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Balancing Bioenergy and Soil Productivity Returns for Sustainable Biomass Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L). Moench.] Production

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Abstract

Bioenergy sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L). Moench.] is a potential dedicated energy crop that can help fulfill requirements for advancing ligno-cellulosic biofuel technology, but information balancing profitability and soil resource effects of growing this crop is limited. Using field plot data, this study objective is to quantify effects of different bioenergy sorghum management practices on soil characteristics that influence yield and ultimately the producer’s net return. Field studies were conducted at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Farm near College Station, TX from 2008 through 2011. A stochastic economic simulation model was developed using yields and associated soil characteristics data. Results suggested growing bioenergy sorghum may be profitable and can achieve a maximum annual net return to capital, land, and management of $1,600 ha−1 by applying 300 kg ha−1 of nitrogen and returning no biomass. This net return, however, is achieved at the cost of soil carbon and nitrogen depletion. The soil nutrient pool was maintained when biomass return rates were approximately 20 % of yield. This management practice, however, requires a compromise of $330 to $422 ha−1 in net returns compared to a 0 % biomass return.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this research by USDA AFRI (grant #2011-67009-30050) and Texas A & M AgriLife Research is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agriculture Marketing Consultant, USA East Associates, New York, NY, 14450, USA

    Prashant Amatya

  2. Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2474, USA

    Jason Wight & Frank M. Hons

  3. Department of Agricultural Economics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2124, USA

    James W. Mjelde

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  1. Prashant Amatya
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  2. Jason Wight
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  4. Frank M. Hons
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Correspondence to James W. Mjelde.

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Amatya, P., Wight, J., Mjelde, J.W. et al. Balancing Bioenergy and Soil Productivity Returns for Sustainable Biomass Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L). Moench.] Production. Bioenerg. Res. 7, 1144–1154 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-014-9451-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-014-9451-7

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