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parameter value
buffer.m 60
C.value.kg 0.05
dCO2eq.swg.MgCO2eq.ha 0
dCO2eq.will.MgCO2eq.ha 0
Ffac 2.42
future.year 2030
N.value.kg 35
Nfac 1.22
Nfert.corn 120
Nfert.swg 30
Nfert.will 0
P.value.kg 28
SOC.corn.MgCO2eq.ha 2.782
SOC.swg.MgCO2eq.ha 5.39
SOC.will.MgCO2eq.ha 3.74
swg.pct 50
unharvested.m 10
will.pct 50
yield.frac 0.1

Introduction

BioVEST that allows users to explore the effects of changing riparian buffer composition and the values of ecosystem services. The tool uses Tier-1 methods to estimate carbon storage, emissions, and nutrient loadings, as well as the monetary value of these changes due to replacing annual crops with perennials biomass crops.

Methods

The first step is to read production costs and yields for willow and switchgrass by county-HUC8 intersection. Mixed willow-switchgrass buffers are analyzed using crop area-weighted sums for fips-huc8 units. Our analysis included 1706 unique fips-huc8 combinations. This allows us to estimate buffer effects on carbon storage and nutrient loadings.

We design the buffers by removing a specified width nearest the stream from harvest and assigning willow and switchgrass to the remaining width, targetting specified proportions. We then estimate the ecosystem services from the buffers relative to the initial landscape planted in annual crops. These are assigned monetary values.

Results are presented in several ways. First, spatial output data can be provided for linked models, including BILT and GREET. Second, quantiles of estimates are presented in a table. Third, we display the distribution of values (and production cost) for each ecosystem service, showing the relative importance of each. Fills indicate the quartiles of values, where the basic spatial unit is the fips-huc8 intersection. These can also be shown as a proportion of fixed production costs.

Results

The table below summarizes BioVEST Tier-1 results by displaying quantiles of ecosystem services and values.

We examine geographic patterns in where the value of ecosystem services is high. Mapping of ecosystem services revealed that the watersheds with high values for water quality improvement did not necessarily coincide with watersheds having high value for carbon sequestration or avoided GHG emissions.

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Our analysis shows the value of ecosystem services from carbon credits and nutrient reductions. The distribution of value is plotted for each ecoystem service and the total. In addition, we present these values as a percentage of fixed production cost.

Plot sustainable-supply curve, biomass production is in Mg/ha. Values are shown for ten equal intervals of cumulative biomass supply.