The Regional Feedstock Partnership: Herbaceous Energy Crops and CRP Land for Biomass Production Across Environmental Gradients

CRP Management

Joe Castro, University of Illinois

Species lead: D.K. Lee

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PIs: E. Aberle (ND), K. Harmoney (KS), C. Chen (MT)

C. Jordan (GA), R. Kallenbach (MO), G. Kakani (OK)

U.S. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

The CRP program encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover.

A cost-share and rental payment program under the USDA

Reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality. Increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damages caused by floods and other natural disasters

Native grasses, wildlife planting, trees, filter strips

U.S. CRP- Current Status

Current enrollment (Jan. 2010): 31.19 mil. ac Change in enrollment since 2007: down 5.58 mil.ac Major resource change (2007 to 2010)

Existing grasses and legumes: 15.3 to 11.6 mil. ac New native grasses: 7.2 to 6.2 mil. ac New introduced grasses and legumes: 3.4 to 2.5 mil. ac Permanent wildlife habitat: 2.6 to 2.0 mil. ac

Expiration schedule 2009: 3.9 mil. ac 2010: 4.5 mil. ac 2011: 4.4 mil. ac 2012: 6.5 mil. ac

Source: USDA FSA

Objective

Assessing potential of CRP land as a sustainable bioenergy feedstock resource

Replicated field trials Relatively large experimental unit (about 0.5 ha)

Effects of N fertilization and Harvest timing on

biomass yield and species composition changes

Montana, June 27, 2009

CRP Biomass Feedstock Production Research Sites

Source: USDA FSA

Chengci Chen, MT

Gopal Kakani, OK

Keith Harmoney, KS

Robert Kallenbach, MO

Ezra Aberle, ND

Carl Jordan, GA

Field Experiment

Location Species$ Fertility(N lb/ac)

Harvest Timing*

Carrington, ND Warm mix (SW, BB) 0, 50, 100 PSC, AKF

Hays, KS Warm mix (BB, SW) 0, 50, 100 PSC, AKF

Altus, OK Warm mix (SW, BB) 0, 50, 100 PSC, EGS

Moccasin, MT Cool mix (WG, AF) 0, 50, 100 PSC, EGS

Bishop, GA Cool mix (TF) 0, 75, 150 2 cuts: PSC, EGS

Columbia, MO Cool mix (TF, RC) 0, 75, 150 2 cuts: PSC, EGS$ SW: switchgrass, BB: big bluestem, WG: Wheatgrass, TF: tall fescue, RC: Red clover, AF: Alfalfa smooth brome* PSC: peak standing crop, AKF: after killing frost, EGS: end of growing season

CRP Management-ActivityFertilizer Application

June 4, 2008, OK

March 16, 2009, MO

April 28, 2008, MT

CRP Management-ActivityPeak Standing Crop Harvesting

August 11, 2009, KS

Sep. 7, 2008, ND

CRP Management-ActivityEnd of Growing Season Harvesting

Oct. 7, 2008, MT

Oct. 3, 2008, GA

CRP Management-ActivityBaling

2009, GA 2009, MO

2008, OK 2009, OK

CRP Management-ActivitySampling and Transformation

GA, 2009

KS, 2009

CRP Biomass Production

Location Mixture 2008 (ton/ac) 2009 (ton/ac)

Min. Max. Min. Max.

N. Dakota Warm 0.80 1.64 0.65 1.82

Kansas Warm 0.36 1.00 0.65 1.31

Oklahoma Warm 0.95 1.47 0.86 2.46

Missouri Cool 1.27 3.23 1.50 2.90

Montana Cool 1.13 1.30 0.50 1.38

Georgia Cool 0.31 1.00 1.02 2.25

Mean 0.80 1.61 0.86 2.02

CRP Biomass ProductionAll Locations, 2009

Location

ND KS OK MT MO GA

Bio

mas

s Y

ield

(to

n/a

c)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Warm-Season

Cool-Season

CRP Biomass ProductionWarm-season grass mixture response to

agronomic management

Nitrogen Rate (lbs/ac)

0 50 100

Bio

mas

s Y

ield

(to

n/a

c)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

Harvest Timing

Peak Stand Crop After Killing Frost

Bio

mas

s Y

ield

(to

n/a

c)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

CRP Biomass ProductionCool-season grass mixture response to

agronomic management

Nitrogen Rate (lbs/ac)

0 50 100

Bio

ma

ss

yie

ld (

ton

/ac

)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

Harvest Frequency

One Cut Two Cut

Bio

mas

s Y

ield

(to

n/a

c)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

MT

MO & GA

MO & GA

Summary

CRP land has a potential for biomass production

Sustainable management practices are required to maximize biomass production

Continue field trials at the same locations in 2010