Converting Marginal Croplands to Switchgrass Production: Modeling the Effects On Streamflow.

Introducing a sustainable bio-energy cropping system requires a careful investigation of its interactions with water resources and food production. One strategy that has been suggested is to use marginal lands for bioenergy crop production in order to reduce competition with food crops. The objective of this research is to determine the effect of converting marginal croplands to switchgrass production of the streamflow. The suitability of the land for crop production was identified using the NRCS land capability classification system. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to predict the effects of converting marginal croplands (capability classes III and IV) to switchgrass production on the streamflow in the Skeleton Creek watershed, in north central Oklahoma. The area is currently characterized by predominantly agricultural land use, with a mix of winter wheat and grassland vegetation.