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

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2011 · Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2010.12.016· OSTI ID:1004795

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.

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.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1004795
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-77080; KP1702020; TRN: US201104%%1103
• Journal Information: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, Vol. 140, Issue 1-2; ISSN 0167-8809
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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