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Title: Response of “Alamo” switchgrass tissue chemistry and biomass to nitrogen fertilization in West Tennessee, USA

Abstract

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a perennial, warm-season grass that has been identified as a potential biofuel feedstock over a large part of North America. We examined above- and belowground responses to nitrogen fertilization in “Alamo” switchgrass grown in West Tennessee, USA. The fertilizer study included a spring and fall sampling of 5-year old switchgrass grown under annual applications of 0, 67, and 202 kg N ha-1 (as ammonium nitrate). Fertilization changed switchgrass biomass allocation as indicated by root:shoot ratios. End-of-growing season root:shoot ratios (mean ± SE) declined significantly (P ≤ 0.05) at the highest fertilizer nitrogen treatment (2.16 ± 0.08, 2.02 ± 0.18, and 0.88 ± 0.14, respectively, at 0, 67, and 202 kg N ha-1). Fertilization also significantly increased above- and belowground nitrogen concentrations and decreased plant C:N ratios. Data are presented for coarse live roots, fine live roots, coarse dead roots, fine dead roots, and rhizomes. At the end of the growing season, there was more carbon and nitrogen stored in belowground biomass than aboveground biomass. Finally, fertilization impacted switchgrass tissue chemistry and biomass allocation in ways that potentially impact soil carbon cycle processes and soil carbon storage.

Authors:
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Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1004795
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-77080
Journal ID: ISSN 0167-8809; KP1702020; TRN: US201104%%1103
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 140; Journal Issue: 1-2; Journal ID: ISSN 0167-8809
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
09 BIOMASS FUELS; BIOFUELS; BIOMASS; CARBON; CHEMISTRY; FERTILIZATION; FERTILIZERS; GRAMINEAE; NITROGEN; SAMPLING; SEASONS; switchgrass; nitrogen fertilization; shoot biomass; root biomass; carbon stocks; nitrogen stocks; tissue chemistry; nitrogen balance; root:shoot ratio; C:N ratio

Citation Formats

Garten, Charles T., Brice, Deanne J., Castro, Hector F., Graham, Robin L., Mayes, Melanie A., Phillips, Jana R., Post, Wilfred M., Schadt, Christopher W., Wullschleger, Stan D., Tyler, Donald D., Jardine, Phillip M., Jastrow, Julie D., Matamala, Roser, Miller, R. Michael, Moran, Kelly K., Vugteveen, Timothy W., Izaurralde, R. Cesar, Thomson, Allison M., West, Tristram O., Amonette, James E., Bailey, Vanessa L., Metting, F. Blaine, and Smith, Jeffrey L. Response of “Alamo” switchgrass tissue chemistry and biomass to nitrogen fertilization in West Tennessee, USA. United States: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2010.12.016.
Garten, Charles T., Brice, Deanne J., Castro, Hector F., Graham, Robin L., Mayes, Melanie A., Phillips, Jana R., Post, Wilfred M., Schadt, Christopher W., Wullschleger, Stan D., Tyler, Donald D., Jardine, Phillip M., Jastrow, Julie D., Matamala, Roser, Miller, R. Michael, Moran, Kelly K., Vugteveen, Timothy W., Izaurralde, R. Cesar, Thomson, Allison M., West, Tristram O., Amonette, James E., Bailey, Vanessa L., Metting, F. Blaine, & Smith, Jeffrey L. Response of “Alamo” switchgrass tissue chemistry and biomass to nitrogen fertilization in West Tennessee, USA. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2010.12.016
Garten, Charles T., Brice, Deanne J., Castro, Hector F., Graham, Robin L., Mayes, Melanie A., Phillips, Jana R., Post, Wilfred M., Schadt, Christopher W., Wullschleger, Stan D., Tyler, Donald D., Jardine, Phillip M., Jastrow, Julie D., Matamala, Roser, Miller, R. Michael, Moran, Kelly K., Vugteveen, Timothy W., Izaurralde, R. Cesar, Thomson, Allison M., West, Tristram O., Amonette, James E., Bailey, Vanessa L., Metting, F. Blaine, and Smith, Jeffrey L. 2011. "Response of “Alamo” switchgrass tissue chemistry and biomass to nitrogen fertilization in West Tennessee, USA". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2010.12.016.
@article{osti_1004795,
title = {Response of “Alamo” switchgrass tissue chemistry and biomass to nitrogen fertilization in West Tennessee, USA},
author = {Garten, Charles T. and Brice, Deanne J. and Castro, Hector F. and Graham, Robin L. and Mayes, Melanie A. and Phillips, Jana R. and Post, Wilfred M. and Schadt, Christopher W. and Wullschleger, Stan D. and Tyler, Donald D. and Jardine, Phillip M. and Jastrow, Julie D. and Matamala, Roser and Miller, R. Michael and Moran, Kelly K. and Vugteveen, Timothy W. and Izaurralde, R. Cesar and Thomson, Allison M. and West, Tristram O. and Amonette, James E. and Bailey, Vanessa L. and Metting, F. Blaine and Smith, Jeffrey L.},
abstractNote = {Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a perennial, warm-season grass that has been identified as a potential biofuel feedstock over a large part of North America. We examined above- and belowground responses to nitrogen fertilization in “Alamo” switchgrass grown in West Tennessee, USA. The fertilizer study included a spring and fall sampling of 5-year old switchgrass grown under annual applications of 0, 67, and 202 kg N ha-1 (as ammonium nitrate). Fertilization changed switchgrass biomass allocation as indicated by root:shoot ratios. End-of-growing season root:shoot ratios (mean ± SE) declined significantly (P ≤ 0.05) at the highest fertilizer nitrogen treatment (2.16 ± 0.08, 2.02 ± 0.18, and 0.88 ± 0.14, respectively, at 0, 67, and 202 kg N ha-1). Fertilization also significantly increased above- and belowground nitrogen concentrations and decreased plant C:N ratios. Data are presented for coarse live roots, fine live roots, coarse dead roots, fine dead roots, and rhizomes. At the end of the growing season, there was more carbon and nitrogen stored in belowground biomass than aboveground biomass. Finally, fertilization impacted switchgrass tissue chemistry and biomass allocation in ways that potentially impact soil carbon cycle processes and soil carbon storage.},
doi = {10.1016/j.agee.2010.12.016},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1004795}, journal = {Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment},
issn = {0167-8809},
number = 1-2,
volume = 140,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2011},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2011}
}