Evaluating Oilseed Biofuel Production Feasibility in California’s San Joaquin Valley Using Geophysical and Remote Sensing Techniques
Though more costly than petroleum-based fuels and a minor component of overall military fuel sources, biofuels are nonetheless strategically valuable to the military because of intentional reliance on multiple, reliable, secure fuel sources. Significant reduction in oilseed biofuel cost occurs when...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-10-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/17/10/2343 |
| _version_ | 1818011965979623424 |
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| author | Dennis L. Corwin Kevin Yemoto Wes Clary Gary Banuelos Todd H. Skaggs Scott M. Lesch Elia Scudiero |
| author_facet | Dennis L. Corwin Kevin Yemoto Wes Clary Gary Banuelos Todd H. Skaggs Scott M. Lesch Elia Scudiero |
| author_sort | Dennis L. Corwin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Though more costly than petroleum-based fuels and a minor component of overall military fuel sources, biofuels are nonetheless strategically valuable to the military because of intentional reliance on multiple, reliable, secure fuel sources. Significant reduction in oilseed biofuel cost occurs when grown on marginally productive saline-sodic soils plentiful in California’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV). The objective is to evaluate the feasibility of oilseed production on marginal soils in the SJV to support a 115 ML yr−1 biofuel conversion facility. The feasibility evaluation involves: (1) development of an Ida Gold mustard oilseed yield model for marginal soils; (2) identification of marginally productive soils; (3) development of a spatial database of edaphic factors influencing oilseed yield and (4) performance of Monte Carlo simulations showing potential biofuel production on marginally productive SJV soils. The model indicates oilseed yield is related to boron, salinity, leaching fraction, and water content at field capacity. Monte Carlo simulations for the entire SJV fit a shifted gamma probability density function: Q = 68.986 + gamma (6.134,5.285), where Q is biofuel production in ML yr−1. The shifted gamma cumulative density function indicates a 0.15–0.17 probability of meeting the target biofuel-production level of 115 ML yr−1, making adequate biofuel production unlikely. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:15:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-91a359d2567f47f7848cf44caa96a0a1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T06:15:07Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-91a359d2567f47f7848cf44caa96a0a12022-12-22T02:08:14ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202017-10-011710234310.3390/s17102343s17102343Evaluating Oilseed Biofuel Production Feasibility in California’s San Joaquin Valley Using Geophysical and Remote Sensing TechniquesDennis L. Corwin0Kevin Yemoto1Wes Clary2Gary Banuelos3Todd H. Skaggs4Scott M. Lesch5Elia Scudiero6USDA-ARS, U.S. Salinity Laboratory, 450 West Big Springs Road, Riverside, CA 92507, USAUSDA-ARS, Water Management Systems Research, 2150 Center Ave., NRRC Building D, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USADepartment of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Northrop Hall, 221 Yale Blvd. NE, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USAUSDA-ARS, Water Management Research Unit, San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center, 9611 South Riverbend Ave., Parlier, CA 93648, USAUSDA-ARS, U.S. Salinity Laboratory, 450 West Big Springs Road, Riverside, CA 92507, USARiverside Public Utilities—Resources Division, 3435 14th St., Riverside, CA 92501, USAUSDA-ARS, U.S. Salinity Laboratory, 450 West Big Springs Road, Riverside, CA 92507, USAThough more costly than petroleum-based fuels and a minor component of overall military fuel sources, biofuels are nonetheless strategically valuable to the military because of intentional reliance on multiple, reliable, secure fuel sources. Significant reduction in oilseed biofuel cost occurs when grown on marginally productive saline-sodic soils plentiful in California’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV). The objective is to evaluate the feasibility of oilseed production on marginal soils in the SJV to support a 115 ML yr−1 biofuel conversion facility. The feasibility evaluation involves: (1) development of an Ida Gold mustard oilseed yield model for marginal soils; (2) identification of marginally productive soils; (3) development of a spatial database of edaphic factors influencing oilseed yield and (4) performance of Monte Carlo simulations showing potential biofuel production on marginally productive SJV soils. The model indicates oilseed yield is related to boron, salinity, leaching fraction, and water content at field capacity. Monte Carlo simulations for the entire SJV fit a shifted gamma probability density function: Q = 68.986 + gamma (6.134,5.285), where Q is biofuel production in ML yr−1. The shifted gamma cumulative density function indicates a 0.15–0.17 probability of meeting the target biofuel-production level of 115 ML yr−1, making adequate biofuel production unlikely.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/17/10/2343apparent soil electrical conductivityECa-directed soil samplingelectromagnetic inductionproximal sensorresponse surface samplingsalt toleranceboron tolerancesoil mappingsoil salinityspatial variability |
| spellingShingle | Dennis L. Corwin Kevin Yemoto Wes Clary Gary Banuelos Todd H. Skaggs Scott M. Lesch Elia Scudiero Evaluating Oilseed Biofuel Production Feasibility in California’s San Joaquin Valley Using Geophysical and Remote Sensing Techniques Sensors apparent soil electrical conductivity ECa-directed soil sampling electromagnetic induction proximal sensor response surface sampling salt tolerance boron tolerance soil mapping soil salinity spatial variability |
| title | Evaluating Oilseed Biofuel Production Feasibility in California’s San Joaquin Valley Using Geophysical and Remote Sensing Techniques |
| title_full | Evaluating Oilseed Biofuel Production Feasibility in California’s San Joaquin Valley Using Geophysical and Remote Sensing Techniques |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating Oilseed Biofuel Production Feasibility in California’s San Joaquin Valley Using Geophysical and Remote Sensing Techniques |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating Oilseed Biofuel Production Feasibility in California’s San Joaquin Valley Using Geophysical and Remote Sensing Techniques |
| title_short | Evaluating Oilseed Biofuel Production Feasibility in California’s San Joaquin Valley Using Geophysical and Remote Sensing Techniques |
| title_sort | evaluating oilseed biofuel production feasibility in california s san joaquin valley using geophysical and remote sensing techniques |
| topic | apparent soil electrical conductivity ECa-directed soil sampling electromagnetic induction proximal sensor response surface sampling salt tolerance boron tolerance soil mapping soil salinity spatial variability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/17/10/2343 |
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