| Set-asides can be better climate investment than corn ethanol. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 19323189 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Although various studies have shown that corn ethanol reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by displacing fossil fuel use, many of these studies fail to include how land-use history affects the net carbon balance through changes in soil carbon content. We evaluated the effectiveness and economic value of corn and cellulosic ethanol production for reducing net GHG emissions when produced on lands with different land-use histories, comparing these strategies with reductions achieved by set-aside programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Depending on prior land use, our analysis shows that C releases from the soil after planting corn for ethanol may in some cases completely offset C gains attributed to biofuel generation for at least 50 years. More surprisingly, based on our comprehensive analysis of 142 soil studies, soil C sequestered by setting aside former agricultural land was greater than the C credits generated by planting corn for ethanol on the same land for 40 years and had equal or greater economic net present value. Once commercially available, cellulosic ethanol produced in set-aside grasslands should provide the most efficient tool for GHG reduction of any scenario we examined. Our results suggest that conversion of CRP lands or other set-aside programs to corn ethanol production should not be encouraged through greenhouse gas policies. |
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Authors:
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Gervasio Piñeiro; Esteban G Jobbágy; Justin Baker; Brian C Murray; Robert B Jackson |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America Volume: 19 ISSN: 1051-0761 ISO Abbreviation: Ecol Appl Publication Date: 2009 Mar |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2009-03-27 Completed Date: 2009-06-12 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9889808 Medline TA: Ecol Appl Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 277-82 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Biology and Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0338, USA. pineiro@agro.uba.ar |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Bioelectric Energy Sources* Carbon / analysis Carbon Dioxide / analysis Conservation of Energy Resources / methods* Ethanol* Greenhouse Effect Models, Theoretical Soil United States Zea mays* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Soil; 124-38-9/Carbon Dioxide; 64-17-5/Ethanol; 7440-44-0/Carbon |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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