Abstract
AbstractThe production of dedicated energy crops on marginally productive cropland is projected to play an important role in reaching the US Billion Ton goal. This study aimed to evaluate warm‐season grasses for biomass production potential under different harvest timings (summer [H1], after killing frost [H2], or alternating between two [H3]) and nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates (0, 56, and 112 kg N/ha) on a wet marginal land across multiple production years. Six feedstocks were evaluated including Miscanthus x giganteus, two switchgrass cultivars (Panicum virgatum L.), prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata Link), and two polycultures including a mixture of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), and sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula [Michx.] Torr.), and a mixture of big bluestem and prairie cordgrass. Across four production years, harvest timing and feedstock type played an important role in biomass production. Miscanthus x giganteus produced the greatest biomass (18.7 Mg/ha), followed by the switchgrass cultivar “Liberty” (14.7 Mg/ha). Harvest in H1 tended to increase yield irrespective of feedstock; the exception being M. x giganteus that had significantly lower biomass when harvested in H1 when compared to H2 and H3. The advantage H1 harvest had over H2 for all feedstocks declined over time, suggesting H2 or H3 would provide greater and more sustainable biomass production for the observed feedstocks. The N application rate played an important role mainly for M. x giganteus where 112 kg N/ha yielded more biomass than no N. Other feedstocks occasionally showed a slight, but statistically insignificant increase in biomass yield with increasing N rate. This study showed the potential of producing feedstocks for bioenergy on wet marginal land; however, more research on tissue and soil nutrient dynamics under different N rates and harvest regimes will be important in understanding stand longevity for feedstocks grown under these conditions.
Highlights
The production of bioenergy is forecasted to play an important role, as a source of liquid transportation fuel, as the US transitions toward greater energy independence
Targeting marginal land for bioenergy feedstock production alleviates some competition with food crop production along with providing potential environmental benefits including soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat (Johnson et al, 2016)
This study attempted to assess the potential interactions between management practices, crop selection, and their influence on biomass production on marginal land in Central Illinois. It included the comparison of different warm‐season grass species that have the potential to be used for feedstock production in the Midwest including native tallgrass prairie species [big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), prairie cordgrass‐ (Spartina pectinata L.), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula [Michx.] Torr.), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)] along with non‐native M. x giganteus
Summary
The production of bioenergy is forecasted to play an important role, as a source of liquid transportation fuel, as the US transitions toward greater energy independence. Schröder et al (2018) argue that with targeted management practices that are soil specific, the yield potential of crops produced on marginal lands can be improved This suggests that much of the previous research on management practices such as N fertilizer use and harvest timing with warm‐season perennial grasses may not directly apply to feedstock production on marginal land. This study attempted to assess the potential interactions between management practices, crop selection, and their influence on biomass production on marginal land in Central Illinois It included the comparison of different warm‐season grass species that have the potential to be used for feedstock production in the Midwest including native tallgrass prairie species [big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), prairie cordgrass‐ (Spartina pectinata L.), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula [Michx.] Torr.), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)] along with non‐native M. x giganteus. This information can be used to develop decision‐support tools for crop producers, improve calibrations/validations for biophysical and economic biomass models, and provide additional field‐based data to support development strategies for bioenergy production on wet marginal land
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