Miscanthus and switchgrass feedstock potential for bioenergy and carbon sequestration on minesoils

Abstract

Using biomass data derived from the literature in minesoils in the Appalachian region, if miscanthus and switchgrass were established in this land, it could potentially produce 340 and 118 million L yr⁻¹ of bioethanol, respectively. However, in order to sustain long-term plant and soil productivity, potential losses from carbon inputs (net change of –55% and +20% for switchgrass and miscanthus, respectively) and plant nutrients (nitrogen removal of 20 and 110 kg ha⁻¹ for switchgrass and miscanthus harvest in the fall, respectively) from land use changes and biomass removal must be offset by additional fertilization, ideally from organic fertilizers to enhance not only soil fertility, but soil structure and carbon sequestration.