Open AccessImpacts of herbaceous bioenergy crops on atmospheric volatile organic composition and potential consequences for global climate change
Author(s) -
Miresmailli Saber,
Zeri Marcelo,
Zangerl Arthur R.,
Bernacchi Carl J.,
Berenbaum May R.,
DeLucia Evan H.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
gcb bioenergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.378
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1757-1707
pISSN - 1757-1693
DOI - 10.1111/j.1757-1707.2012.01189.x
Subject(s) - miscanthus , bioenergy , environmental science , panicum virgatum , eddy covariance , agroecosystem , herbaceous plant , agronomy , greenhouse gas , biomass (ecology) , energy crop , ecosystem , biofuel , ecology , biology , agriculture
The introduction of new crops to agroecosystems can change the chemical composition of the atmosphere by altering the amount and type of plant‐derived biogenic volatile organic compounds ( BVOC s). BVOC s are produced by plants to aid in defense, pollination, and communication. Once released into the atmosphere, they have the ability to influence its chemical and physical properties. In this study, we compared BVOC emissions from three potential bioenergy crops and estimated their theoretical impacts on bioenergy agroecosystems. The crops chosen were miscanthus ( M iscanthus × giganteus ), switchgrass ( P anicum virgatum ), and an assemblage of prairie species (mix of ~28 species). The concentration of BVOC s was different within and above plant canopies. All crops produced higher levels of emissions at the upper canopy level. Miscanthus produced lower amounts of volatiles compared with other grasses. The chemical composition of volatiles differed significantly among plant communities. BVOC s from miscanthus were depleted in terpenoids relative to the other vegetation types. The carbon flux via BVOC emissions, calculated using the flux‐gradient method, was significantly higher in the prairie assemblage compared with miscanthus and switchgrass. The BVOC carbon flux was approximately three orders of magnitude lower than the net fluxes of carbon measured over the same fields using eddy covariance systems. Extrapolation of our findings to the landscape scale leads us to suggest that the widespread adoption of bioenergy crops could potentially alter the composition of BVOC s in the atmosphere, thereby influencing its warming potential, the formation of atmospheric particulates, and interactions between plants and arthropods. Our data and projections indicate that, among at least these three potential options for bioenergy production, miscanthus is likely to have lower impacts on atmospheric chemistry and biotic interactions mediated by these volatiles when miscanthus is planted on the landscape scale.