Project Number: 1902-21000-007-02
Project Type: Nonfunded Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jan 01, 2008
End Date: Jul 31, 2009

Objective:
To determine the environmental and economic impact of bioenergy crops in the northeastern U.S.

Approach:
We will conduct environmental and economic assessments at the farm scale, within the biorefinery reach at several locations in the northeastern U.S. based on physiographic regions. Environmental assessments will include life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and water quality impacts using DAYCENT, SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool), and IFSM (Integrated Farm System Model). The biogeochemical model DAYCENT simulates fluxes of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) between the atmosphere, vegetation, and soil. From weather, soil-texture class, and land-use inputs, DAYCENT simulates crop production, soil organic-matter changes, and trace-gas fluxes.