gra
in (
dry
)
Data from Shapouri et al. 2002, nine state average
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Energy inputs & balance• Nitrogen fertilizer is by far the biggest
single energy input
• Efficient N use will be crucial to a positive energy balance– In-season N application timing– Diagnose correct rate (varies across the field)– Avoid streaky applications (equipment
problems)
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180 N 180 N at plantingat planting
153 N sidedress V7.5
Nitrogen timing in 2009:Nitrogen timing in 2009:in-season N kicks butt againin-season N kicks butt again
+ 68 bu/acre
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Crop N need is variable Crop N need is variable within fieldswithin fields
What happens if you apply What happens if you apply 150 lb N/acre to this field?150 lb N/acre to this field?
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Diagnosing where to put more NDiagnosing where to put more N
PredictorPredictor % of variability in N % of variability in N need explainedneed explained
Yield 2 to 20
Soil nitrate 17 to 25
Soil N quick tests 0 to 18
Soil conductivity 8
Corn color 53 to 77
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Crop sensors for N rate diagnosisCrop sensors for N rate diagnosis
sensorssensors
Computer in cab reads sensors, calculates N rate, directs controller
Controller runs ball valve to change fertilizer rate
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55 on-farm sensor N demonstrations 2004-2008
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Sensor-N impact on energy balance of ethanol
Corn ethanol: energy net vs nitrogen fertilizer management
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Shapouri et al. in-season sensor-based
ne
t k
J p
er
lite
r
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Streaky N applications are very inefficient
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SUMMARY: Sustainability & Energy Crops
• Soil erosion is the biggest threat to sustainability– Only major historical reason for agricultural
failure and collapse– Missouri is an erodibility champion– Grass fine, corn stalks maybe not
• Energy input is another major obstacle– Efficient N use is crucial (HIGH energy input)– Transport of low-density crops (hay)?
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SUMMARY: Sustainability & Energy Crops
• Off-site effects and sustainability– Judgement call– N, P, sediment, atrazine– Much more of an issue with corn grain and
stover than with grass and wood