What are the effects of bioenergy crops on wetlands?
Bioenergy crops will not be planted in wetlands in the U.S. However, they do have the potential to be planted as buffer strips along waterways and streams to intercept nutrient runoff from agricultural crops, thus helping to protect water quality. They would also contribute to decreasing sediment transport from agricultural lands. Studies are looking at planting bioenergy crops in flood-prone areas, because as perennial crops they do not have to be re-established annually and can withstand periods of flooding. Harvesting of these crops on wet areas would have to be timed carefully to occur during dry periods to minimize rutting and compaction of the land.
