Abstract
When considering the large‐scale deployment of bioenergy crops, it is important to understand the implication for ecosystem hydrological processes and the influences of crop type and location. Based on the potential for future land use change (LUC), the 10,280 km2 West Wales Water Framework Directive River Basin District (UK) was selected as a typical grassland dominated district, and the Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) hydrology model with a geographic information systems interface was used to investigate implications for different bioenergy deployment scenarios. The study area was delineated into 855 sub‐basins and 7,108 hydrological response units based on rivers, soil type, land use, and slope. Changes in hydrological components for two bioenergy crops (Miscanthus and short rotation coppice, SRC) planted on 50% (2,192 km2) or 25% (1,096 km2) of existing improved pasture are quantified. Across the study area as a whole, only surface run‐off with SRC planted at the 50% level was significantly impacted, where it was reduced by up to 23% (during April). However, results varied spatially and a comparison of annual means for each sub‐basin and scenario revealed surface run‐off was significantly decreased and baseflow significantly increased (by a maximum of 40%) with both Miscanthus and SRC. Evapotranspiration was significantly increased with SRC (at both planting levels) and water yield was significantly reduced with SRC (at the 50% level) by up to 5%. Effects on streamflow were limited, varying between −5% and +5% change (compared to baseline) in the majority of sub‐basins. The results suggest that for mesic temperate grasslands, adverse effects from the drying of soil and alterations to streamflow may not arise, and with surface run‐off reduced and baseflow increased, there could, depending on crop location, be potential benefits for flood and erosion mitigation.
Highlights
Land use change (LUC) involving different crop types or management can influence ecosystem level hydrological processes
Evapotranspiration was significantly increased with short rotation coppice (SRC) and water yield was significantly reduced with SRC by up to 5%
Of the hydrological components tested, only surface run‐off was significantly different compared to the baseline, where planting SRC at the 50% level resulted in significant reductions (p = 0.03) ranging from 17% (8 mm, January) to 23% (3 mm, April; Figure 4a)
Summary
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Grant/Award Number: EP/ M013200/1; Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; Institute of Biology, Environment and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University; MAGLUE; Energy Technologies Institute; National Environment Research Council, Grant/Award Number: NE/H01067X/1
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