Expanding the Life Cycle Analysis Boundaries for Corn-based Ethanol to Include Land-Use Change: Implications for Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Abstract

Current life cycle analyses of corn-based ethanol assume that CO2 fluxes from soils are negligible. This paper asks if it is necessary to include this flux for corn grown on lands previously enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. The analysis shows that CO2 fluxes from soils is indeed an important variable to consider when determining the overall impact of corn-based ethanol on greenhouse gas emissions.