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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Manganese sources and rates impact plant Mn concentrations and soil Mn fractions

Manganese (Mn) is an essential micronutrient for all organisms. In plants, Mn plays a critical role in photosynthesis and as a structural component of enzymes. In soils, Mn exists as different fractions of varying availability to plants. Mn fertilizers can be used to increase Mn availability to plants but are easily converted from a plant-available fraction (exchangeable Mn) to an unavailable fraction (Mn-oxides). Little research has been done in agricultural settings on soil Mn fractions; thus, the objective of this experiment was to study the effect of Mn additions on soil Mn fractions and plant Mn concentration. Here, a greenhouse experiment was conducted by growing soybean (Glycine max) treated with three Mn application rates (recommended or 1×, 10×, and 50×) of two sources (MnSO 4 and Mn ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid [MnEDTA]). Soil Mn fractions (Mehlich-1 extractable, exchangeable, organic-bound, Mn-oxide, residual) were quantified via sequential Mn extraction procedures. Bioavailability was evaluated by measuring soybean leaf Mn concentrations. Both fertilizer types increased available soil Mn fractions. Leaf Mn concentration increased with MnSO 4 50× application at the V3 stage and decreased with MnEDTA addition at the V3 and R2 stages. Mn additions likely resulted in the conversion of Mn into unavailable fractions. This was amplified by higher application rates, where total Mn increased by 18.5%, but available Mn decreased by 4.3% relative to initial soil values. Thus, our study showed that adding Mn to soils does not necessarily increase plant-available Mn.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Wastewater reuse benefits for municipal complete retention lagoons: Life cycle assessment and dynamic modeling

Complete retention lagoons with wastewater reuse for agricultural purposes may offer sustainability advantages over alternative systems for small communities in semiarid regions. This study quantifies the environmental life cycle impact of adopting agriculture water reuse systems using case study data to estimate operating and building infrastructure impacts and spatial–temporal modeling to quantify resource trade-offs. Water reuse system benefits are highly dependent on supply–storage–demand dynamics. The relative size of irrigated agricultural land to the lagoon size was the most significant factor influencing site water application rates. The benefits are sensitive to changes in air emissions occurring from the agricultural land and further emphasize the importance of proper fertilizer management when adopting water reuse systems. Wastewater reuse from complete retention lagoons reduce life cycle GHG emissions, primarily through excavation reductions, offset fertilizer use, and especially from increased crop yields from wastewater reuse at previously rainfed sites.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Genome mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling domestication traits of intermediate wheatgrass ( Thinopyrum intermedium )

Allohexaploid (2n = 6x = 42) intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium), abbreviated IWG, is an outcrossing perennial grass belonging to the tertiary gene pool of wheat. Perenniality would be valuable option for grain production, but attempts to introgress this complex trait from wheat-Thinopyrum hybrids have not been commercially successful. Efforts to breed IWG itself as a dual-purpose forage and grain crop have demonstrated useful progress and applications, but grain yields are significantly less than wheat. Therefore, genetic and physical maps have been developed to accelerate domestication of IWG. Herein, these maps were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes associated with IWG grain production traits in a family of 266 full-sib progenies derived from two heterozygous parents, M26 and M35. Transgressive segregation was observed for 17 traits related to seed size, shattering, threshing, inflorescence capacity, fertility, stem size, and flowering time. A total of 111 QTLs were detected in 36 different regions using 3826 genotype-by-sequence markers in 21 linkage groups. The most prominent QTL had a LOD score of 15 with synergistic effects of 29% and 22% over the family means for seed retention and percentage of naked seeds, respectively. Many QTLs aligned with one or more IWG gene models corresponding to 42 possible domestication orthogenes including the wheat Q and RHT genes. A cluster of seed-size and fertility QTLs showed possible alignment to a putative Z self-incompatibility gene, which could have detrimental grain-yield effects when genetic variability is low. Finally, these findings elucidate pathways and possible hurdles in the domestication of IWG.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Rapid denitrification of nitrate-contaminated groundwater in a low-gradient blackwater stream valley

Leaching of excess nitrogen (N) to groundwater in fertilized landscapes can overwhelm natural biogeochemical processes and cause long-term eutrophication of aquatic systems. We investigated N fate and transport from an intensively managed short-rotation woody crop (Pinus taeda) plantation through the riparian zone of an intermittent, low-gradient blackwater stream. Fertilization of the P. taeda plantation on the uplands resulted in contamination of groundwater with nitrate concentrations between 0.9 and 1.9 mg N L -1 . No corresponding increase in nitrate was observed in stream water or shallow groundwater in the riparian zone. Groundwater travel-time modeling predicted that N from near-stream, upland plantation areas should have reached streams during the monitoring period. Two years of measuring N species in well water in contrasting landscape positions (within the plantation, swale, riparian edge, forested hillslope, and valley), indicated rapid nitrate transformation and denitrification within the forested wetland valleys. Denitrification in the shallow groundwater system within the toeslopes and the riparian zone was estimated to have removed > 90% of nitrate. Finally, these results highlight the importance of riparian zones as pathways for the removal of N and for controlling downstream N loads.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Ectomycorrhizal fungal diversity interacts with soil nutrients to predict plant growth despite weak plant-soil feedbacks

Background and aims Plant-soil feedbacks are the result of multiple abiotic and biotic mechanisms. However, few studies have addressed how feedbacks vary based on abiotic context or attempted to identify microbiota responsible for feedbacks. In this work, we investigated whether plant-soil feedbacks of an ectomycorrhizal tree (Quercus macrocarpa) varied based on soil nutrient status and whether fungal community composition and diversity could explain feedback patterns. Furthermore, we inoculated Q. macrocarpa seedlings with field-sampled soils taken from five soil origins – including heterospecific and conspecific trees and an old field – which were profiled using fungal DNA metabarcoding.Results Despite finding that soils associated with different hosts harbored distinct fungal communities and that fungal communities were predictive of plant growth, we did not find any significant plant-soil feedbacks regardless of fertilization status. We did find that the growth promotive effect associated with ectomycorrhizal OTU diversity was weakened with fertilization, suggesting context-dependent relations between plant growth and a guild of fungal mutualists. Our results demonstrate that the host-specific accumulation of functionally important soil microbes is not always sufficient to drive observable plant-soil feedbacks. Our data provide support for a role for ECM fungal diversity in mediating plant growth responses, though it is unclear whether this effect is direct or indirect.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Root phenotypes for improved nitrogen capture

Abstract Background Suboptimal nitrogen availability is a primary constraint for crop production in low-input agroecosystems, while nitrogen fertilization is a primary contributor to the energy, economic, and environmental costs of crop production in high-input agroecosystems. In this article we consider avenues to develop crops with improved nitrogen capture and reduced requirement for nitrogen fertilizer. Scope Intraspecific variation for an array of root phenotypes has been associated with improved nitrogen capture in cereal crops, including architectural phenotypes that colocalize root foraging with nitrogen availability in the soil; anatomical phenotypes that reduce the metabolic costs of soil exploration, improve penetration of hard soil, and exploit the rhizosphere; subcellular phenotypes that reduce the nitrogen requirement of plant tissue; molecular phenotypes exhibiting optimized nitrate uptake kinetics; and rhizosphere phenotypes that optimize associations with the rhizosphere microbiome. For each of these topics we provide examples of root phenotypes which merit attention as potential selection targets for crop improvement. Several cross-cutting issues are addressed including the importance of soil hydrology and impedance, phenotypic plasticity, integrated phenotypes, in silico modeling, and breeding strategies using high throughput phenotyping for co-optimization of multiple phenes. Conclusions Substantial phenotypic variation exists in crop germplasm for an array of root phenotypes that improve nitrogen capture. Although this topic merits greater research attention than it currently receives, we have adequate understanding and tools to develop crops with improved nitrogen capture. Root phenotypes are underutilized yet attractive breeding targets for the development of the nitrogen efficient crops urgently needed in global agriculture.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Genetic variation in Zea mays influences microbial nitrification and denitrification in conventional agroecosystems

Nitrogenous fertilizers provide a short-lived benefit to crops in agroecosystems, but stimulate nitrification and denitrification, processes that result in nitrate pollution, N 2 O production, and reduced soil fertility. Recent advances in plant microbiome science suggest that genetic variation in plants can modulate the composition and activity of rhizosphere N-cycling microorganisms. Here we attempted to determine whether genetic variation exists in Zea mays for the ability to influence the rhizosphere nitrifier and denitrifier microbiome under “real-world” conventional agricultural conditions. To capture an extensive amount of genetic diversity within maize we grew and sampled the rhizosphere microbiome of a diversity panel of germplasm that included ex-PVP inbreds (Z. mays ssp. mays), ex-PVP hybrids (Z. mays ssp. mays), and teosinte (Z. mays ssp. mexicana and Z. mays ssp. parviglumis). From these samples, we characterized the microbiome, a suite of microbial genes involved in nitrification and denitrification and carried out N-cycling potential assays. Here we are showing that populations/genotypes of a single species can vary in their ecological interaction with denitrifers and nitrifers. Some hybrid and teosinte genotypes supported microbial communities with lower potential nitrification and potential denitrification activity in the rhizosphere, while inbred genotypes stimulated/did not inhibit these N-cycling activities. These potential differences translated to functional differences in N 2 O fluxes, with teosinte plots producing less GHG than maize plots. Taken together, these results suggest that Zea genetic variation can lead to changes in N-cycling processes that result in N leaching and N 2 O production, and thereby are selectable targets for crop improvement. Understanding the underlying genetic variation contributing to belowground microbiome N-cycling into our conventional agricultural system could be useful for sustainability.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Multi-year and Multi-site Establishment of the Perennial Biomass Crop Miscanthus × giganteus Using a Staggered Start Design to Elucidate N Response

Much field research on perennial bioenergy crops confounds effects of plant age with those of the growing season, which increases uncertainty and the potential for erroneous conclusions, particularly in maturing stands. Most studies rely on stands planted in a single year and measured across multiple subsequent seasons. These “single-start” designs lack statistical power to separate temporal from environment effects. We used here a staggered start experimental design to learn if increased statistical power clarified understanding of Miscanthus × giganteus nitrogen (N) needs. We conducted a staggered start experiment with three planting years and five N rates during the M. × giganteus yield-building phase at three sites across IA, USA. Third-year yields were 21.0, 25.0, and 27.1 Mg dry matter (DM) ha -1 at the northwest (NW), central, and southeast (SE) sites, respectively. Nitrogen fertilization effects changed with establishment conditions, but not with plant age. At the most N responsive site, N fertilizer changed yields at all stand ages, but not in every year. Yield increases of 150%, 36%, and 40% were observed in 1-, 2-, and 3-year-old stands, respectively, with N addition. Nitrogen effects on 1-year-old stands were positive in SE IA (2.7 kg DM kg -1 N added), negative (-2.3 kg DM kg -1 N) in NW IA, and variable in central IA (-2.2–9.6 kg DM kg -1 N), suggesting a site–year-specific response. Yield increases between the first and second years varied by > 100% depending on establishment conditions, highlighting the need for repeated planting before determining economic and agronomic crop viability.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Diversified cropping systems support greater microbial cycling and retention of carbon and nitrogen

Diversifying biologically simple cropping systems often entails altering other management practices, such as tillage regime or nitrogen (N) source. We hypothesized that the interaction of crop rotation, N source, and tillage in diversified cropping systems would promote microbially-mediated soil C and N cycling while attenuating inorganic N pools. We studied a cropping systems trial in its 10th year in Iowa, USA, which tested a 2-yr cropping system of corn (Zea mays L.)/soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] managed with conventional fertilizer N inputs and conservation tillage, a 3-yr cropping system of corn/soybean/small grain + red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and a 4-yr cropping system of corn/soybean/small grain + alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)/alfalfa. Three year and 4-yr cropping systems were managed with composted manure, reduced N fertilizer inputs, and periodic moldboard ploughing. We assayed soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and N (MBN), soil extractable NH4 and NO3, gross proteolytic activity of native soil, and potential activity of six hydrolytic enzymes eight times during the growing season. At the 0-20cm depth, native protease activity in the 4-yr cropping system was greater than in the 2-yr cropping system by a factor of 7.9, whereas dissolved inorganic N pools did not differ between cropping systems (P = 0.292). At the 0-20cm depth, MBC and MBN the 4-yr cropping system exceeded those in the 2-yr cropping system by factors of 1.51 and 1.57. Our findings suggest that diversified crop cropping systems, even when periodically moldboard ploughed, support higher levels of microbial biomass, greater production of bioavailable N from SOM, and a deeper microbially active layer than less diverse cropping systems.

alternative agriculture↗
DOE OSTI2019

Simulating International Drought Experiment field observations using the Community Land Model

Anthropogenic climate change will alter regional hydrologic cycles around the world, in part by increasing the frequency or duration of droughts in some areas. The International Drought Experiment (IDE) is investigating the impact of severe drought on terrestrial vegetation by experimentally reducing precipitation at dozens of sites. Here, in this study, we implement the IDE precipitation reduction protocol using the Community Land Model (CLM). Though many model results suggest that carbon fertilization will outpace drought-caused reduction of terrestrial carbon uptake, uncertainty is large. We therefore configure CLM to consider carbon cycling impacts of reduced moisture availability without intertwining the effects of carbon fertilization or phenological changes. California hosts a number of IDE sites and a wide range of topography, climate, and biomes. CMIP5 predictions suggest 21st century California will experience droughts in excess of the 1000-year climatological record for both frequency and magnitude. CLM suggests that some regions, including much of Northern California, may experience a steeper decline in gross primary productivity (GPP) during 21st century severe droughts than during 20th century severe droughts. Vegetation in Northern California experiences virtually all of this GPP reduction during the dry season, with little wet season GPP reduction even during severe drought. Southern California vegetation experiences soil moisture GPP limitation at virtually all times, increasing substantially with drought severity. Southern California should experience a more pronounced shift in GPP seasonality and decline in magnitude relative to Northern California during droughts. Some parts of every vegetated continent see changes to drought response and seasonality similar to Southern California. Our CLM results provide drought impacts that forthcoming IDE field observations may test, can help to spatially upscale site-based IDE observations of drought impact, and provide CLM's prediction of reduced precipitation impacts per unit leaf area index.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Unveiling the drivers contributing to global wheat yield shocks through quantile regression

Sudden reductions in crop yield (i.e., yield shocks) severely disrupt the food supply, intensify food insecurity, depress farmers' welfare, and worsen a country's economic conditions. Here, we study the spatiotemporal patterns of wheat yield shocks, quantified by the lower quantiles of yield fluctuations, in 86 countries over 30 years. Furthermore, we assess the relationships between shocks and their key ecological and socioeconomic drivers using quantile regression based on statistical (linear quantile mixed model) and machine learning (quantile random forest) models. Using a panel dataset that captures spatiotemporal patterns of yield shocks and possible drivers in 86 countries, we find that the severity of yield shocks has been increasing globally since 1997. Moreover, our cross-validation exercise shows that quantile random forest outperforms the linear quantile regression model. Despite this performance difference, both models consistently reveal that the severity of shocks is associated with higher weather stress, nitrogen fertilizer application rate, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (a typical indicator for economic and technological advancement in a country). While the unexpected negative association between more severe wheat yield shocks and higher fertilizer application rate and GDP per capita does not imply a direct causal effect, they indicate that the advancement in wheat production has been primarily on achieving higher yields and less on lowering the possibility and magnitude of sharp yield reductions. Hence, in the context of growing extreme weather stress, there is a critical need to enhance the technology and management practices that mitigate yield shocks to improve the resilience of the world food systems.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

The rhizosphere and cropping system, but not arbuscular mycorrhizae, affect ammonia oxidizing archaea and bacteria abundances in two agricultural soils

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbioses with roots that can enhance plant nutrition. While AMF have been shown to have a role in soil nitrogen (N) cycling, it is unclear whether AMF affect N cycling microbes such as ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), which convert ammonium into nitrite in the first step of nitrification. In this study, we examined the effects of AMF on AOA and AOB abundances within the corn rhizosphere and bulk soil of conventional (corn-soybean rotation with inorganic fertilizer) and diversified (cornsoybean- oats/alfalfa-oats rotation with composted manure) systems. We hypothesized that AMF would decrease AOA and AOB abundances in a cropping-system dependent manner, possibly due to competition for ammonium. We grew corn deficient or proficient in AMF symbiosis in microcosms for 10 weeks. At the end of the experiment, both soils planted with the AMF-proficient corn genotype had higher ammonium and lower nitrate pool sizes compared to the same soils planted with the AMF-deficient corn genotype. Likewise, total plant N was higher in the AMF-proficient genotype compared to the AMF-deficient genotype. Despite changes in soil inorganic N pool sizes, AOA and AOB abundances were unaffected by plant AMF-proficiency. Instead, AOA abundance was greater in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soil regardless of cropping system, and AOB abundance was greater in the conventional than the diversified cropping system soil regardless of proximity to the root. These data indicate that 1) AMF did not affect AOA or AOB abundance in these N-rich soils but other factors such as root proximity and inorganic fertilization did and 2) AOA and AOB have differing ecological niches within rhizosphere and bulk soil that should be considered when managing for nitrogen losses.

Wattenburger, Cassandra↗
DOE OSTI2017

Near-infrared laser irradiation improves the development of mouse pre-implantation embryos

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of near-infrared laser irradiation on the in vitro development of mouse embryos. Female ICR mice were superovulated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and mated with male mice. Two-cell stage embryos were collected 40 h after administering hCG and cultured in M16 medium. Two-cell embryos (0 h after culture), 8-cell embryos (approx. 30 h after culture), morula (approx. 48 h after culture), and blastocysts (approx. 73 h after culture) were irradiated at 904 nm for 60 s. These embryos were cultured in a time-lapse monitoring system and the timing of blastocyst hatching was evaluated. Some of the irradiated blastocysts were transferred to the uterine horns of pseudopregnant recipients immediately after irradiation. Pregnancy rates, and offspring growth and fertility, were evaluated. Near-infrared laser irradiation increased the speed of in vitro mouse embryo development. In irradiated blastocysts, hatching was faster than in control (non-irradiated) blastocysts (18.4 vs. 28.2 h, P < 0.05). When 195 irradiated blastocysts were transferred to 18 pseudopregnant mice, all became pregnant and 92 (47.2%) normal-looking pups were born alive. When 182 control blastocysts were transferred to 17 pseudopregnant mice, 14 (82.4%) became pregnant and 54 (29.7%) normal-looking pups were born alive. The growth trajectories (up to 5 weeks) of offspring from irradiated blastocysts were similar to those from control blastocysts. Second generation offspring from transplanted animals were all fertile. These results indicate that near-infrared laser irradiation improves the quality of mouse embryo development in vitro, and increases the live birth rate without affecting the normality of the offspring. Thus, the near-infrared laser method may enhance the quality of embryos and contribute to improvements in reproductive technologies in mammals. - Highlights: • Irradiation of blastocysts with a near-infrared laser improves embryo development. • Irradiation of blastocysts increases the live birth rate after embryo transfer. • Irradiation of blastocysts did not affect the normality of the pups. • Near-infrared laser irradiation may be useful to enhance the quality of embryos. • This study may contribute to improvements in reproductive technologies in mammals.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Induction of immune-related gene expression by seminal exosomes in the porcine endometrium

Highlights: • Exosomes are present in sperm-rich fraction of porcine seminal plasma (SP). • Exosomes present in SP regulate immune-related genes in the porcine uterus. • Seminal exosomes may pave the way for sperm and fertilized egg transport. Seminal plasma (SP) is considered as a vehicle to carry sperm into female reproductive tract, of which functions have not been completely understood. This study aimed to identify the function of seminal exosomes on porcine endometrium. Exosomes were isolated from the sperm-rich fraction of boar semen and were confirmed by the expression of exosome marker HSP70 and size distribution using nano-sight tracking analysis. Porcine endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) were then treated with seminal exosomes, and RNA extracted were subjected to global expression analysis. Transcripts related to “immune response”, “inflammatory response” and their associated signaling pathways were up-regulated in EECs treated with seminal exosome, whereas those associated with “steroid biosynthesis”, “metabolic pathways” and “T cell differentiation” were down-regulated. The decrease in PMVK, SC5D, INSIG1, HSD17B7, NSDHL, HMGCR, SQLE and FDFT1, and increase in CCL20, TNFSF15, AMCFII, CXCL2 and CXCL8 were also found in the endometrium from the naturally mated pigs. Moreover, changes in exosome-induced CYP24A1, EBP, CCL20, AMCFII and IL1A expression were not regulated by the exosome removed SP. These observations indicated that exosomes present in SP are involved in the immune-related gene regulation in the uterus, which could pave the passage for sperm and possibly fertilized eggs.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Translin modulates mesenchymal cell proliferation and differentiation in mice

Highlights: • Translin restricts the size of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. • Translin impedes the growth of early-stage mesenchymal cells. • Translin inhibits differentiation of bone marrow and adipose mesenchymal cells. • In vitro-fertilized Translin-null mice grow normally and show normal metabolism. Translin, a highly conserved DNA/RNA binding protein that forms a hetero-octamer together with Translin-associated factor X (TRAX), possesses a broad variety of functions, including RNA processing and DNA repair. Recent studies have reported that Translin is involved in mesenchymal cell physiology. Thus, here we analyzed the intrinsic role of Translin in mesenchymal cell proliferation and differentiation. Translin-deficient E11.5 mouse embryonic fibroblasts showed enhanced growth. Translin-deficient bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells showed substantial expansion in vivo and enhanced proliferation in vitro. These cells also showed enhanced osteogenic and adipocytic differentiation. Histological analyses showed adipocytic hypertrophy in various adipose tissues. Translin knockout did not affect the growth of subcutaneous white adipose tissue-derived stem cells, but enhanced adipocytic differentiation was observed in vitro. Contrary to previous reports, in vitro-fertilized Translin-null mice were not runted and exhibited normal metabolic homeostasis, indicating the fragility of these mice to environmental conditions. Together, these data suggest that Translin plays an intrinsic role in restricting mesenchymal cell proliferation and differentiation.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Sustainability assessment of alternative jet fuel for the U.S. Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) is considering replacing the 2.8 billion gallons of petroleum jet fuel consumed within the continental United States (CONUS) annually with alternative jet fuels to reduce vulnerability to price and supply fluctuations and improve sustainability. We evaluate the feasibility of replacing DoD CONUS jet fuel with alternative jet fuel from domestic feedstocks and assess the cost, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy balance, land, water, and fertilizer impacts of nine alternative jet fuel pathways. The feedstocks include terrestrial crops (soy, corn, wood, and grass), marine microalgae, and by-products (forestry residue, municipal solid waste, and waste oil) converted by extraction, fermentation, or thermo-chemical conversion, paired with upgrading steps. We found that domestic biomass feedstocks can meet the DoD CONUS jet fuel demand without significantly affecting food supply. Alternative pathways cost more than petroleum jet fuel ($0.78 l -1 and emitting 89 g CO 2 equivalent (CO 2e ) MJ -1 ), but many lowered GHG emissions. The forestry residue and waste oil pathways yielded the lowest costs ($\$0.92$ and $\$0.82$ l -1 , respectively), decreased emissions (23 and 35 g CO 2 e MJ -1 , respectively), and had negligible effects on land, water, and fertilizer resources. Finally, tradeoffs among sustainability metrics are further explored with a sensitivity analysis and by evaluating carbon-cost scenarios.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2019

A novel system for ammonia-based sustainable energy and agriculture: Concept and design optimization

Here this work presents a new vision for sustainable energy supply and agriculture: an ammonia-based sustainable energy agriculture (ABSEA) system. This intensified system uses renewables to produce ammonia both as fertilizer and as fuel for tractors and grain drying, to meet local electrical power demand and to provide predictable, consistent power export to the grid. The conceptual design of this system exploits synergies between ammonia production and energy supply to allow for economic viability, specifically time-varying chemical production as well as the potential of ammonia and hydrogen as energy storage media. A framework for combined optimization of the ABSEA design and its inherently time-varying operating schedule is proposed with a view on further improving economic competitiveness. A case study which considers the use of wind turbines to meet ammonia fertilizer and fuel demands of 40,300 kg/year and an annual hourly average power demand of 985 kW demonstrates the promise of the ABSEA system and the associated design-scheduling optimization framework. The annual net present cost is approximately $\$$75,000, which corresponds to an emissions reduction cost of $\$$17.60/tonCO2. The ABSEA optimal design uses both hydrogen and ammonia, but not a battery, for energy storage, illustrating their efficacy in this synergistic application.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2018

Phytoremediation of sewage sludge contaminated by trace elements and organic compounds

Highlights: • Sewage sludge reclamation by poplar, willow, eucalyptus and sunflower was evaluated. • A species-specific response in trace element (TE) extraction was observed. • Sunflower was the best candidate for As, Cu, and Zn phytoextraction. • Eucalyptus seems a promising candidate for Pb and Cr phytoextraction. • All species were able to decrease organic pollutant concentration. Phytoremediation is a green technique being increasingly used worldwide for various purposes including the treatment of municipal sewage sludge (MSS). Most plants proposed for this technique have high nutrient demands, and fertilization is often required to maintain soil fertility and nutrient balance while remediating the substrate. In this context, MSS could be a valuable source of nutrients (especially N and P) and water for plant growth. The aim of this study was to determine the capacity willow (Salix matsudana, cv Levante), poplar (Populus deltoides × Populus nigra, cv Orion), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) to clean MSS, which is slightly contaminated by trace elements (TEs) and organic pollutants, and to assess their physiological response to this medium. In particular, we aimed to evaluate the TE accumulation by different species as well as the decrease of TEs and organic pollutants in the sludge after one cropping cycle and the effect of MSS on plant growth and physiology. Since MSS did not show any detrimental effect on the biomass yield of any of the species tested, it was found to be a suitable growing medium for these species. TE phytoextraction rates depended on the species, with eucalyptus showing the highest accumulation for Cr, whereas sunflower exhibited the best performance for As, Cu and Zn. At the end of the trial, some TEs (i.e. Cr, Pb and Zn), n-alkanes and PCBs showed a significant concentration decrease in the sludge for all tested species. The highest Cr decrease was observed in pots with eucalyptus (57.4%) and sunflower (53.4%), whereas sunflower showed the highest Cu decrease (44.2%), followed by eucalyptus (41.2%), poplar (16.2%) and willow (14%). A significant decrease (41.1%) of Pb in the eucalyptus was observed. Zn showed a high decrease rate with sunflower (59.5%) and poplar (52%) and to a lesser degree with willow (35.3%) and eucalyptus (25.4%). The highest decrease in n-alkanes concentration in the sludge was found in willow (98.3%) and sunflower (97.3%), whereas eucalyptus has the lowest PCBs concentration (91.8%) in the sludge compared to the beginning of the trial. These results suggest new strategies (e.g. crop rotation and intercropping) to be adopted for a better management of this phytotechnology.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗