Short-rotation woody crop systems, atmospheric carbon dioxide and carbon management: A U.S. case study

Abstract

Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) are increasing along with global use of fossil fuels and worldwide rates of deforestation. These trends have led international panels and organizations to devise carbon management strategies in an effort to curb increases in CO2. The goal of this paper is to explore the potential role of short-rotation woody crops (SRWC) in the U.S. as one option in a carbon-managed future economy. On a scale of 40 × 106 ha, and at an average productivity rate of 21 Mg oven-dry biomass ha−1 yr−1, SRWC systems could account for an average of 0.30 Pg of C yr−1 when prorated over the 50-year deployment life of a typical SRWC system. Most of the accounted carbon (76%) would come from fossil fuel displacement as opposed to direct carbon sequestration. The proportion of accounted carbon associated with fossil fuel displacement increases with longer time frames due to the relatively rapid saturation of the carbon sequestration pool. Key words: Populus, biomass, carbon sequestration, carbon displacement, Kyoto Protocol, CO2