TY - JOUR
T1 - Environmental benefits of cropland conversion to hybrid poplar
T2 - Economic and policy considerations
AU - Updegraff, Karen
AU - Baughman, Melvin J.
AU - Taff, Steven J
PY - 2004/11
Y1 - 2004/11
N2 - To evaluate environmental benefits that might accrue from conversion of farmland to short-rotation woody crops (SRWC), a hypothetical conversion of 10%, 20% and 30% of cropland was modeled in a watershed of the Lower Minnesota River. The analysis synthesized output from a watershed model (ADAPT) with literature-based estimates of productivity and economic values for water quality, forest conservation and carbon sequestration. A Monte Carlo simulation approach was used to estimate ranges of environmental benefit values for cropland conversion to SRWCs. The summed average net benefits justified annual public subsidies ranging from $44 to $96ha -1, depending on market scenario and conversion level. Cropland conversion to SRWCs reduced cumulative annual stream flows, sediment and nitrogen loadings by up to 9%, 28% and 15%, respectively. Reduced sediment loads resulted in potential average annual public savings on culvert and ditch maintenance costs of $9.37Mg -1 of sediment not delivered to the watershed outlet. Hybrid poplars over a 5-year rotation produced an estimated annual economic value due to carbon sequestration of $13-15ha -1 when used for bioenergy and $29-33ha -1 (depending on conversion rate) when converted to wood products. If hybrid poplars are substituted for aspen traditionally harvested from natural woodlands, the poplars create annual forest preservation values of $4.79-5.44ha -1.
AB - To evaluate environmental benefits that might accrue from conversion of farmland to short-rotation woody crops (SRWC), a hypothetical conversion of 10%, 20% and 30% of cropland was modeled in a watershed of the Lower Minnesota River. The analysis synthesized output from a watershed model (ADAPT) with literature-based estimates of productivity and economic values for water quality, forest conservation and carbon sequestration. A Monte Carlo simulation approach was used to estimate ranges of environmental benefit values for cropland conversion to SRWCs. The summed average net benefits justified annual public subsidies ranging from $44 to $96ha -1, depending on market scenario and conversion level. Cropland conversion to SRWCs reduced cumulative annual stream flows, sediment and nitrogen loadings by up to 9%, 28% and 15%, respectively. Reduced sediment loads resulted in potential average annual public savings on culvert and ditch maintenance costs of $9.37Mg -1 of sediment not delivered to the watershed outlet. Hybrid poplars over a 5-year rotation produced an estimated annual economic value due to carbon sequestration of $13-15ha -1 when used for bioenergy and $29-33ha -1 (depending on conversion rate) when converted to wood products. If hybrid poplars are substituted for aspen traditionally harvested from natural woodlands, the poplars create annual forest preservation values of $4.79-5.44ha -1.
KW - Carbon sequestration
KW - Erosion
KW - Non-market valuation
KW - Poplar
KW - Short-rotation woody crops
KW - Water quality
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=4344669359&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1016/j.biombioe.2004.05.002
DO - 10.1016/j.biombioe.2004.05.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:4344669359
SN - 0961-9534
VL - 27
SP - 411
EP - 428
JO - Biomass and Bioenergy
JF - Biomass and Bioenergy
IS - 5
ER -