Urban Farming and Fuel
Statement of Work (10/2009 – 9/2010)
Lead Organization
Utah State University, Department of Plants, Soils and Climate
Ag Sci. 3224820 Old Main Hill,
Logan, UT 84322-4820
Principal Investigator – Dr. Ralph Whitesides, Telephone: 435.797.8252
Fax 435.797.3376
Project Lead – Dallas Hanks, Telephone 801.557.6850
Partner Organizations
National Biodiesel Board
New Holland Tractor
Aerway International
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Utah Department of Transportation
Salt Lake County
Salt Lake City Mayor
Background
Utah State University and the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) initiated a project similar to this proposal in the spring of 2007. This project focused on the production of biodiesel feedstocks along the shoulders and medians of roadsides. The first plots for FreeWays to Fuel were established on four freeway rights of way in Utah during 2007. This research was intended to produce baseline understanding and data regarding growing oilseed crops in UDOT rights-of-ways. The 2007 and 2008 crops experienced adverse growing conditions including hot/ dry weather, soil compaction, planting timing/depth and yields were not acceptable.
In 2009, the Roadside Simulation Laboratory was established at Kaysville Utah. This site afforded modifications to the cultural practices utilized on the roadside F2F plots the previous 2 years. Aeration and compost banding techniques were introduced into the planting and soil amendment of the oilseed crops. With these modifications, measureable harvest was achieved and a milestone was reached.
From this experience, Dr. Ralph Whitesides and Dallas Hanks lead the nation in terms of knowledge relative to biodiesel feedstock production in non-traditional agronomic areas. They are familiar with the perspectives and problems that are associated with this type of venture, and with the need to develop projects that promote collaboration among different organizations
Technical Objectives of Work:
We will be furthering our research on roadside right of ways via the RSL and UDOT rights of way plots as well as expanding efforts into other underutilized acres such as underutilized military, federal or urban lands.
The technical objectives of this project are to
1. determine optimal agronomic practices given current soil conditions
2. investigate economic viability
3. determine optimum feedstock crops to be grown
4. develop F2F RSL and other projects as models that could be used in other locations
5. investigate other underutilized non-traditional agronomic lands (e.g. federal or military
Urban Farming and Fuel (UFF)
Utilizing non-productive land for crop production eliminates debate about using traditional agronomic crop land for fuel production. Salt Lake Councilman Jim Bradley's office, recognized this concept and has been a driving force to establish a pilot project investigating new uses for idle municipal lands. FreeWays to Fuel (F2F) working with Councilman Bradely’s office will develop this pilot project by using city owned land for biodiesel feedstock production. Urban farming and fuel (UFF) is a new concept under the F2F umbrella of inventorying unused municipal land for production of food and fuel. If the land acreage is above 15 acres, it can be used for biofuel feedstock production. If the land is below the 15 acre threshold, it will be utilized for community garden applications.
Approach This project will explore the development of a strategy for biomass feedstock production on municipal lands. Technologies for biomass-to-biofuel conversion are readily available, but affordable feedstock is currently a limiting factor for greater biofuel production. Don Scott, National Biodiesel Board’s Sustainability Director, notes that “biodiesel plants in the U.S. are producing at 30% capacity because of the lack of affordable, sustainable feedstock.”
A 200 acre parcel of land located within the Salt Lake corporate limits and owned by Salt Lake City Corporation has been targeted for this project. Normal agronomic assumptions (http://attra.ncat.org/new_pubs/attra-pub/biodiesel_sustainable.html?id=Utah) predict 10,000 gallons of biodiesel could be produced on this idle land each year to supplement municipal vehicles. More importantly, it could save taxpayer dollars for the procurement of petroleum-based fuels used in day to day operations assuming $2.65/gal petroleum diesel (9/20/09 current market prices http://www.saltlakegasprices.com/index.aspx?fuel=D) vs. $2.26/gal for biodiesel made from feedstock grown on municipal lands (Figure 1).
Figure1 Economic Analysis of Biofuel Grown On Municipal Land
The UFF project will summarize crop production data that will be collected on this property and develop a preliminary model to project feedstock potential and economic benefits to the governments and surrounding communities.
Work Plan For Urban Farming and Fuel project:
1. Site Selection Protocol. Develop site selection protocol with the following considerations, which can be referred to as a “mosaic” of concerns. These include worker safety, future construction plans, and structural integrity of area, agronomic viability, wildlife impacts, site ecology, environmental impacts, slope, and local grower concerns. Not all areas will be suitable for biofuel production.
2. Agronomic Soil Quality Analysis. Measure soil quality by taking 6 inch topsoil samples and analyze for organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity (salinity), bulk density, and nutrient content.
3. Crop Selection. Based on conditions, choose appropriate crops to produce biodiesel feedstock. Proposed feedstocks include spring/fall canola, spring/fall safflower, camelina, yellow mustard, and dwarf sunflower.
4. Academic Questions to be Addressed
The plot area will allow for the exploration of alternative planting methods to relieve compaction and improve growth conditions while assessing economic benefits of these methods. Questions to be addressed include:
o Can the application of biosolids (class A or B) improve seed emergence and yield when compared to conventional fertility?
o Will soil aeration be effective in relieving compaction prior to planting when compared to conventional tillage?
o Would the combination of the two be more effective vs. conventional agronomic practices?
o What are the models for efficient transport and conversion of biofuel feedstocks grown on municipal lands?
5. Experimental Design. Explore the different effects of aeration and organic matter banding on plant establishment to improve soil quality, nutrient content, water retention, seed germination and plant growth – in one pass. Experimental design will be a completely randomized block design with six replications. Conventional tillage (ripping, harrowing) will be compared to the alternative tillage methods of culti-planting = aeration + no-till planting, culti-banding = aeration + no-till planting + compost banding in this design.
6. Establishment of Plots. Sow plots with appropriate oilseed crop/s at two times normal seeding rates utilizing an 8 foot Aerway aerator (donated) with 2400 lbs of weight on selected treatments and then seed with an 8 foot no-till drill. Plot sizes will be 8 feet by 20 feet.
7. Harvest Plots and Record Yield Data. Determine harvest cycles, yields, and record findings and summarize results.
8. Feedstock Analysis. Analyze seeds for fuel and quality relative to biofuel production.
9. Reporting. Provide semi-annual and final reports, or otherwise as required, to monitor the progress of this project.
Expected Benefit:
If successful, this project will have four positive outcomes:
1) Produce sustainable fuels from idle areas that are costly to maintain or are a pest reservoir;
2) Provide a mechanism to economically control weeds harbored by these areas;
3) Provide support to the local economy by providing jobs and relatively inexpensive fuels; and
4) Provide a template or a screening process for other municipalities to follow.
Schedule of Work:
Below is a schedule of activities and milestones that will take place during the project.
Figure 3. Expected Performance for the Urban Farming and Fuel and Roadside Simulation Projects
Milestones for the project include:
1. Establishment of UFF plots near SLC International Airport (Fall/Winter 2009)
o Plot layout
o Production area
o Biosolids application
2. Planting of UFF plots (Spring 2010)
o Sow chosen biofuel crops
3. Harvesting of UFF plots (Late Summer/Fall 2010)
4. Final Yield/Economic Report for UFF plots (Fall 2010)
5. Meeting Attendance:
o National Farm Broadcasting Convention – Kansas City Missouri Nov. 12, 2009
o Abstract Presentation ETSCP Military Convention – Washington DC Dec. 1- 3, 2009
o Attendance at NBB annual meetings – Dallas Texas, Feb 7 – 10, 2010
o National Biomass Meetings – May 2010 - abstract submitted