Long-term effects simulated in biofuel analysis

New biofuel analysis published by the American Society of Agronomy simulates the long-term impacts on land used for the growth of feedstocks.

In particular, the authors explain that crop residues offer a key source of carbon, maintaining sustainable growth and boosting yields year after year.

When land is used for growing fuel crops, however, it is less likely that these residues will be ploughed back into the soil.

The biofuel analysis anticipates that unfeasible alternative sources of carbon would need to be introduced, such as manure.

Study author Hero Gollany says: "Harvesting substantial amounts of crop residue under current cropping systems without exogenous carbon (e.g. manure) addition would deplete soil organic carbon, exacerbate risks of soil erosion ... and decrease agricultural sustainability."

The full article is published in Agronomy Journal, which carries research into the relationship between plants and soil, land management, agronomic modelling, agricultural output and related statistical analysis.