Dataset Information

Optimizing the bioenergy water footprint by selecting SRC willow canopy phenotypes: regional scenario simulations.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Bioenergy is central for the future energy mix to mitigate climate change impacts; however, its intricate link with the water cycle calls for an evaluation of the carbon-water nexus in biomass production. The great challenge is to optimize trade-offs between carbon harvest and water use by choosing cultivars that combine low water use with high productivity.

Methods

Regional scenarios were simulated over a range of willow genotype × environment interactions for the major UK soil × climate variations with the process-based model LUCASS. Soil available water capacity (SAWC) ranged from 51 to 251 mm and weather represented the north-west (wet, cool), north-east (dry, cool), south-west (wet, warm) and south-east (dry, warm) of the UK. Scenario simulations were evaluated for small/open narrow-leaf (NL) versus large/closed broad-leaf (BL) willow canopy phenotypes using baseline (1965-89) and warmer recent (1990-2014) weather data.

Key results

The low productivity under baseline climate in the north could be compensated by choosing BL cultivars (e.g. 'Endurance'). Recent warmer climate increased average productivity by 0.5-2.5 t ha-1, especially in the north. The modern NL cultivar 'Resolution' had the smallest and most efficient water use. On marginal soils (SAWC <100 mm), yields remained below an economic threshold of 9 t ha-1 more frequently under baseline than recent climate. In the drought-prone south-east, 'Endurance' yielded less than 'Resolution', which consumed on average 17 mm year-1 less water. Assuming a planting area of 10 000 ha, in droughty years between 1.3 and 4.5 × 106 m3 of water could be saved, with a small yield penalty, for 'Resolution'.

Conclusions

With an increase in air temperature and occasional water scarcities expected with climate change, high-yielding NL cultivars should be the preferred choice for sustainable use of marginal lands and reduced competition with agricultural food crops.

SUBMITTER: Richard B

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6821185 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Optimizing the bioenergy water footprint by selecting SRC willow canopy phenotypes: regional scenario simulations.

Richard Benjamin B Richter Goetz M GM Cerasuolo Marianna M Shield Ian I

Annals of botany 20191001 4

<h4>Background and aims</h4>Bioenergy is central for the future energy mix to mitigate climate change impacts; however, its intricate link with the water cycle calls for an evaluation of the carbon-water nexus in biomass production. The great challenge is to optimize trade-offs between carbon harvest and water use by choosing cultivars that combine low water use with high productivity.<h4>Methods</h4>Regional scenarios were simulated over a range of willow genotype × environment interactions for ...[more]

PMID: 30759181

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Dataset Information

Optimizing the bioenergy water footprint by selecting SRC willow canopy phenotypes: regional scenario simulations.

Background and aims

Methods

Key results

Conclusions

Publications

Optimizing the bioenergy water footprint by selecting SRC willow canopy phenotypes: regional scenario simulations.

Similar Datasets

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