Switchgrass growth and pine–switchgrass interactions in established intercropping systems

Tian, Shiying; Cacho, Julian F.; Youssef, Mohamed A.; Chescheir, George M.; Fischer, Milan; Nettles, Jami E.; King, John S.

doi:10.1111/gcbb.12381

Switchgrass growth and pine–switchgrass interactions in established intercropping systems

Journal Article · Wed Jul 20 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Global Change Biology. Bioenergy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12381· OSTI ID:1266400

Tian, Shiying ^[1]; Cacho, Julian F. ^[1]; Youssef, Mohamed A. ^[1]; Chescheir, George M. ^[1]; Fischer, Milan ^[2]; Nettles, Jami E. ^[3]; King, John S. ^[2]

Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering North Carolina State University Raleigh NC USA
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources North Carolina State University Raleigh NC USA
Research Hydrologist Weyerhaeuser Company Columbus MS USA

Abstract

Intercropping switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) with loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) has been proposed for producing bioenergy feedstock in the southeastern United States. This study investigated switchgrass growth and pine–switchgrass interactions at two established experimental fields (7‐year‐old Lenoir site and 5‐year‐old Carteret site) located on the coastal plain of eastern United States. Position effects (edge and center of switchgrass alley in intercropping plots) and treatment effects (intercropping vs. grass‐only) on aboveground switchgrass growth were evaluated. Interspecific interactions with respect to capturing resources (light, soil water, and nitrogen) were investigated by measuring photosynthetically active radiation ( PAR ) above grass canopy, soil moisture, and soil mineral nitrogen contents. Switchgrass growth was significantly ( P = 0.001) affected by treatments in Lenoir and by position ( P < 0.0001) in both study sites. Relative to the center, PAR above grass canopy at edge in both sites was about 48% less during the growing season. Soil water content during the growing season at the edge of grass alley was significantly ( P = 0.0001) lower by 23% than at the center in Lenoir, while no significant ( P = 0.42) difference was observed in Carteret, in spite of more grass growth at center at both sites. Soil mineral nitrogen content at the center of intercropping plots in Lenoir (no fertilization during 2015) was significantly ( P < 0.07) lower than at the edge during the peak of growing season (June, July, and August), but not during early and late parts of growing season (May, September, and November). Position effects on soil water and mineral nitrogen were less evident under conditions with higher external inputs (rainfall and fertilization) and lower plant uptake during nongrowing seasons. Results from this study contributed to a better understanding of above‐ and belowground pine–switchgrass interactions which is necessary to properly manage this new cultivation system for bioenergy production in the southeastern United States.

View Journal Article

Research Organization:: North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0004395

OSTI ID:: 1266400

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1271466
OSTI ID: 1393499

Journal Information:: Global Change Biology. Bioenergy, Journal Name: Global Change Biology. Bioenergy Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 9; ISSN 1757-1693

Publisher:: Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

References (49)

Predicting dissolved organic nitrogen export from a drained loblolly pine plantation: PREDICTING DISSOLVED ORGANIC NITROGEN EXPORT FROM FOREST Tian, Shiying; Youssef, Mohamed A.; Skaggs, R. Wayne Water Resources Research, Vol. 49, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1002/wrcr.20157	journal	April 2013
Above and below ground interactions in alley-cropping in semi-arid India Singh, R. P.; Saharan, N.; Ong, C. K. Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 9, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00141088	journal	December 1989
Hydraulic lift and its influence on the water content of the rhizosphere: an example from sugar maple, Acer saccharum Emerman, Steven H.; Dawson, Todd E. Oecologia, Vol. 108, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334651	journal	October 1996
Light distribution, photosynthetic rate and yield in a Paulownia-wheat intercropping system in China Li, Fangdong; Meng, Ping; Fu, Dali Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 74, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-008-9122-9	journal	March 2008
Soil water competition in a temperate hedgerow agroforestry system in South Africa Everson, C. S.; Everson, T. M.; van Niekerk, W. Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 75, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-008-9174-x	journal	September 2008
Silvopastoralism in New Zealand: review of effects of evergreen and deciduous trees on pasture dynamics Benavides, Raquel; Douglas, Grant B.; Osoro, Koldo Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 76, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-008-9186-6	journal	October 2008
Economics of intercropping loblolly pine and switchgrass for bioenergy markets in the southeastern United States Susaeta, Andres; Lal, Pankaj; Alavalapati, Janaki Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 86, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-011-9475-3	journal	January 2012
Ecological benefits provided by alley cropping systems for production of woody biomass in the temperate region: a review Tsonkova, Penka; Böhm, Christian; Quinkenstein, Ansgar Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 85, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-012-9494-8	journal	February 2012
Establishment and early productivity of perennial biomass alley cropping systems in Minnesota, USA Gamble, Joshua D.; Johnson, Gregg; Sheaffer, Craig C. Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 88, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-013-9657-2	journal	December 2013
Evaluating changes in switchgrass physiology, biomass, and light-use efficiency under artificial shade to estimate yields if intercropped with Pinus taeda L. Albaugh, Janine M.; Albaugh, Timothy J.; Heiderman, Ryan R. Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 88, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-014-9708-3	journal	May 2014
The introduction of hybrid walnut trees (Juglans nigra × regia cv. NG23) into cropland reduces soil mineral N content in autumn in southern France Andrianarisoa, Kasaina Sitraka; Dufour, Lydie; Bienaimé, Séverine Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 90, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-015-9845-3	journal	September 2015
Potential of loblolly pine: switchgrass alley cropping for provision of biofuel feedstock Haile, Solomon; Palmer, Marsha; Otey, Alan Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 90, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-016-9921-3	journal	April 2016
Fitting net photosynthetic light-response curves with Microsoft Excel — a critical look at the models Lobo, F. de A.; de Barros, M. P.; Dalmagro, H. J. Photosynthetica, Vol. 51, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-013-0045-y	journal	June 2013
Effects of controlled drainage on the hydrology of drained pine plantations in the North Carolina coastal plain Amatya, Devendra M.; Skaggs, R. W.; Gregory, J. D. Journal of Hydrology, Vol. 181, Issue 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(95)02905-2	journal	June 1996
Above and below ground interactions in agroforestry systems Ong, C. K.; Corlett, J. E.; Singh, R. P. Forest Ecology and Management, Vol. 45, Issue 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-1127(91)90205-A	journal	November 1991
Modeling environmental benefits of silvoarable agroforestry in Europe Palma, J. H. N.; Graves, A. R.; Bunce, R. G. H. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, Vol. 119, Issue 3-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2006.07.021	journal	March 2007
Gas exchange and stand-level estimates of water use and gross primary productivity in an experimental pine and switchgrass intercrop forestry system on the Lower Coastal Plain of North Carolina, U.S.A Albaugh, Janine M.; Domec, Jean-Christophe; Maier, Chris A. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, Vol. 192-193 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2014.02.013	journal	July 2014
Development of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) as a bioenergy feedstock in the United States McLaughlin, Samuel B.; Adams Kszos, Lynn Biomass and Bioenergy, Vol. 28, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2004.05.006	journal	June 2005
Evaluation of intercropped switchgrass establishment under a range of experimental site preparation treatments in a forested setting on the Lower Coastal Plain of North Carolina, U.S.A. Albaugh, Janine M.; Sucre, Eric B.; Leggett, Zakiya H. Biomass and Bioenergy, Vol. 46 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2012.06.029	journal	November 2012
Competition for water between annual crops and short rotation mallee in dry climate agroforestry: The case for crop segregation rather than integration Sudmeyer, Robert A.; Hall, David J. M. Biomass and Bioenergy, Vol. 73 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.12.018	journal	February 2015
Switchgrass growth and morphological changes under established pine-grass agroforestry systems in the lower coastal plain of North Carolina, United States Tian, Shiying; Cacho, Julian F.; Youssef, Mohamed A. Biomass and Bioenergy, Vol. 83 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.10.002	journal	December 2015
Switchgrass intercropping reduces soil inorganic nitrogen in a young loblolly pine plantation located in coastal North Carolina Minick, Kevan J.; Strahm, Brian D.; Fox, Thomas R. Forest Ecology and Management, Vol. 319 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2014.02.013	journal	May 2014
Temporal Variations and Controlling Factors of Nitrogen Export from an Artificially Drained Coastal Forest Tian, Shiying; Youssef, Mohamed A.; Skaggs, R. Wayne Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 46, Issue 18 https://doi.org/10.1021/es3011783	journal	August 2012
Take a Closer Look: Biofuels Can Support Environmental, Economic and Social Goals Dale, Bruce E.; Anderson, James E.; Brown, Robert C. Environmental Science & Technology, Vol. 48, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1021/es5025433	journal	June 2014
Shade effects on forage crops with potential in temperate agroforestry practices Lin, C. H.; McGraw, R. L.; George, M. F. Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 44, Issue 2/3, p. 109-119 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006205116354	journal	January 1998
Defining competition vectors in a temperate alley cropping system in the midwestern USA: 3. Competition for nitrogen and litter decomposition dynamics Jose, S.; Gillespie, A. R.; Seifert, J. R. Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 48, Issue 1, p. 61-77 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006241406462	journal	February 2000
Defining competition vectors in a temperate alley cropping system in the midwestern USA: 1. Production physiology Gillespie, A. R.; Jose, S.; Mengel, D. B. Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 48, Issue 1, p. 25-40 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006285205553	journal	January 2000
Defining competition vectors in a temperate alley cropping system in the midwestern USA: 2. Competition for water Jose, S.; Gillespie, A. R.; Seifert, J. R. Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 48, Issue 1, p. 41-59 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006289322392	journal	January 2000
Resource competition across the crop-tree interface in a maize-silver maple temperate alley cropping stand in Missouri Miller, Adrian W.; Pallardy, Stephen G. Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 53, Issue 3, p. 247-259 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013327510748	journal	January 2001
A review of belowground interactions in agroforestry, focussing on mechanisms and management options Schroth, G. Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 43, Issue 1/3, p. 5-34 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026443018920	journal	January 1998
A split-root apparatus for examining the effects of hydraulic lift by trees on the water status of neighbouring crops Hirota, I.; Sakuratani, T.; Sato, T. Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 60, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AGFO.0000013293.77907.64	journal	March 2004
Interspecific interactions in temperate agroforestry Jose, S.; Gillespie, A. R.; Pallardy, S. G. Agroforestry Systems, Vol. 61-62, Issue 1-3 https://doi.org/10.1023/B:AGFO.0000029002.85273.9b	journal	July 2004
Competition in tree row agroforestry systems. 3. Soil water distribution and dynamics Livesley, S. J.; Gregory, P. J.; Buresh, R. J. Plant and Soil, Vol. 264, Issue 1/2 https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PLSO.0000047750.80654.d5	journal	July 2004
Mixing plant species in cropping systems: concepts, tools and models. A review Malézieux, E.; Crozat, Y.; Dupraz, C. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, Vol. 29, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1051/agro:2007057	journal	March 2009
Net energy of cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass Schmer, M. R.; Vogel, K. P.; Mitchell, R. B. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 105, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0704767105	journal	January 2008
Effects of Orifice-Weir Outlet on Hydrology and Water Quality of a Drained Forested Watershed Amatya, D. M.; Skaggs, R. W.; Gilliam, J. W. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, Vol. 27, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1093/sjaf/27.2.130	journal	May 2003
Quantifying root lateral distribution and turnover using pine trees with a distinct stable carbon isotope signature Johnsen, K.; Maier, C.; Kress, L. Functional Ecology, Vol. 19, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0269-8463.2005.00928.x	journal	February 2005
Meeting US biofuel goals with less land: the potential of Miscanthus Heaton, Emily A.; Dohleman, Frank G.; Long, Stephen P. Global Change Biology, Vol. 14, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01662.x	journal	September 2008
Effects of nitrogen fertiliser on tree/ pasture competition during the establishment phase of a silvopastoral system Campbell, C. D.; Atkinson, D.; Vis, P. G. Jar Annals of Applied Biology, Vol. 124, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7348.1994.tb04118.x	journal	February 1994
A quantitative review comparing the yield of switchgrass in monocultures and mixtures in relation to climate and management factors Wang, Dan; Lebauer, David S.; Dietze, Michael C. GCB Bioenergy, Vol. 2, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1757-1707.2010.01035.x	journal	February 2010
Assessing Light Competition for Cereal Production in Temperate Agroforestry Systems using Experimentation and Crop Modelling Dufour, L.; Metay, A.; Talbot, G. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, Vol. 199, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1111/jac.12008	journal	November 2012
Carbon-Negative Biofuels from Low-Input High-Diversity Grassland Biomass Tilman, D.; Hill, J.; Lehman, C. Science, Vol. 314, Issue 5805 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1133306	journal	December 2006
Long-Term Hydrology and Water Quality of a Drained Pine Plantation in North Carolina No authors listed Transactions of the ASABE, Vol. 54, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.40667	journal	January 2011
Impacts of Switchgrass-Loblolly Pine Intercropping on Soil Physical Properties of a Drained Forest Cacho, Julian F.; Youssef, Mohamed A.; Chescheir, George M. Transactions of the ASABE, Vol. 58, Issue 6, p. 1573-1583 https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.58.11238	journal	December 2015
Intercropping Competition between Apple Trees and Crops in Agroforestry Systems on the Loess Plateau of China Gao, Lubo; Xu, Huasen; Bi, Huaxing PLoS ONE, Vol. 8, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070739	journal	July 2013
Effects of Site Preparation for Pine Forest/Switchgrass Intercropping on Water Quality Muwamba, A.; Amatya, D. M.; Ssegane, H. Journal of Environment Quality, Vol. 44, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2014.11.0505	journal	January 2015
Growth of C3 and C4 Perennial Grasses under Reduced Irradiance Kephart, Kevin D.; Buxton, Dwyane R.; Taylor, Elwynn S. Crop Science, Vol. 32, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1992.0011183X003200040040x	journal	January 1992
Interception of Light by Model Hedgerow Orchards in Relation to Latitude, Time of Year and Hedgerow Configuration and Orientation Jackson, J. E.; Palmer, J. W. The Journal of Applied Ecology, Vol. 9, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.2307/2402436	journal	August 1972
Loblolly Pine Age and Density Affects Switchgrass Growth and Soil Carbon in an Agroforestry System Blazier, Michael A.; Clason, Terry R.; Vance, Eric D. Forest Science, Vol. 58, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.5849/forsci.11-052	journal	October 2012

Similar Records

Seasonal below‐ground metabolism in switchgrass

Journal Article · Sun Nov 26 19:00:00 EST 2017 · The Plant Journal · OSTI ID:1410369

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
agroforestry
competition
grass growth
interspecific interactions
loblolly pine
switchgrass

Switchgrass growth and pine–switchgrass interactions in established intercropping systems

Citation Formats

References (49)

Similar Records

Related Subjects