Progress 04/15/19 to 04/14/24
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences for this project include the other researchers, graduate students, staff, industry collaborators and allied stakeholders including biobased industries, original equipment manufacturers and vendors, custom operators, biomass processors, farmers/producers, and end-users. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Throughout the entire project duration, five graduate students (2 masters and 3 PhD), 1 post-doctoral researcher, 1 research scientist, 1 design engineer, 1 technician and multiple undergraduate students were trained in the areas of equipment development, field testing, experimental design, data collection and analysis, and modeling, including ecological modeling, techno-economic and life cycle analyses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been shared among the research team, including PD and co-PDs, graduate students, and staff; through publications and presentations in regional and national conferences with wider audiences; and to the allied stakeholders (biobased industries, original equipment manufacturers and vendors, custom operations, biomass processors, farmers/producers, and end-users) through direct communications. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A whole-plant corn harvester prototype, powered by a pull-type tractor, was developed by Ohio State University researchers, and a patent has been filed (PCT/US2023/077940). Field tests conducted revealed an average power requirement of 130 hp (97 kW) with peak power requirements of up to 310 hp (157 kW) to operate the harvester. In addition, a self propelled whole-plant harvester for corn was configured. The equipment prototypes were used to harvest whole-plant corn bales in Ohio and Iowa. A whole-plant corn bale handling and processing system was also developed by the Ohio State University researchers. In 2020, we harvested 30 corn bales in Iowa and sent to Ohio for storage characteristics evaluation. Out of the 30 bales, 15 were sprayed with propionic acid preservative. The bales in Iowa were formed at a bulk density of 11-15 lb/ft3 (176-240 kg/m3) (wet) and the moisture content was in the range of 16-26%. In Ohio, ~40 bales were harvested without preservative with higher bale densities of 20-27 lb/ft3 (320-432 kg/m3) (wet) and moisture content in the range of 23-29%. All the bales were stored in Ohio under three different conditions--under shed, under tarp and with plastic wrap--in a 2 wide by 3 high bale stack on wooden pallets. Storage characteristics of the bales, including moisture content and dry matter changes, grain and stover quality, and mycotoxins were evaluated. Storage evalution of the bales formed in Ohio and Iowa in the fall of 2020 was completed in the summer of 2021 and included two sampling periods--one in the spring and one in the summer. For the storage duration of 6 months, average dry matter losses for all treatments were in the range of 2-6% for high-density bales. However, for the low-density bales, the average dry matter losses were 3%, 10% and 14% for plastic-wrapped, tarp covered and under shed bales, respectively. This difference was mainly due to bales losing integrity during handling and storage, due to their low bulk density. Thus, in 2021, 18 bales were produced with higher bulk densities in the range 14-18 lb/ft3 (224-288 kg/m3). In addition, the preservatives did not improve bale storage, thus was excluded for 2021 trials. Although plastic wrapped bales had lower dry matter loss, this method was also discontinued in 2021 because the bales in 2020 had visual indications of mold growth due to moisture entrapment. The harvest moisture for 2021 bales were in the range of 20-25%. The bales were stored under shed for control and under tarp outdoors for 6 months. The average storage dry matter loss of the bales after storage was in the range of 1-7%. In both years of the storage trials, test weights of the grain in the bales did not change due to storage. The moisture content of the bales stabilized at ~20% after 6 months of storage. The composition of the non-grain fractions of the bales did not significantly change during storage. Mycotoxin levels were undetected for majority of the treatments. Thus, we concluded that to maintain the quality of the corn bales, it would be best to harvestwhen the moisture content is in the range of 20-25% with the corn grain moisture at <20%. We collected plant samples from a 25-acre corn field. The field was divided into 12 zones each with 24 rows, and plant samples were obtained from three sampling regions (8-row wide and 100-feet long) within each zone right before harvest. Plants were cut at the ground level and were divided into grain, cob, and stover fractions. Plant heights ranged from 79-235 cm, and the moisture content for grain, cob, stover fractions above and below the ear-level were in the ranges of 16-29%, 15-51%, 11-54%, and 36-78%, respectively. The above-ground dry matter contributions of grain, cob, stover above and below ear were 44-68%, 7-15%, 10-31% and 7-21%, respectively. Nutrient and composition analyses showed differences between the fractions, but showed no differences in the same fraction at different locations. The distribution of aboveground corn stover removed or left in the field was also evaluated. In 2020 and 2021, 29-60% and 40-55% of the total stover, not including the cobs, was left in the field after whole-plant corn harvest. The difference in the proportion was due to variations in the height of the lowest ear as the corn varieties were different between the two years. Nutrient analysis showed higher potassium content in the stover fraction below the ear level. Two years is not enough to evaluate the changes in soil compaction, properties and health, thus were not evaluated. Future long-term study is needed to capture these changes in soil properties. Finally, techno-economics and life cycle environmental impacts of the whole-plant corn supply system were evaluated through the process-based DeNitrification DeComposition (DNDC) model, and techno-economic and life cycle analyses were conducted. One of the major differences between the whole-plant system and the conventional practice is removal of residue from the field. Thus, the DNDC model was calibrated and validated using ground-truth field data and was employed across 301 sub-watersheds in the Maumee River Watershed to assess changes in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for a corn-soybean-dominated agricultural system. Three scenarios were analyzed: 1) 40% corn biomass residue retention, 2) 50% corn biomass residue retention, and 3) 60% corn biomass residue retention, with each compared to 100% corn residue retention as the baseline scenario. For majority of the sub watersheds considered, GHG emissions decreased up to 22% for the residue removal scenarios compared to the baseline scenario. The techno-economic analysis of the whole-plant system showed that the cost of stover logistics could be reduced compared to the existing multi-pass system. The cost of the corn stover delivered to a biorefinery, which included harvesting, handling, transporting, and storing as whole-plant corn as well as threshing to separate corn grain and stover and re-baling, was estimated to be $55/dry t (90% central range: $50-61/dry t). The cost of whole-plan corn stover logistics was reduced by 39-50% compared to conventionally delivered corn stover bales. Thus, as corn stover cost contributes 40-47% of the cellulosic ethanol production cost, the whole-plant logistics system can be significant in reducing the cost of cellulosic ethanol produced from corn stover. It is also important to note that the cost of grain logistics using this whole-plant system was similar to the cost of the existing grain logistics system. These results indicate the economic viability of this system. Life-cycle energy use (1,069-1,426 MJ/dry t) and GHG emissions (78-98 kg-CO2e/dry t) associated with the whole-plant logistics system were lower than those for the conventional multi-pass harvest and post-harvest logistics system by 54-61% and 7-19%, respectively. The majority of the energy use (68-75%) and GHG emissions (38-42%) were due to the nutrients required to replenish the nutrients that were removed with corn stover. After excluding the energy use and GHG emissions associated with nutrients, the highest contribution to energy use and emissions was related to processing of the corn plant at the biorefinery due to the electricity required. This electricity is mainly produced from coal, which is associated with high GHG emissions. Thus, the energy use and GHG emissions associated with the whole-plant logistics system can be further improved by using alternative energy sources.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
1. Khanal, A, and Shah, A. Evaluating the life-cycle environmental impacts of whole-plant corn logistics for biobased industries, 2023 ASABE Annual International Meeting, July 8-12, Omaha, NE [Oral]
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
2. Timilsina, A P, Khanal, S., and Bhattrai, A. Climate change impact on agroecosystem services of conservation practices under CMIP6 climate projections in corn-soybean system in Maumee River Watershed, USA, 2023 ASABE Annual International Meeting, July 8-12, Omaha, NE [Oral]
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
3. Khanal, S, Hazrana, J, and Timilsina, A P. Understanding of Agronomic, Environmental, and Economic Tradeoffs of Cover Crops in Maumee River Watershed, Northeast Agricultural / Biological Engineering Conference (NABEC), July 30 - August 2, Guelph, ON [Oral]
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Progress 04/15/22 to 04/14/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences for this reporting period include the researchers, graduate students, staff and industry collaborators. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Four graduate students (1 masters and 3 PhD), 1 post-doctoral researcher, 1 design engineer, 1 technician and multiple undergraduate students were trained in the areas of equipment development, field testing, experimental design, data collection and analysis, and modeling, including ecological modeling, techno-economic and life cycle analyses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been shared among the research team, including PD and co-PDs, graduate students, and staff, and in regional and national conferences with wider audience. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1: All tasks within this objective have been completed. Objective 2: All tasks within this objective have been completed. Objective 3: All tasks within this objective have been completed. Objective 4: In the next reporting period, the SOC estimates from the DNDC modeling will be further improved by incorporating ground-truth SOC data that is being collected from multiple farmers' fields as a part of another ongoing project. Additionally, techno-economic and life-cycle environmental impact assessments of the proposed system will be completed.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: The tasks within this objective including the fabrication, customization and testing of the prototype harvester were completed in years 1 and 2 of the project. Objective 2: Storage of the whole-plant corn bales formed in the fall of 2021 were completed in the summer of 2022 including two sampling periods. We harvested a total of 18 bales. The bulk density and moisture content of the bales were in the ranges 15-18 lb/ft3 and 22.5-31.2%, respectively. The bales were stored under shed for control and under tarp outdoors. The dry matter loss of the bales ranged from 1-7% for up to six months of storage. The moisture content of the bales stabilized at ~20% for both the storage durations. The composition of the stover and cob fractions of the bales did not significantly change during storage. Objective 3: All tasks within this objective were completed in Years 2 and 3 of the project. Objective 4: The DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) model, calibrated and validated using ground-truth field data, was employed across 323 sub-watersheds in the Maumee River Watershed (MRW) to assess the agroecosystem services, including greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and soil organic carbon, from a corn-soybean-dominated agriculture system with current (conventional) practices for 2010-2020. The annual and monthly CO2 and N2O emissions during the growing seasons were assessed spatially and temporally, and the major predictors, such as management, climatic and edaphic factors, of GHG emissions were identified. Soil factors such as soil pH, clay, and SOC and management factors such as crop rotation, tillage practices, synthetic nitrogen fertilizer rate, and drain spacing were major influencers for the yearly variation of GHGs. However, climatic factors, temperature, and precipitation were responsible for the monthly variation in GHGs. Simulations are currently underway to analyze the impacts of six conservation practices, including no-tillage, reduced tillage, increased residue removal (corn residue from 30% to 50%), and cover crop establishment. The outcomes of the analysis will include their potential to maintain or enhance corn and soybean yields as well as SOC compared to current practices. As the whole-plant harvest method can remove up to 50% of the corn residue, the simulation outcomes for this residue removal scenario will be used as inputs to the techno-economic and life-cycle analysis. Models for techno-economic and life cycle analyses have been developed and is currently being used to estimate the resource requirements, capital and operating costs, and environmental impacts associated with the whole-plant harvest and post-harvest logistics system.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Bhattarai, A.; Khanal, S. 2022. Effect of climate change and conservation practices on agroecosystem services at a landscape scale. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) 2022, July 17-20, Houston, Texas. [Oral].
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Bhattarai, A.; Khanal, S. 2022. Modeling variation in agroecosystem services due to climate change and conservation practices at a landscape scale. The Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum 2022, March 4, The Ohio State University. [Poster].
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Khanal, A, and Shah, A. Evaluating the techno-economics of whole-plant corn logistics for biobased industries, 2022 ASABE Annual International Meeting, July 17-20, Houston, TX [Oral]
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Khanal, A, and Shah, A. Evaluating the storage characteristics of whole-plant corn for biobased industries, 2022 ASABE Annual International Meeting, July 17-20, Houston, TX [Oral]
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Bhattarai, A., Steinbeck, G., Grant, B. B., Kalcic, M., King, K., Smith, Nuo, Xu, N., Deng, J., and Khanal, S. 2022. "Development of a calibration approach using DNDC and PEST for improving estimates of management impacts on water and nutrient dynamics in an agricultural system." Environmental Modelling & Software: 105494.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Khanal, A. Feasibility of Whole-plant Corn Logistics for Biobased Industries. Ph.D. Dissertation. Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering. The Ohio State University.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Bhattarai, A. 2022. Spatiotemporal variation in the agroecosystem services from corn-soybean systems under conservation practices: A case study in the Maumee River Watershed using the DNDC model. M.S. Thesis. Environmental Science and Graduate Degree Program. Ohio State University.
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Progress 04/15/21 to 04/14/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences for this reporting period include the researchers, graduate students, staff, industry collaborators and faculty. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Four graduate students (2 masters and 2 PhD), 1 post-doctoral researcher, 2 design engineers, 1 technician and multiple undergraduate students were trained in the areas of equipment development, field testing, experimental design, data collection and analysis, and modeling including ecological modeling, techno-economic and life cycle analyses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been shared among the research team, including PD and co-PDs, graduate students, and staff and in regional and national conferences with wider audience. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1: All tasks within this objective have been completed. Objective 2: Storage of the bales harvested in the fall of 2021 will be completed along with their properties evaluation. Objective 3: All tasks within this objective have been completed. Objective 4: In the next reporting period DNDC modeling expanded to a larger scale for a regional simulation will be completed along with the techno-economic and life-cycle environmental impact assessments.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: The tasks within this objective including the fabrication, customization and testing of the prototype whole-plant harvesters were completed in years 1 and 2 of the project. Objective 2: Storage of the whole-plant corn bales formed in Ohio and Iowa in the fall of 2020 were completed in the summer of 2021 including two sampling periods, one in the spring and one in the summer. We harvested a total of 30 whole-plant corn bales in Iowa and transported them to Ohio for storage. Out of the 30 bales, 15 were formed with propionic acid preservative. The wet bale density for the bales from Iowa were in the range 11-15 lb/ft3. The moisture content of the bales were in the range 16-26%. In Ohio, ~40 bales without preservative with wet bale densities of 20-27 lb/ft3 with moisture content ranging from 23 to 29% were produced. All the bales were stored in three different conditions including under shed, under tarp and with plastic wrap in a 2 wide by 3 high stacks with pallets underneath the bales for drainage. Storage characteristics of the bales were evaluated. For the storage duration of 6 months, dry matter losses for the high-density bales under different treatments were in the range 2-6% and 4-14% for the low-density bales. The moisture content of the bales stabilized at ~20% during storage. It showed that to maintain the quality of the grain in whole-plant corn, it would be best to harvest the whole-plant corn when the moisture content is in the range 20-25% with the corn grain moisture being <20%. At this moisture content the test weights of the grain was in the range 50-53 lb/bu for the high-density bales and 52-56 lb/bu for the low-density bales. The composition of the stover and cob fractions of the bales did not significantly change for most treatments due to storage. Objective 3: Plants were collected at harvest in 2020 and 2021 to determine the distribution of aboveground plant material being removed or left in the field. In 2020 and 2021, with whole-plant corn harvest, 29-60% and 40-55% of the total stover without including the cobs was left in the field. The difference in the proportion was due to the varying ear height as the corn varieties were different between the two years. Nutrient analysis showed higher potassium content in the stover fraction below the ear level. Objective 4: With the DeNitrification DeComposition (DNDC) model calibrated to evaluate soil organic carbon (SOC), crop yield, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of corn-soybean rotated agricultural systems under various management practices, we are running the DNDC model at 12-Digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) in the Western Lake Erie Basin to simulate the tradeoffs in ecosystem services (e.g., SOC, GHG, crop yield, nitrogen leaching) that arise from management choices and environmental conditions. The outputs from the DNDC model will be used as inputs to the techno-economic and life cycle assessments to estimate the economic and environmental benefits obtained from implementing the whole-plant corn harvest and post-harvest logistics system. In addition, techno-economic and life-cycle assessment models are being developed to estimate the capital and operating costs, and material, energy and labor requirements as well as life-cycle environmental impacts.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Khanal, A.; Shah A. Evaluating storage characteristics of whole-plant corn for biobased industries, 2021 Annual International Meeting - American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), July 12-16, Virtual. [Oral].
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Khanal A.; Shah A. Assessing the storage characteristics of whole-plant corn for biobased industries, Northeast Agricultural and Biological Engineering Conference (NABEC) 2021, July 26-28, Virtual. [Poster].
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Bhattarai, A.; Khanal, S. 2021. Simulating the effects of management and environmental factors on ecosystem services from corn and soybean-dominated agricultural production systems. 2021 Annual International Meeting - American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), July 12-16, Virtual. [Poster].
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Bhattarai, A.; Khanal, S. 2021. Modeling the effects of management practices and environmental variables on ecosystem services from corn-dominated agricultural systems. Northeast Agricultural and Biological Engineering Conference (NABEC) 2021, July 26-28, Virtual. [Poster].
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Bhattarai et al., 2022. Development and implementation of a framework for the calibration of the DNDC model using an inverse modeling approach to quantify nutrient dynamics in an agricultural system. Science of the Total Environment.
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Progress 04/15/20 to 04/14/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences for this reporting period include researchers, extension specialists, commodity groups, original equipment manufacturers and vendors, supply chain aggregators, and biobased industries. Changes/Problems:As a result of the lockdown due to COVID-19, several of our activities were impacted as we were not able to work in the labs and fields in teams, which is necessary for this collaborative project. These restrictions delayed the equipment development and field testing. We were also unable to travel for this project due to restrictions and could not obtain all the desired field data. However, as permitted by the university and following the CDC guidelines, we were able to accomplish the major goals we had for this project for 2020. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Four graduate students (2 masters and 2 PhD), 2 post-doctoral researchers, 2 design engineers and 2 technicians were trained in the areas of equipment development, field testing, experimental design, data collection and analyses, and ecological, techno-economic and life cycle modeling and analyses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been shared among the research team, including PD and co-PDs, graduate students, and staff and with wider audience through publications and presentations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, we plan to modify the harvester to increase its field productivity. We will harvest whole plant corn bales in Iowa and Ohio for storage and characterization tests, which will give us two years of data for the project. We will continue to collect plant and soil samples to evaluate the impact of the whole plant harvest on agronomic characteristics. We plan to extend the DNDC model to a larger scale for a regional simulation of various corn stover removal scenarios and for multiple sites in the Maumee River Watershed in Ohio. We will also assess other alternative scenarios and climate change scenarios to see the effects on ecosystem services of SOC, yield, and GHGs. We will conduct the techno-economic and life-cycle analyses to evaluate the techno-economics and environmental impacts of this system using the data collected from the project and from the literature.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1: At OSU, a New Holland 450SFI omni-directional forage header was fitted with a New Holland 340S+ baler with several modifications including a header mount to the baler frame, hydraulic header drive, reconfigured baler undercarriage, design of an offset hitch, and modified PTO driveline. The offset hitch allowed the whole-plant harvester to trail to the right side of the tractor thereby ensuring the standing maize crop can be harvested without being trafficked by the tractor. Field tests conducted in Ohio during Autumn 2020 revealed average power requirement of 130 hp with peak power requirements of up to 310 hp to operate both the harvester and tractor. The whole-plant harvester produced bales with an average density of 21.5 lbs/ft3. Harvested yields ranged from 14.8-15.4 ton/ac based on the bale weight and harvested area. Objective 2: In Iowa, our collaborator Kelderman Manufacturing, Inc. (KMI) modified their prototype self-propelled single pass baler for whole plant corn and, in October 2020, harvested 30 bales, which were sent to Ohio for storage and characteristics evaluations. Out of the 30 bales, 15 were sprayed with propionic acid preservative. The average wet density for the bales from Iowa was 13 lb/ft3 at an average moisture content of 22%; whereas, the 40 bales produced in Ohio had an average wet bale density of 21.5 lb/ft3 at an average moisture content of 26%. All bales were placed in 2 wide by 3 high bale stacks with pallets underneath them, and stored under three different conditions: under a roof, under a tarp cover, and completely wrapped in plastic. All bales are sampled for analysis periodically to evaluate changes in characteristics during storage. Objective 3: We collected plant and soil samples from a 25-acre corn field in Ohio. The field was divided into 12 zones, each with 24 rows, and soil and plant samples were collected from three sampling regions (8 row wide and 100 feet long) within each zone right before harvest. Plants were cut at the ground level and were divided into grain, cob, and stover fractions. Plant heights ranged from 31-93 in., and moisture contents for grain, cob, stover fractions above and below the ear-level were in the ranges of 16-29%, 15-51%, 11-54% and 36-78%, respectively. The above-ground dry matter contributions of grain, cob, stover above and below ear were 44-68%, 7-15%, 10-31% and 7-21%, respectively. Nutrient and composition analyses varied between the different fractions but showed no differences for the same fraction at different locations. Soil samples collected prior to harvest in the fall were analyzed to determine Permanganate OxidizableCarbon (POXC), available N, and soil respiration. In addition, soil physical properties such as, in situ resistance to penetrometer and moisture content were also measured. The data is being analyzed. Objective 4: We have calibrated and validated the DeNitrification DeComposition (DNDC) model and used it to evaluate soil organic carbon (SOC), crop yield, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of corn-soybean rotated agricultural systems under various management practices. We compared the effect of various conservation practices such as use of no-tillage, cover crops, and manure addition to the baseline management strategy of conventional tillage, no cover crops and synthetic fertilizer use. We found that nitrous oxide emissions peaked in years planted with corn and after fertilization events. Similarly, carbon dioxide emissions also peaked in years planted with corn, when tillage operations took place. SOC sequestration was increased in scenarios with no tillage and cover crop practices but it also increased carbon dioxide emissions, hence the trade-off between these management practices should be considered. We have completed the benchmark techno-economic and life-cycle analyses for conventional stover harvest and have identified that increasing the bale densities and reducing the number of in-field machineries would improve the logistics of corn stover harvesting. Currently, we are developing the models for techno-economic and life-cycle analyses of the proposed logistics system with data collected from the project and the literature.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Steinbeck, G., Model-Based Environmental Impact Assessment of Agricultural Conservation Practices on Corn Production, Thesis for Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2020.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Shah, A., Manandhar, A. and Darr, M.J., Near-term practical strategies to improve the life cycle techno-economics, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of corn stover supply system for biobased industries, Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, Vol. 15-1, Jan/Feb 2021. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/bbb.2199
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Progress 04/15/19 to 04/14/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiences for this reporting period include the researchers, graduate students, staff and industry collaborators. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two graduate students and two research associates are being trained, each in one or more of the following areas: (1) research methods including designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and reporting results; (2) equipment modifications, and (3) methodologies for techno-economic and life cycle analyses How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Preliminary results have been shared among the research team, including PD and co-PDs, graduate students, and staff as well as industry collaborators. Preliminary equipment designs have been shared with our industry collaborator CNH Industrial. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?For the 2020-2021 period, corn will be planted and harvested in IA (5 ac) and OH (20 ac) following an experimental design that will compare whole plant to business-as-usual. Data on soil compaction, moisture, and other parameters will be collected. The KMI self-propelled baler will be further optimized for fall harvest. The Iowa harvest will be designed to assess the effects of variations in moisture content and preservative application rate. Modifications to the CNH baler at OSU are expected to be completed and the system will be tested during the fall harvest. All bales will be stored under different conditions, and the biomass quality evaluated to assess the effects of different baling and storage parameters. We will continue refining the DNDC model performance with 2020-2021 data and evaluate the impact of different management practices on GHG emission as well as crop yield.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
For Objective 1, collaborator Kelderman Industries, Inc. (KMI) modified its prototype single-pass baler, tested it on whole plant corn, and completed further modifications before harvest. At OSU, design for modifications to fit a six row forage harvester head to a current model CNH large rectangular baler, which will enable whole plant corn baling, was begun. The referenced equipment is on site at OSU and the modifications have been initiated. De-baler design modifications were also begun. For Objective 2, KMI harvested 12 bales of corn in Iowa in November 2019 using its modified self-propelled baler. The harvest was later than expected due to weather conditions. Collabotor FDC Enterprises transported the bales to the OSU Wooster Campus on January 2020 for preliminary evaluations. For Objective 3, we began preliminary evaluations of the bales sent from Iowa. Note that feedstock evaluation has been limited because OSU was shut down on March 17, 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. For Objective 4, we have begun calibrating and validating the DeNitrification DeComposition (DNDC) model to evaluate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of various management practices in a corn-soybean rotation. Currently, the model is calibrated and validated with in-situ water and nitrogen leaching, and crop yield data. Using the model, we are evaluating the GHG impact of different corn harvesting strategies. These and other data, which are being synthesized from literature, are being used to develop the techno-economic and life cycle analyses models.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Steinbeck, G. W., Khanal, S., Kalcic, M. & King, K. Modeling the effects of management practices on soil greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient content for a corn-soybean system. 2020 CFAES Annual Conference, Ohio State University, OH. April 22, 2020
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Steinbeck, G., Khanal, S. 2020. Modeling effects of cover crop incorporation in corn-soybean systems on greenhouse gas emissions. 73rd Northeast Corn Improvement Conference. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. Feb 20, 2020
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Khanal, S.; Steinbeck, G. 2019. Inverse modeling for calibration and uncertainty analysis of the DNDC model. American Geographical Union. Lecture conducted from San Francisco, CA. 9 13 December 2019
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