Biofuels and Bioproducts from Marginal Lands with Industrial and Municipal Wastes.

Amending marginal land using municipal biosolids and flue gas desulfurized (FGD) gypsum for growing advanced energy feedstock was studied. A randomized complete block design with 2 rates of biosolids (0 and 50 kL/ha) and 2 rates of FGD gypsum (0 and 4 Mg/ha) in split-plot arrangement was established in 2010. Big Bluestem, Miscanthus giganteus, and Switchgrass were planted as bioenergy crops on degraded pastureland. Composite soil samples were collected from geo-referenced sites with each replicated plot and analyzed for soil properties including carbon sequestration and soil quality. Growth and biomass production of energy crops were measured over time. Feedstock from each plot was harvested the following three years and analyzed for bioprocessing characteristics and potential ethanol yields. All the data were combined (both deductive and inductive) to calculate the ecosystem services index using additive approach.