Nitrogen use in switchgrass grown for bioenergy across the USA

Owens, Vance N.; Viands, D. R.; Mayton, Hilary; Fike, John H.; Farris, Rodney; Heaton, Emily A.; Bransby, David; Hong, Chang Oh

doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2013.07.016

Cited by 58 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 26 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…For soil depths of 0-15 cm, unmined sites had total soil N contents ranging from 1.10 to 2.96 g kg −1 while mine soils had total soil N concentrations ranging from 0.54 to 1.10 g kg −1 . The latter values are much lower than the total soil N found in unmined areas used for switchgrass growth studies in South Dakota, New York, Oklahoma, and Virginia, which averaged 1.93 g kg −1 within the top 15 cm [14]. This study showed that N use efficiency for switchgrass was highest in Virginia soils, which had the lowest total soil N concentrations of 0.84 g kg −1 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…Optimizing N application to switchgrass stands has been a focus of research because N is often a limiting nutrient for switchgrass growth [7,13,14,25]. Determining economically optimum N application rates will help switchgrass producers maximize profits with high yields while reducing fertilizer and environmental costs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cutting switchgrass too low, which affects carbohydrate storage, and also harvesting two or three times per year will increase the amount of N needed by the plant [16]. Owens et al [14] showed that switchgrass growth responds better to fertilization when initial soil N is low. Switchgrass N recovery varied between 10 and 30 % [14,24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Owens et al [14] showed that switchgrass growth responds better to fertilization when initial soil N is low. Switchgrass N recovery varied between 10 and 30 % [14,24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Another study in Nebraska with Sunburst, also an upland variety, showed that maximum yields were reached with an N rate of 56 kg ha −1 in a test that included 112 kg N ha −1 [14]. The critical N rate to reach maximum yield for three different harvests in Illinois ranged from 50 to 165 kg N ha −1 [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Switchgrass Biofuel Production on Reclaimed Surface Mines: I. Soil Quality and Dry Matter Yield

Brown

Griggs

Keene³

et al. 2015

Bioenerg. Res.

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Growing food crops for biofuel on productive agricultural lands may become less viable as requirements to feed a growing human population increase. This has increased interest in growing cellulosic biofuel feedstocks on marginal lands. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a warm-season perennial, is a viable bioenergy crop candidate because it produces high yields on marginal lands under low fertility conditions. In other studies, switchgrass dry matter (DM) yields on marginal croplands varied from 5.0 to 10.0 Mg ha −1 annually. West Virginia contains immense areas of reclaimed surface mined lands that could support a switchgrass-based biofuel industry, but yield data on these lands are lacking. Field experiments were established in 2008 to determine yields of three switchgrass cultivars on two West Virginia mine sites. One site reclaimed with topsoil and municipal sludge produced biomass yields of 19.0 Mg DM ha −1 for Cave-inRock switchgrass after the sixth year, almost double the varieties Shawnee and Carthage, at 10.0 and 5.7 Mg ha −1 , respectively. Switchgrass yields on another site with no topsoil were 1.0 Mg ha −1 after the sixth year, with little variation among cultivars. A second experiment was conducted at two other mine sites with a layer of topsoil over gray overburden. Cavein-Rock was seeded with fertilizer applications of 0, 34, and 68 kg N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O ha −1 . After the third year, the no fertilizer treatment averaged biomass yields of 0.3 Mg ha −1 , while responses to the other two rates averaged 1.1 and 2.0 Mg ha −1 , respectively. Fertilization significantly increased yields on reclaimed mine soils. Where mine soil fertility was good, yields were similar to those reported on agricultural soils in the Northeastern USA.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 54%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Owens et al [14] showed that switchgrass growth responds better to fertilization when initial soil N is low. Switchgrass N recovery varied between 10 and 30 % [14,24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Switchgrass Biofuel Production on Reclaimed Surface Mines: I. Soil Quality and Dry Matter Yield

Brown

Griggs

Keene³

et al. 2015

Bioenerg. Res.

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Growth and fecundity of fertile Miscanthus × giganteus (“PowerCane”) compared to feral and ornamental Miscanthus sinensis in a common garden experiment: Implications for invasion

Miriti

Ibrahim

Palik

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Perennial grasses are promising candidates for bioenergy crops, but species that can escape cultivation and establish self‐sustaining naturalized populations (feral) may have the potential to become invasive. Fertile Miscanthus × giganteus, known as “PowerCane,” is a new potential biofuel crop. Its parent species are ornamental, non‐native Miscanthus species that establish feral populations and are sometimes invasive in the USA. As a first step toward assessing the potential for “PowerCane” to become invasive, we documented its growth and fecundity relative to one of its parent species (Miscanthus sinensis) in competition with native and invasive grasses in common garden experiments located in Columbus, Ohio and Ames, Iowa, within the targeted range of biofuel cultivation. We conducted a 2‐year experiment to compare growth and reproduction among three Miscanthus biotypes—”PowerCane,” ornamental M. sinensis, and feral M. sinensis—at two locations. Single Miscanthus plants were subjected to competition with a native grass (Panicum virgatum), a weedy grass (Bromus inermis), or no competition. Response variables were aboveground biomass, number of shoots, basal area, and seed set. In Iowa, all Miscanthus plants died after the first winter, which was unusually cold, so no further results are reported from the Iowa site. In Ohio, we found significant differences among biotypes in growth and fecundity, as well as significant effects of competition. Interactions between these treatments were not significant. “PowerCane” performed as well or better than ornamental or feral M. sinensis in vegetative traits, but had much lower seed production, perhaps due to pollen limitation. In general, ornamental M. sinensis performed somewhat better than feral M. sinensis. Our findings suggest that feral populations of “PowerCane” could become established adjacent to biofuel production areas. Fertile Miscanthus × giganteus should be studied further to assess its potential to spread via seed production in large, sexually compatible populations.

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Species composition influences soil nutrient depletion and plant physiology in prairie agroenergy feedstocks

et al. 2019

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High‐diversity mixtures of perennial tallgrass prairie vegetation could be useful biomass feedstocks for marginal farmland in the Midwestern United States. These agroenergy crops can help meet cellulosic agrofuel targets while also enhancing other ecosystem services on the landscape. One proposed advantage of high‐diversity prairie biomass feedstocks is that they should become nutrient limited at a slower rate than monoculture feedstocks. In this study, we examine rates of soil nutrient depletion and the physiology and performance of a focal species (switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L.) in four prairie agroenergy feedstocks with different species composition and diversity. The feedstocks in this study were a 1‐species switchgrass monoculture, a 5‐species mixture of C4 grasses, a 16‐species mixture of C3 and C4 grasses, forbs, and legumes, and a 32‐species mixture of C3 and C4 grasses, forbs, legumes, and sedges. To assess feedstock effects on soil, we measured changes in soil N/P/K over a five‐year period. We also performed a greenhouse study, in which we grew switchgrass plants in field soil conditioned by each feedstock. To assess feedstock effects on plant function, we measured four physiological traits (photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll concentration, leaf florescence, leaf N concentration) on switchgrass plants within each feedstock in the field. In the soil analysis, we found that the 5‐species feedstock displayed higher rates of soil N/P/K depletion than other feedstocks. In the greenhouse analysis, we found that switchgrass plants grown in soil conditioned by the 5‐species feedstock were smaller than plants grown in soil conditioned by other feedstocks. In the physiological analysis, we found that switchgrass plants in the 5‐species feedstock had lower leaf N, photosynthesis, chlorophyll concentration, and higher florescence than switchgrass plants growing in other feedstocks. Collectively, our results show that prairie agroenergy feedstocks with different species composition and diversity have different rates of soil nutrient depletion, which influences the physiology and performance of plants within the feedstock. These differences would ultimately impact the ecosystem services (e.g., biomass production, need for fertilizer) that these prairie agroenergy feedstocks provide.

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Nitrogen use in switchgrass grown for bioenergy across the USA

Cited by 58 publications

References 26 publications

Switchgrass Biofuel Production on Reclaimed Surface Mines: I. Soil Quality and Dry Matter Yield

Switchgrass Biofuel Production on Reclaimed Surface Mines: I. Soil Quality and Dry Matter Yield

Growth and fecundity of fertile Miscanthus × giganteus (“PowerCane”) compared to feral and ornamental Miscanthus sinensis in a common garden experiment: Implications for invasion

Species composition influences soil nutrient depletion and plant physiology in prairie agroenergy feedstocks

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