Efficient use of reactive nitrogen for cultivation of bioenergy: less is more

TY - JOUR

T1 - Efficient use of reactive nitrogen for cultivation of bioenergy: less is more

AU - Callesen, Ingeborg

AU - Carter, Mette Sustmann

AU - Ostergard, H.

PY - 2011/4/1

Y1 - 2011/4/1

N2 - A further increase in nitrogen (N) intensive biomass supplies to substitute fossil carbon sources implies inclusion of additional reactive nitrogen (Nr) into the biosphere. A Danish model study compared low-intensity managed seminatural beech forest and a winter wheat system with respect to N losses and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Losses of reactive N to air and groundwater per unit of energy produced were four to six times higher for the winter wheat system. The energy efficiency was an order of magnitude higher in the forest system, whereas the related GHG emission reduction by fossil coal substitution differed by <25%. The question is whether a low or a high intensity of cultivation yields the best overall ecosystem service performance? Given the detrimental effect of excess reactive N on natural ecosystems, we suggest that bioenergy production from unfertilized forest with seminatural structure and function should be preferred over N-intensive crop production.

AB - A further increase in nitrogen (N) intensive biomass supplies to substitute fossil carbon sources implies inclusion of additional reactive nitrogen (Nr) into the biosphere. A Danish model study compared low-intensity managed seminatural beech forest and a winter wheat system with respect to N losses and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Losses of reactive N to air and groundwater per unit of energy produced were four to six times higher for the winter wheat system. The energy efficiency was an order of magnitude higher in the forest system, whereas the related GHG emission reduction by fossil coal substitution differed by <25%. The question is whether a low or a high intensity of cultivation yields the best overall ecosystem service performance? Given the detrimental effect of excess reactive N on natural ecosystems, we suggest that bioenergy production from unfertilized forest with seminatural structure and function should be preferred over N-intensive crop production.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1757-1707.2010.01072.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1757-1707.2010.01072.x

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1757-1693

VL - 3

SP - 171

EP - 179

JO - GCB Bioenergy

JF - GCB Bioenergy

IS - 2

ER -