Economic and Greenhouse Gas Efficiency of Honey Mesquite Relative to Other Energy Feedstocks for Bioenergy Uses in the Southern Great Plains

Wang, Tong; Park, Seong; Ansley, R. James; Amosson, Stephen H.

doi:10.1007/s12155-014-9475-z

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Honey mesquite, which was dominant in the range brush areas, was also considered as the bioenergy crop. Although honey mesquite harvest was recommended at a ten‐year interval (Wang et al ., ), a nine‐year harvest interval was assumed in this study so that it could be harvested twice (in 2000 and 2009) over the total simulation period of 18 years. In addition, standing honey mesquite biomass of 19.4 Mg ha −1 was harvested in 1992, at the beginning of the simulation period.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Honey mesquite ( Prosopis glandulosa ) is a polymorphic woody legume that invaded grasslands and rangelands in the Southwestern United States, and it is spread over 21 million ha in Texas alone (SCS, ; Asner et al ., ). It has been recognized as a bioenergy feedstock (Padron & Navarro, ; Singh et al ., ; Ansley et al ., ; Wang et al ., ), and it is grown under a vast acreage in the Texas Rolling Plains (TRP), which is adjacent to the SHP. The invasion of honey mesquite on grasslands of the TRP caused several negative impacts such as increasing the extent of bare ground and thereby increasing erosion potential, and reducing herbaceous production, which is harmful to the livestock industry and grassland ecosystems (Teague & Dowhower, ; Ansley et al ., ; Wang et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing the hydrologic and water quality impacts of biofuel‐induced changes in land use and management

et al. 2017

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The Southern High Plains (SHP) of Texas, where cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is grown in vast acreage, and the Texas Rolling Plains (TRP), which is dominated by an invasive brush, honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) have the potential for biofuel production for meeting the U.S. bioenergy target of 2022. However, a shift in land use from cotton to perennial grasses and a change in land management such as the harvesting of mesquite for biofuel production can significantly affect regional hydrology and water quality. In this study, APEX and SWAT models were integrated to assess the impacts of replacing cotton with Alamo switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and Miscanthus 9 giganteus in the upstream subwatershed and harvesting mesquite in the downstream subwatershed on water and nitrogen balances in the Double Mountain Fork Brazos watershed in the SHP and TRP regions. Simulated average (1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009) annual surface runoff from the baseline cotton areas decreased significantly (P < 0.05) by 88%, and percolation increased by 28% under the perennial grasses scenario compared to the baseline cotton scenario. The soil water content enhanced significantly under the irrigated switchgrass scenario compared to the baseline irrigated cotton scenario from January to April and August to October. However, the soil water content was depleted significantly under the dryland Miscanthus scenario from April to July relative to the baseline dryland cotton scenario. The nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3 -N) and organic-N loads in surface runoff and NO 3 -N leaching to groundwater reduced significantly by 86%, 98%, and 100%, respectively, under the perennial grasses scenario. Similarly, surface runoff, and NO 3 -N and organic-N loads through surface runoff reduced significantly by 98.9%, 99.9%, and 99.5%, respectively, under the post-mesquite-harvest scenario. Perennial grasses exhibited superior ethanol production potential compared to mesquite. However, mesquite is an appropriate supplementary bioenergy source in the TRP region because of its standing biomass and rapid regrowth characteristics.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the hydrologic and water quality impacts of biofuel‐induced changes in land use and management

et al. 2017

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“…Moreover, the economic and greenhouse gas impact of Prosopis glandulosa was assessed over the southern great plains (SGP) of the USA (Wang et al 2014). Researchers wanted to look at new sources of biofuel that could replace grain-based biofuels.…”

Section: Biofuelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Tab. 3 -A comparison of the sweet sorghum, switchgrass, and mesquite production systems (Wang et al 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspective on the control of invasive mesquite trees and possible alternative uses

Ellsworth¹,

Crandall²,

Lingbeck³

et al. 2018

iForest

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Biogeosciences and Forestry Biogeosciences and Forestry Perspective on the control of invasive mesquite trees and possible alternative uses Seth W Ellsworth (1) , Philip G Crandall (1-2) , Jody M Lingbeck (2) , Corliss A O'Bryan (2) Mesquite trees continue to invade forests and range lands in many countries across the world. The cost to remove these trees is staggering. In Texas, landowners spent $25 million over a 10-year period to clear 300.000 ha of mesquite trees, a fraction of the 22 million ha of Texas land affected by this invasion. Estimates are that the mesquite continues to negatively impact one to two percent of additional land in selected counties each year in Texas. However, the problem is not unique to Texas, but rather to the 44 species of mesquite trees, belonging to the genus Prosopis found in the pea family (Fabaceae), introduced across the southern United States, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, and the Caribbean. In response, researchers are searching for economically viable uses for harvested trees and seeds to provide an alternative to the high cost of removal. If viable uses for harvested mesquite trees and seeds are found, then sustained pressure will limit and ultimately reduce the negative impact from these invasive trees. One key factor to controlling this invasive species is to find economically and environmentally sustainable uses to help pay the costs of removal or perhaps make removal less necessary. Traditional uses of mesquite are as a building material, as a source of food for both animals and humans and as wood for charcoal. Emerging uses of mesquite are new applications as a biofuel and as a bio-filter medium for water. Moreover, forestry land management of mesquite has adapted to include the tree as a component of hunting lands. New control methodologies and technologies are based on an increased understanding of mesquite growth patterns, using recommended practices that reduce control and eradication costs while improving the efficiency of land management. Previous land management practices have proven that excessive application of herbicides, physical removal of mesquite trees, or human-induced brush fires, if not carefully planned, only worsen mesquite infestations. The growing problem of mesquite land management provides an opportunity for continued research into novel ways to utilize mesquite biomass, of both wood and seed pods.

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“…Measured Alamo switchgrass yields in Texas were much higher than those in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri [19]. Based on an economic and greenhouse gas efficiency analysis, Wang et al [21] also concluded that dryland switchgrass is superior to other feedstocks such as irrigated or dryland sweet sorghum and mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa). Using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model, Chen et al [18] simulated that the surface runoff was higher by 7 % and percolation was less by 9 % under current cotton land use when compared to the switchgrass scenario in the Double Mountain Fork Brazos watershed in the THP.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Variability of Biofuel Production Potential and Hydrologic Fluxes of Land Use Change from Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to Alamo Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) in the Texas High Plains

2016

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Bioenergy crop production has the potential to protect marginal crop lands that generate high surface runoff and produce poor crop yields. Long-term evaluation of the impacts of such land use change on hydrologic fluxes and biofuel production potential is necessary before adopting such strategies on a large scale. In this study, the hydrologic impacts of replacing cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) on marginal lands in an intensive agricultural watershed in the Texas High Plains with Alamo switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) as a bioenergy crop were evaluated using the Agricultural Policy/ Environmental eXtender (APEX) model. The surface runoff to cotton yield ratio was used as a criterion to identify marginal cotton subareas (homogenous spatial units delineated by APEX) in the study watershed, and three replacement scenarios (low (9 %), medium (33 %), and high (57 %) extents of cotton acreage replaced by switchgrass) were implemented in the scenario analysis. The average (1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)) annual surface runoff decreased by about 84 and 66 %, and the percolation increased by 106 and 57 % in the irrigated and dryland subareas, respectively, when cotton was replaced by switchgrass under the high replacement scenario. Spatial analysis showed that switchgrass was a feasible bioenergy crop for replacing cotton, especially in the western part of the study watershed, due to its higher water use efficiency and better water conservation effects compared to cotton. It is estimated that 193 and 381 million liters of ethanol could be produced from the dryland and irrigated subareas of the study watershed, respectively, under the high replacement scenario.

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Economic and Greenhouse Gas Efficiency of Honey Mesquite Relative to Other Energy Feedstocks for Bioenergy Uses in the Southern Great Plains

Cited by 9 publications

References 41 publications

Assessing the hydrologic and water quality impacts of biofuel‐induced changes in land use and management

Assessing the hydrologic and water quality impacts of biofuel‐induced changes in land use and management

Perspective on the control of invasive mesquite trees and possible alternative uses

Spatial Variability of Biofuel Production Potential and Hydrologic Fluxes of Land Use Change from Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to Alamo Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) in the Texas High Plains

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