Abstract
Warm season perennial C4 grasses (WSGs), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and miscanthus species (Miscanthus spp.), have been reported to positively influence short-term (15–20 years) soil organic carbon (SOC). In this study, the DayCent model was used to predict changes in long-term SOC stocks under WSGs for moderate (Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5) and high (RCP 8.5) warming climate change scenarios in southern Ontario, Canada, and to determine how long the enhanced SOC stock will last when WSGs are converted back to annual crop rotation. The model predicted that a consistent corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW) rotation prevented SOC from depletion over the 21st century. Under WSGs, the model predicted high rates of SOC sequestration during the first 20–30 years which then tended to stabilize after 50–60 years. However, the rate of SOC sequestration over 90 years for RCP 4.5 was 0.26 and 0.94 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 for switchgrass and miscanthus, respectively. If 40-year stands of WSGs are converted back to CCSW, the model predicted SOC decline to the previous level in 40–50 years. DayCent predicted that under RCP 8.5 scenario in the second half of the 21st century and in the future, there will be a reduction in SOC stocks, especially under miscanthus stands.
Highlights
To effectively mitigate climate change by the year 2100, the entire world needs to completely abandon the use of fossil fuels [1]
The objectives of the study were: (i) to evaluate the ability of the DayCent model to simulate long-term soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in switchgrass, miscanthus and conventional cropping systems (corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW)) in Southern Ontario, Canada, (ii) to predict changes in SOC stocks under moderate and high warming climate change scenarios, and (iii) to determine how long enhanced SOC stocks will remain when Warm season perennial C4 grasses (WSGs) production systems are returned to annual cropping
Predicted above and below ground biomass was higher for miscanthus than for switchgrass and this resulted in higher SOC sequestration rates under miscanthus
Summary
To effectively mitigate climate change by the year 2100, the entire world needs to completely abandon the use of fossil fuels [1]. Bioenergy and biofuels are recommended as a major source of future energy to replace energy currently generated from fossil fuels [1]. Biomass can be used for biofuel production, or for heating and generation of electricity [2]. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and miscanthus species (Miscanthus spp.), often referred to as warm season grasses (WSGs), are examples of C4 perennial. Land 2020, 9, 509 grasses grown in Canada [2]. WSG biomass can be used as livestock bedding, as an ingredient of mushroom compost [3] or as a horticultural mulch [4]. Marsal et al [5], Deen [6] and Bazrgar et al [7]
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