Finalization of soil carbon sequestration measurement and model validation in the development of perennial grass feedstocks for biofuel in Hawaii
Abstract
Finalization of soil carbon sequestration measurement and model validation in the development of perennial grass feedstocks for biofuel in Hawaii Principal Investigator, Dr. Susan E. Crow Large-scale implementation of ratoon harvesting practices within a diversified agricultural landscape will lead to sustained, significant increases in soil organic carbon that provide a greenhouse warming potential (in CO2 equivalence) credit to the production system and help build soil health and support a diverse soil community. Annual assessment of total soil organic carbon stock under continued ratoon harvests of high-yield varieties of C4 perennial grasses has occurred at benchmark locations on Maui for three years. This accounting is used to assess the climate change mitigation potential for energy crop production through sequestration of carbon in soil under ratoon (zero-tillage) practices. Established long-term sites, now at a critical juncture where species and harvesting practices are in synchrony, will be compared directly to adjacent, synchronous commercial field and initial baseline samples collected prior to the implementation of field trials. Refined and validated crop simulation models such as ALMANAC with a belowground component for projecting the accumulation of soil carbon are required to project carbon sequestration potential into the future. The belowground sub-component model for soil carbon accumulation will be refined for accuracy of carbon stock simulation in Hawaii perennial grass cropping systems and the model will be validated at year four and scaled up to the plantation area. The proposed work will: collect the final, synchronous soil carbon dataset from experimental sites, modify an existing soil carbon dynamics subcomponent model developed for a similar production system on Oahu for Maui, and conduct final validation for up-scaling of the refined ALMANAC model simulations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 10, 2016
- Source ID
- N000141612221
Entities
People
- Susan E Crow
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Hawaiʻi System