Land use change to bioenergy: A meta-analysis of soil carbon and GHG emissions

• Published in: Biomass & bioenergy 2015-11, Vol.82, p.27-39
• Main Authors: Harris, Z.M., Spake, R., Taylor, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biofuel; LCA; Miscanthus; Poplar; SRC; Willow
• ISSN: 0961-9534; 1873-2909
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.05.008

A systematic review and meta-analysis were used to assess the current state of knowledge and quantify the effects of land use change (LUC) to second generation (2G), non-food bioenergy crops on soil organic carbon (SOC) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of relevance to temperate zone agriculture. Following analysis from 138 original studies, transitions from arable to short rotation coppice (SRC, poplar or willow) or perennial grasses (mostly Miscanthus or switchgrass) resulted in increased SOC (+5.0 ± 7.8% and +25.7 ± 6.7% respectively). Transitions from grassland to SRC were broadly neutral (+3.7 ± 14.6%), whilst grassland to perennial grass transitions and forest to SRC both showed a decrease in SOC (−10.9 ± 4.3% and −11.4 ± 23.4% respectively). There were insufficient paired data to conduct a strict meta-analysis for GHG emissions but summary figures of general trends in GHGs from 188 original studies revealed increased and decreased soil CO2 emissions following transition from forests and arable to perennial grasses. We demonstrate that significant knowledge gaps exist surrounding the effects of land use change to bioenergy on greenhouse gas balance, particularly for CH4. There is also large uncertainty in quantifying transitions from grasslands and transitions to short rotation forestry. A striking finding of this review is the lack of empirical studies that are available to validate modelled data. Given that models are extensively use in the development of bioenergy LCA and sustainability criteria, this is an area where further long-term data sets are required. •Meta-analyses were conducted on 27 publications concerning land use change to bioenergy.•Transitions from arable to 2G bioenergy crops showed an increase in soil carbon.•Transitions from forest to 2G bioenergy crops showed a decrease in soil carbon.•Uncertainty exists in predicting the impact of transition to 2G crops from grasslands.•Significant knowledge gaps exist for GHG balance associated with transition to 2G energy crops.