Abstract
Switchgrass is a promising perennial energy crop with a good potential under environmental limiting conditions. Although some studies have highlighted the different yields of lowland and upland cultivars in Mediterranean environments, only a few have explored the role of soil and different crop managements on switchgrass productive performances. For this reason, two field trials were carried out in central Italy to investigate the effect of soil texture (silty-clay-loam vs. sandy-loam soils), irrigation (rainfed vs. 75% restitution of the potential evapotranspiration) and nitrogen fertilization (0, 50 and 100kgNha−1) on the yield of two switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cultivars: Alamo and Blackwell. Crop aboveground dry yields were monitored from the first to the fourth year of growth. Results highlighted cultivar as the most significant factor affecting crop yield. In fact, excluding the establishment year, aboveground dry yields in Alamo and Blackwell exceeded 30 and 15Mgha−1 respectively. Our results highlighted switchgrass to be able to achieve good yields under limiting conditions (i.e. sandy-loam soil, rainfed) as well. In addition, through the appropriate choice of the nitrogen fertilization, crop yields increased by 30%, while a supplementary water supply of about 300mm of water per year, during the dry summer period, was less effective in determining a significant increase in the harvestable dry yield.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.