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Soil scientists have leading role in energy revolution Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Agri News staff writer
ST. PAUL -- Soil scientists must have a leading role in the biomass energy revolution.
Richard Cruse, a soil science professor from Iowa State University, spoke at last week's William E. Larson and Raymond R. Allmaras Lecture Series, "Emerging Issues in Soil and Water," at the University of Minnesota.
Soil scientists must determine how much plant residue can be removed from the soil without impacting production ability, Cruse said. They must consider the effects of removing plant residue on erosion, soil carbon and crust strength and infiltration and a host of other soil properties. They must also work with producers to modify management strategies.
The bioindustry train has left the station, he said, but the tracks are still in the bag.
It's up to those within the industry to lay those tracks correctly.
Cruse says the concept of T, which says 3 tons to 5 tons of erosion per acre per year is tolerable because soil regenerates at that rate, has severe limitations. The concept was developed in the 1940s. In reality, soil renews at a rate of 0.2 to 0 .4 tons per acre per year, he said.
If too much biomass is removed from the soil, the potential for soil loss is increased, especially in light of recent precipitation trends. There has been a 26 percent increase in heavy precipitation in the last 30 years compared to the period of 1890 to 1970, Cruse said. The Hadley Center predicts that will continue.
Obstacles remain
One of the biggest obstacles facing the biomass economy is land ownership, Cruse said.
In a recent survey, 65 percent of Iowa harvested farmland was rented, compared to 74 percent in Minnesota and 84 percent and 86 percent in Illinois and Indiana, respectively.
Land ownership is important because if a grower doesn't own the land, short-term profit becomes more important.
Increasing competition for rented land drives up rental rates and increases the need for greater gross return from the land year after year, he said. Investor expectations may figure in planting decisions, Cruse said. Last year, 39 percent of the land purchased in Iowa was bought by investors. Investors can also be hard to reach to educate, he said.
Opportunities
The bioenergy vision offers significant challenges, yet it also offers opportunities.
Biomass energy offers farmers a common market for a wide range of products, Cruse said, and it gives farmers the opportunity to grow crops that allow the roots to stay in the ground while harvesting the above-ground biomass for several years. In that way farmers can protect soil from erosion.
Achieving the opportunities will require a paradigm shift in land management, he said.
It may involve putting multiple crops on the land in order to get multiple services in return. Work is bring conducted to determine what systems can be used to not only provide income for farmers and feed for livestock, but also habitat for wildlife and water quality protection.
"We have tremendous opportunities," said William Larson. "Let's take advantage of the opportunities and move ahead."
Larson, past chairman of the U of M Department of Soil, Water and Climate and one of the professors for which the lecture series is named, enjoyed the presentation.
He said it was probably one of the best programs they ever had in the four years since it started. The two speakers complimented each other nicely and the crowd nearly filled the lecture hall. It was also good to have a graduate and legislator at the podium, Larson said. |
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