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Ecological Applications
Article . 2009 . Peer-reviewed
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Set‐asides can be better climate investment than corn ethanol

Authors: Gervasio Piñeiro; Esteban G. Jobbágy; Brian C. Murray; Justin Baker; Justin Baker; Robert B. Jackson;

Set‐asides can be better climate investment than corn ethanol

Abstract

Although various studies have shown that corn ethanol reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by displacing fossil fuel use, many of these studies fail to include how land‐use history affects the net carbon balance through changes in soil carbon content. We evaluated the effectiveness and economic value of corn and cellulosic ethanol production for reducing net GHG emissions when produced on lands with different land‐use histories, comparing these strategies with reductions achieved by set‐aside programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Depending on prior land use, our analysis shows that C releases from the soil after planting corn for ethanol may in some cases completely offset C gains attributed to biofuel generation for at least 50 years. More surprisingly, based on our comprehensive analysis of 142 soil studies, soil C sequestered by setting aside former agricultural land was greater than the C credits generated by planting corn for ethanol on the same land for 40 years and had equal or greater economic net present value. Once commercially available, cellulosic ethanol produced in set‐aside grasslands should provide the most efficient tool for GHG reduction of any scenario we examined. Our results suggest that conversion of CRP lands or other set‐aside programs to corn ethanol production should not be encouraged through greenhouse gas policies.

Country
Canada
Keywords

Greenhouse Effect, Bioelectric Energy Sources, BIOFUELS, Conservation of Energy Resources, Zea mays, ENERGY, Soil, LAND USE, RENEWABLE ENERGY, SOIL CARBON STORAGE, Ethanol, Carbon Dioxide, Models, Theoretical, Carbon, United States, CORN ETHANOL, CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM, CO2, LAND USE CHANGE, GREENHOUSE GASES

  • BIP!
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    citations
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    63
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 10%
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Top 10%
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Top 1%
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citations
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
63
Top 10%
Top 10%
Top 1%
bronze