11. Substituting Biofuel for Coal: Determining the Optimal Perennial Grass Species and Nitrogen Fertilization Level for Bioenergy Production in Eastern Ontario

Abstract

Renewable energy production has become an increasingly important issue in recent years due to climate change and energy security issues, and bioenergy crops may be able to supply a large amount of the world’s energy needs. Bioenergy is a carbon-neutral energy source, and perennial grasses are an ideal bioenergy crop due to their high growth rates and ability to grow under a range of conditions. To enhance grass productivity, nitrogen fertilization is often applied to this crop, but this can lead to increased Lafarge Cement in Bath, Ontario, three perennial grass species (Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium and Andropogon gerardii) are being grown in conjuction with three fertilization treatments (0, 50 and 150 lbs. per acre of nitrogen as urea) to explore the tradeoffs associated with using nitrogen fertilizer in these bioenergy systems. Soil N2O emissions were measured weekly during the growing season following fertilizer application in May 2013. At the same time, various soil properties known to influence N2O emissions (e.g. pH, soil nitrate, soil temperature, soil moisture) were measured. Crop productivity was measured at the end of the growing season to determine the species and fertilization level at which GHG emission benefits are maximized. The results of this study will demonstrate the viability of perennial grasses as a bioenergy crop for industrial purposes in Eastern Ontario by identifying the maximum GHG benefits that this bioenergy system can achieve in this region.