Understanding the impact of feedstock production options on water resource and water quality
May Wu1, Yonas Demissie2, and Eugene Yan2
1Center for Transportation Research, Energy Systems Division, Argonne National Laboratory
2Environmental Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory
Abstract
The production of biofuel from both conventional feedstock and cellulosic feedstock will increase in the near future, and a significant portion of the cellulosic feedstock is expected to come from U.S. Midwest region. This increase could affect regional water resource use and water quality. To meet the environmental sustainability requirement for biofuel production, the extent of such impacts and measures to minimize unintended environmental consequences must be examined. We present an assessment to quantify the impacts of various feedstock production options on water cycle, nutrients, and soil erosion. We focused on the Upper Mississippi river basin, from which a majority of U.S. biofuel is produced at present. A baseline estimate was established using a watershed model developed for the basin. Future scenarios of biofuel feedstock production were further developed to assess the potential environmental implications associated with an increase in biofuel production through corn, agriculture residue, and perennial grass (switchgrass). Major factors were analyzed, including changes in land use, fertilizer input, crop yield, and soil properties. Key factors affecting water quality were identified.