The Potential of Switchgrass and Miscanthus to Enhance Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration—Predicted by DayCent Model

Marek Jarecki, Kumudinie Kariyapperuma, Bill Deen, Jordan Graham, Amir Behzad Bazrgar, Sowthini Vijayakumar, Mahendra Thimmanagari, Andrew Gordon, Paul Voroney and Naresh Thevathasan
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Marek Jarecki: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Kumudinie Kariyapperuma: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Bill Deen: Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Jordan Graham: Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association, 1 Stone Road W, Guelph, ON N1G 4Y2, Canada
Amir Behzad Bazrgar: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Sowthini Vijayakumar: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Mahendra Thimmanagari: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 1 Stone Road W, Guelph, ON N1G 4Y2, Canada
Andrew Gordon: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Paul Voroney: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Naresh Thevathasan: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada

Land, 2020, vol. 9, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: Warm season perennial C4 grasses (WSGs), switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) and miscanthus species ( Miscanthus spp.), have been reported to positively influence short-term (15–20 years) soil organic carbon (SOC). In this study, the DayCent model was used to predict changes in long-term SOC stocks under WSGs for moderate (Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5) and high (RCP 8.5) warming climate change scenarios in southern Ontario, Canada, and to determine how long the enhanced SOC stock will last when WSGs are converted back to annual crop rotation. The model predicted that a consistent corn–corn–soybean–winter wheat (CCSW) rotation prevented SOC from depletion over the 21st century. Under WSGs, the model predicted high rates of SOC sequestration during the first 20–30 years which then tended to stabilize after 50–60 years. However, the rate of SOC sequestration over 90 years for RCP 4.5 was 0.26 and 0.94 Mg C ha −1 yr −1 for switchgrass and miscanthus, respectively. If 40-year stands of WSGs are converted back to CCSW, the model predicted SOC decline to the previous level in 40–50 years. DayCent predicted that under RCP 8.5 scenario in the second half of the 21st century and in the future, there will be a reduction in SOC stocks, especially under miscanthus stands.

Keywords: warm season C4 grasses; herbaceous biomass crops; climate scenarios (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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