Performance of Annual and Perennial Biofuel Crops: Nutrient Removal during the First Two Years

Abstract

Nutrient removal is an important factor that must be considered in lignocellulosic fuel production. Th is study was conducted to determine the macronutrient (N, P, and K) composition of grain and stover, as well as the nutrient removal in grain, stover, and total biomass of annual and perennial C4 crops in northeast Kansas in 2007 and 2008. Crops studied were corn (Zea mays L.) grown continuously or rotated with soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]; fi ve sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] cultivars, brown midrib (bmr), photoperiod sensitive, sweet, and two dual-purpose forage cultivars; and three perennial warm-season grasses, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), and Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus). Perennial grass yields were from the fi rst two harvests aft er establishment. Yields and total nutrient removal rates were greater for annual crops than for perennial grasses. Perennial grass nutrient concentrations were greatest in the establishment year (2007). Perennial grass yields increased from 2007 to 2008, but nutrient removal was not aff ected by the yield increase. Grain nutrient removal rates were greatest for corn even though nutrient concentrations were less than or equal to those for sorghum grain. Total nutrient removal rates were most aff ected by biomass yield and soil test P levels. Total K removal was greatest for the photoperiod-sensitive, sweet, and dual-purpose forage sorghum cultivars. Th ese results indicate that higher annual crop yields will remove more nutrients than perennial grasses during the grass establishment period.

Biomass Production a Stronger Driver of Cellulosic Ethanol Yield than Biomass Quality

“…Biomass yields reported here and previously (Sanford et al, 2016) are consistent with the range of yields reported across the U.S. Midwest and elsewhere for similar bioenergy cropping systems (James et al, 2010;Propheter and Staggenborg, 2010;Jarchow et al, 2012;Johnson et al, 2013). Godin et al (2013) for example, showed that miscanthus was as productive as corn silage in trials in Europe, and James et al (2010) reported miscanthus yields of 22 Mg ha -1 yr -1 in the north-central United States.…”

Biomass Yield and Nutrient Removal Rates of Perennial Grasses under Nitrogen Fertilization

“…Fertilization requirements and biomass yield potential of these grasses under a single harvest system for biomass energy production has not been documented. Sustainability of biomass energy production systems also depends on how fertilization rates affect concentration and removal of nutrients in harvested biomass [16][17][18]. Mineral concentrations affect biomass quality [19][20][21] and greater rates of removal in biomass harvests drive up fertilizer input costs [13,14].…”

Elucidation of the Structure and Reaction Mechanism of Sorghum Hydroxycinnamoyltransferase and Its Structural Relationship to Other Coenzyme A-Dependent Transferases and Synthases

“…Moreover, sorghum utilizes nitrogen-based fertilizer more efficiently than maize (Zea mays) and sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), leading to less groundwater contamination and lower CO 2 emission (Propheter and Staggenborg, 2010;Wortmann and Regassa, 2011). Overall, sorghum has a higher sugar yield potential per land area and requires less water for growth than maize, allowing it to grow in a more diverse range of environments (Saballos, 2008).…”