Switchgrass Biomass and Chemical Composition for Biofuel in Eastern Canada

Abstract

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is one of several warm‐season grasses that have been identified as potential biomass crops in North America. A two‐year field study was conducted, on a free‐draining sandy clay loam (St. Bernard, Typic Hapludalf), to characterize the growth and evaluate changes in biomass accumulation and composition of switchgrass at Montreal, QC. Three cultivars, Cave‐in‐Rock, Pathfinder, and Sunburst, were grown in solid stands in a randomized complete block design. Canopy height, dry matter (DM) accumulation and chemical composition were monitored biweekly throughout the growing season. Average maximum canopy heights were 192.5 cm for Cave‐in‐Rock, 169.9 for Pathfinder, and 177.8 for Sunburst. The respective end‐of‐season DM yields were 12.2, 11.5, and 10.6 Mg ha−1. Biomass production among cultivars appeared to be related to time of maturation. Nitrogen concentration of DM decreased curvilinearly from 25 g kg−1 at the beginning of the season to 5 g kg−1 DM at season's end. Both acid‐detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral‐detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations increased to a maximum early in the season, after which no changes were detected. The average maximum values of ADF and NDF were, respectively, 647.6 and 849.0 g kg−1 DM for Cave‐in‐Rock, 669.1 and 865.2 for Pathfinder, and 661.8 and 860.9 for Sunburst. Changes in canopy height, DM accumulation, and chemical composition could all be described by predictive regression equations. These results indicate that switchgrass has potential as a biomass crop in a short‐season environment.