ABSTRACT Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has potential for both bioenergy and forage. The objec... more ABSTRACT Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has potential for both bioenergy and forage. The objectives of this experiment were to (i) determine whether switchgrass could be harvested for greater nutritive value during the vegetative stage relative to early reproductive growth (boot stage); (ii) compare biomass yields of switchgrass harvested once vs. twice per year for bioenergy; and (iii) examine effects of N fertilizer rates on harvest systems. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement of harvest system treatments as main plot (harvest once per year after frost, harvest twice per year first at vegetative or boot stage, and regrowth after frost) and N fertilizer rate as subplots (0, 90, 180, and 270 kg N ha(-1)). Biomass yield was greatest and nutrient concentrations were least in the one-cut system. For the two-cut system, nutritive values and yields were similar. Total annual biomass increased linearly with N fertilization. Across N rates, crude protein (CP) concentration for the two-cut systems was 50% greater (71 g kg(-1)) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations were 20% lesser (465 and 856 g kg(-1), respectively) than switchgrass in the one-cut system. -Switchgrass harvested at vegetative through boot stage and its regrowth could provide forage of acceptable nutritive value to beef cows. However, greater nutrient removal requires appropriate soil fertility evaluation and fertilizer management for sustainable yields.
Biomass demand for energy will lead to utilization of marginal, low fertility soil. Application o... more Biomass demand for energy will lead to utilization of marginal, low fertility soil. Application of fertilizer to such soil may increase switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) biomass production. In this three-way factorial field experiment, biomass yield response to potassium (K) fertilizer (0 and 68 kg K ha−1) on nitrogen (N)-sufficient and N-deficient switchgrass (0 and 135 kg N ha−1) was evaluated under two harvest systems. Harvest system included harvesting once per year after frost (December) and twice per year in summer (July) at boot stage and subsequent regrowth after frost. Under the one-cut system, there was no response to N or K only (13.4 Mg ha−1) compared to no fertilizer (12.4 Mg ha−1). Switchgrass receiving both N and K (14.6 Mg ha−1) produced 18 % greater dry matter (DM) yield compared to no fertilizer check. Under the two-cut harvest system, N only (16.0 Mg ha−1) or K only (14.1 Mg ha−1) fertilizer produced similar DM to no fertilizer (15.1 Mg ha−1). Switchgrass receivin...
Increasing desire for renewable energy sources has increased research on biomass energy crops in ... more Increasing desire for renewable energy sources has increased research on biomass energy crops in marginal areas with low potential for food and fiber crop production. In this study, experiments were established on low phosphorus (P) soils in southern Oklahoma, USA to determine switchgrass biomass yield, nutrient concentrations, and nutrient removal responses to P and nitrogen (N) fertilizer application. Four P rates (0, 15, 30, and 45kgP ha−1) and two N fertilizer rates (0 and 135kgN ha−1) were evaluated at two locations (Ardmore and Waurika) for 3years. While P fertilization had no effect on yield at Ardmore, application of 45kgP ha−1 increased yield at Waurika by 17% from 10.5 to 12.3Mgha−1. Across P fertilizer rates, N fertilizer application increased yields every year at both locations. In Ardmore, non-N-fertilized switchgrass produced 3.9, 6.7, and 8.8Mgha−1, and N-fertilized produced 6.6, 15.7, and 16.6Mgha−1 in 2008, 2009, and 2010, respectively. At Waurika, corresponding yie...
Perennial grasses may provide a renewable source of biomass for energy production. Biomass yield,... more Perennial grasses may provide a renewable source of biomass for energy production. Biomass yield, nutrient concentrations, and nutrient removal rates of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus), giant reed (Arundo donax L.), weeping lovegrass [Eragrostis curvula (Shrad.) Nees], kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L.), and Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.) were evaluated at four N fertilizer rates (0, 56, 112, or 168 kg N ha−1) on a Minco fine sandy loam soil in southern Oklahoma. Species were established in 2008 and harvested for biomass in winter of 2009 and 2010. Biomass yield (dry matter basis) did not show a strong relationship with N fertilizer rate (p = 0.08), but was affected by year and species interactions (p < 0.01). Weeping lovegrass and kleingrass produced 29.0 and 16.0 Mg ha−1 in 2009, but only 13.0 Mg ha−1 and 9.8 Mg ha−1 in 2010, respectively. Biomass yields of giant reed, switchgrass, and Johnsongrass averaged 23.3, 17.8, an...
... Author: Guretzky, John A, The Noble Foundation Kering, Maru K, The Noble Foundation Biermache... more ... Author: Guretzky, John A, The Noble Foundation Kering, Maru K, The Noble Foundation Biermacher, Jon T, The Noble Foundation Cook, Billy J, The Noble ... Because of the presence ofcool-season annuals, the site was sprayed with 2.4-D amine at 1.2 L/ha and glyphosate at 2.4 ...
Research is ongoing to develop sensor-based systems to determine crop nitrogen needs. The objecti... more Research is ongoing to develop sensor-based systems to determine crop nitrogen needs. The objective is to determine the expected maximum value of an in season precision nitrogen application system for winter wheat. Farmers could not afford to pay much more than $9 per acre for a precision system.
ABSTRACT Limited information is available about the economic benefits and costs associated with m... more ABSTRACT Limited information is available about the economic benefits and costs associated with managing switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) produced for bioenergy feedstock in the K-deficient soils common in the southern Great Plains. The objectives of this study were to determine the most economical production system for harvesting and managing N and K fertilizations on switchgrass stands and to determine how sensitive the results are to various feedstock and fertilizer market price scenarios. A 4-year agronomic field experiment was conducted on a K-deficient site in South Central Oklahoma; the treatments included two harvest systems (summer and winter (SW) and winter only (W)), two N rates (0 and 135 kg ha−1), and two K rates (0 and 67 kg ha−1). Enterprise budgeting techniques and mixed ANOVA models were used to determine and compare the effects of eight harvest/N/K systems on yield, total cost, revenue, and net return. The harvest/N/K systems evaluated included SW/0/0, SW/0/67, SW/135/0, SW/135/67, W/0/0, W/0/67, W/135/0, and W/135/67. Results revealed the SW/135/67 system produced significantly (P &gt; 0.0001) greater average yield compared to the other systems; however, the SW/0/0 system was the most (P &gt; 0.0001) economical, realizing an average net return of $415 ha−1. Compared to the base–case net return of the SW/0/0 system, the value of the additional yield generated with the SW/135/67 system was less than the costs associated with the extra nutrients and additional harvest activity. For feedstock prices greater than $110 Mg−1, the most economical system shifted from the SW/0/0 to favor the SW/135/67 system.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) may have value as forage and a bioenergy feedstock. Our objecti... more Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) may have value as forage and a bioenergy feedstock. Our objective was to evaluate how harvest system and N fertilizer rates affected biomass yield and nutrient composition of young stands of switchgrass (cv. Alamo) in the southern Great Plains, USA. Nitrogen fertilization increased biomass yields from 10.4, 10.8, and 12.2Mgha−1 at 0kgN ha−1 to 13.7, 14.6, and 21.0Mgha−1 at 225kgN ha−1 when harvested after seed set (October), after frost (December), and twice per year after boot stage (July) and frost, respectively. Nutrient concentrations and removal were generally twice as great when biomass was harvested twice versus once per year. Precipitation strongly affected biomass yields across the two years of these experiments. When late-summer precipitation is available to support regrowth in this environment, harvesting switchgrass twice per year will result in greater biomass yields. Harvesting twice per year, however, will increase fertilization requi...
... Jon Biermacher is a research assistant, Francis M. Epplin is a professor, and B. Wade Brorsen... more ... Jon Biermacher is a research assistant, Francis M. Epplin is a professor, and B. Wade Brorsen is a Regents professor and Jean and Pasty Neustadt Chair, Department of Agricultural Economics,John B. Solie is a ... in the spring is, on average, $2.90 per acre (Kletke and Doye). ...
ABSTRACT Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has potential for both bioenergy and forage. The objec... more ABSTRACT Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has potential for both bioenergy and forage. The objectives of this experiment were to (i) determine whether switchgrass could be harvested for greater nutritive value during the vegetative stage relative to early reproductive growth (boot stage); (ii) compare biomass yields of switchgrass harvested once vs. twice per year for bioenergy; and (iii) examine effects of N fertilizer rates on harvest systems. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement of harvest system treatments as main plot (harvest once per year after frost, harvest twice per year first at vegetative or boot stage, and regrowth after frost) and N fertilizer rate as subplots (0, 90, 180, and 270 kg N ha(-1)). Biomass yield was greatest and nutrient concentrations were least in the one-cut system. For the two-cut system, nutritive values and yields were similar. Total annual biomass increased linearly with N fertilization. Across N rates, crude protein (CP) concentration for the two-cut systems was 50% greater (71 g kg(-1)) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations were 20% lesser (465 and 856 g kg(-1), respectively) than switchgrass in the one-cut system. -Switchgrass harvested at vegetative through boot stage and its regrowth could provide forage of acceptable nutritive value to beef cows. However, greater nutrient removal requires appropriate soil fertility evaluation and fertilizer management for sustainable yields.
Biomass demand for energy will lead to utilization of marginal, low fertility soil. Application o... more Biomass demand for energy will lead to utilization of marginal, low fertility soil. Application of fertilizer to such soil may increase switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) biomass production. In this three-way factorial field experiment, biomass yield response to potassium (K) fertilizer (0 and 68 kg K ha−1) on nitrogen (N)-sufficient and N-deficient switchgrass (0 and 135 kg N ha−1) was evaluated under two harvest systems. Harvest system included harvesting once per year after frost (December) and twice per year in summer (July) at boot stage and subsequent regrowth after frost. Under the one-cut system, there was no response to N or K only (13.4 Mg ha−1) compared to no fertilizer (12.4 Mg ha−1). Switchgrass receiving both N and K (14.6 Mg ha−1) produced 18 % greater dry matter (DM) yield compared to no fertilizer check. Under the two-cut harvest system, N only (16.0 Mg ha−1) or K only (14.1 Mg ha−1) fertilizer produced similar DM to no fertilizer (15.1 Mg ha−1). Switchgrass receivin...
Increasing desire for renewable energy sources has increased research on biomass energy crops in ... more Increasing desire for renewable energy sources has increased research on biomass energy crops in marginal areas with low potential for food and fiber crop production. In this study, experiments were established on low phosphorus (P) soils in southern Oklahoma, USA to determine switchgrass biomass yield, nutrient concentrations, and nutrient removal responses to P and nitrogen (N) fertilizer application. Four P rates (0, 15, 30, and 45kgP ha−1) and two N fertilizer rates (0 and 135kgN ha−1) were evaluated at two locations (Ardmore and Waurika) for 3years. While P fertilization had no effect on yield at Ardmore, application of 45kgP ha−1 increased yield at Waurika by 17% from 10.5 to 12.3Mgha−1. Across P fertilizer rates, N fertilizer application increased yields every year at both locations. In Ardmore, non-N-fertilized switchgrass produced 3.9, 6.7, and 8.8Mgha−1, and N-fertilized produced 6.6, 15.7, and 16.6Mgha−1 in 2008, 2009, and 2010, respectively. At Waurika, corresponding yie...
Perennial grasses may provide a renewable source of biomass for energy production. Biomass yield,... more Perennial grasses may provide a renewable source of biomass for energy production. Biomass yield, nutrient concentrations, and nutrient removal rates of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus), giant reed (Arundo donax L.), weeping lovegrass [Eragrostis curvula (Shrad.) Nees], kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L.), and Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.) were evaluated at four N fertilizer rates (0, 56, 112, or 168 kg N ha−1) on a Minco fine sandy loam soil in southern Oklahoma. Species were established in 2008 and harvested for biomass in winter of 2009 and 2010. Biomass yield (dry matter basis) did not show a strong relationship with N fertilizer rate (p = 0.08), but was affected by year and species interactions (p < 0.01). Weeping lovegrass and kleingrass produced 29.0 and 16.0 Mg ha−1 in 2009, but only 13.0 Mg ha−1 and 9.8 Mg ha−1 in 2010, respectively. Biomass yields of giant reed, switchgrass, and Johnsongrass averaged 23.3, 17.8, an...
... Author: Guretzky, John A, The Noble Foundation Kering, Maru K, The Noble Foundation Biermache... more ... Author: Guretzky, John A, The Noble Foundation Kering, Maru K, The Noble Foundation Biermacher, Jon T, The Noble Foundation Cook, Billy J, The Noble ... Because of the presence ofcool-season annuals, the site was sprayed with 2.4-D amine at 1.2 L/ha and glyphosate at 2.4 ...
Research is ongoing to develop sensor-based systems to determine crop nitrogen needs. The objecti... more Research is ongoing to develop sensor-based systems to determine crop nitrogen needs. The objective is to determine the expected maximum value of an in season precision nitrogen application system for winter wheat. Farmers could not afford to pay much more than $9 per acre for a precision system.
ABSTRACT Limited information is available about the economic benefits and costs associated with m... more ABSTRACT Limited information is available about the economic benefits and costs associated with managing switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) produced for bioenergy feedstock in the K-deficient soils common in the southern Great Plains. The objectives of this study were to determine the most economical production system for harvesting and managing N and K fertilizations on switchgrass stands and to determine how sensitive the results are to various feedstock and fertilizer market price scenarios. A 4-year agronomic field experiment was conducted on a K-deficient site in South Central Oklahoma; the treatments included two harvest systems (summer and winter (SW) and winter only (W)), two N rates (0 and 135 kg ha−1), and two K rates (0 and 67 kg ha−1). Enterprise budgeting techniques and mixed ANOVA models were used to determine and compare the effects of eight harvest/N/K systems on yield, total cost, revenue, and net return. The harvest/N/K systems evaluated included SW/0/0, SW/0/67, SW/135/0, SW/135/67, W/0/0, W/0/67, W/135/0, and W/135/67. Results revealed the SW/135/67 system produced significantly (P &gt; 0.0001) greater average yield compared to the other systems; however, the SW/0/0 system was the most (P &gt; 0.0001) economical, realizing an average net return of $415 ha−1. Compared to the base–case net return of the SW/0/0 system, the value of the additional yield generated with the SW/135/67 system was less than the costs associated with the extra nutrients and additional harvest activity. For feedstock prices greater than $110 Mg−1, the most economical system shifted from the SW/0/0 to favor the SW/135/67 system.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) may have value as forage and a bioenergy feedstock. Our objecti... more Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) may have value as forage and a bioenergy feedstock. Our objective was to evaluate how harvest system and N fertilizer rates affected biomass yield and nutrient composition of young stands of switchgrass (cv. Alamo) in the southern Great Plains, USA. Nitrogen fertilization increased biomass yields from 10.4, 10.8, and 12.2Mgha−1 at 0kgN ha−1 to 13.7, 14.6, and 21.0Mgha−1 at 225kgN ha−1 when harvested after seed set (October), after frost (December), and twice per year after boot stage (July) and frost, respectively. Nutrient concentrations and removal were generally twice as great when biomass was harvested twice versus once per year. Precipitation strongly affected biomass yields across the two years of these experiments. When late-summer precipitation is available to support regrowth in this environment, harvesting switchgrass twice per year will result in greater biomass yields. Harvesting twice per year, however, will increase fertilization requi...
... Jon Biermacher is a research assistant, Francis M. Epplin is a professor, and B. Wade Brorsen... more ... Jon Biermacher is a research assistant, Francis M. Epplin is a professor, and B. Wade Brorsen is a Regents professor and Jean and Pasty Neustadt Chair, Department of Agricultural Economics,John B. Solie is a ... in the spring is, on average, $2.90 per acre (Kletke and Doye). ...
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