Management of Warm- and Cool-Season Grasses for Biomass on Marginal Lands: I. Yield and Soil Fertility Status

Abstract

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.)], and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) are known for high biomass productivity and for various traits that make these species more suitable for marginal environmental growing conditions. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of organic vs. inorganic fertilizer application on grass biomass production and soil nutrient status. Switchgrass, tall fescue, and reed canarygrass were established on a sandy soil and a clay soil at the Cornell University Willsboro Research Farm in Willsboro, NY. The experiment was a split-split plot randomized block design with six replicates. Sites were whole plots, grass species were subplots, and fertility treatments were sub-subplots. The six treatments were (1) 168 kg ha−1 of N fertilizer for cool-season grasses, 84 kg ha−1 for switchgrass; (2) 56 kg ha−1 of 0-46-0 P fertilizer plus N (#1); (3) 112 kg ha−1 of 0-0-60 K fertilizer plus N (#1); (4) 89.6 Mg dairy manure ha−1; (5) 44.8 Mg dairy manure compost ha−1; and (6) no fertilizer applied (control plots). Switchgrass with a single harvest per season yielded on average 13.0 Mg ha−1, while tall fescue and reed canarygrass averaged 8.4 and 7.7 Mg ha−1, respectively, under two-cut systems. Switchgrass with no fertilization produced 84% of maximum yield of fertilized treatments. Application of a similar amount of organic N with fresh and composted dairy manure resulted in greater yields for fresh dairy manure. Organic fertilizers strongly impacted the P and K status of soils. Switchgrass is capable of high yields in marginal environments and can provide a land base for environmentally acceptable application of animal manure, although from a yield standpoint it is not very responsive to fertilizer applications.