On the cusp of an agricultural transformation
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| Agronomy professor Matt Liebman is testing alternative crops for future biofuel production. |
As the nation gears up to make a tremendous increase in biofuel production, Iowa State scientists have a vision for farms of the future. Many of these farms will produce high yields of biomass for biofuels and industrial products. Not only that, they also will be energy efficient and good for the environment.
It's a vision professor of agronomy Matt Liebman has in mind as he tests two alternative cropping systems through research supported by a Plant Sciences Institute innovative grant.
"We're at a critical juncture in agricultural history where we have the opportunity to produce feedstocks for biofuels and industrial chemicals in a way that will enhance both society's need for energy sources and farmers' need for products that people would buy," Liebman said.
One cropping system includes four perennial species: switchgrass, Indiangrass, eastern gamagrass and big bluestem. The other is a double-cropping system -- growing two crops in one year, rather than just corn or soybeans. One crop, triticale, would be grown during the cool season from October to June. During the warm season, crops including corn, sorghum and crotalaria, a legume, would be grown.
The two systems offer ongoing ground coverage and working root systems that will prevent soil erosion and nitrogen leaching. Less run-off and less leaching lead to better water quality, said Liebman.
"You want deep-rooted plants that are actively taking up nutrients for as much as the growing season as possible," he said. "You want to make sure that the root zone is fully occupied to maximize nutrient capture efficiency."
More plant coverage for more time, as the two cropping systems offer, also allows the collection of more carbon, taking it out of the air and storing it.
"One of the interesting things about biofuels and other industrial chemicals is that they are essentially materials with carbon bonds. You don't need the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other elements that livestock and humans require for their nutrition," Liebman said.
After converting the plant materials to bioindustrial products, these elements can be recaptured in ash and gaseous emissions from the biorefinery, taken back into the field and applied to the crops. The end result should be less energy used to make fertilizer and a reduction in farmers' fertilizer costs.
Perhaps a crucial aspect of the future farm vision is that crops would be linked to biorefineries through a decentralized network throughout the state, providing jobs across Iowa.
"We have a big demand for liquid fuels and industrial chemicals. That's probably not going to go away," said Liebman. "My end goal is to develop profitable, environmentally desirable cropping systems for Iowa farmers that can help them meet national energy goals, water quality goals, and contribute to rural development."
Liebman and co-workers Rob Anex, Ken Moore, and Andrew Heggenstaller are in year two of the field experiments supported by the Plant Sciences Institute.
