Biomass production and soil nutrient removal by switchgrass grown for biofuel production

Abstract

With the energy crisis, interest is being focused on biofuel crops such as switchgrass. Efficient production of biomass from switchgrass to produce biofuel can contribute to helping address the energy problems faced by humankind. Research was implemented between 2008 and 2009 in Southeast Missouri, USA, to investigate the potential biomass production from switchgrass (Panicum virgatum cv. Alamo), and to monitor the changes in the uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn in the aboveground switchgrass biomass from May to November, in order to determine the optimum harvest time to produce the highest biomass yield with minimal nutrient removal. The maximum annual biomass production was 22–29.1 Mg ha^-1. The date that the maximum biomass was obtained did not coincide with the minimum nutrient removal date. The nutrient uptake was dependant on the date of harvest, with the maximum being reached around July, followed by a significant decrease until the end of the season. During senescence, nutrients moved from the plant to the soil. Late November appeared to be the best date to harvest the switchgrass in order to minimize the nutrient removal and maximize biomass yield.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank M Taylor for reviewing and editing this manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Holou Roland has completed a PhD in Plant, Insect, and Microbial Sciences from the University of Missouri-Columbia, USA. He is the International Chair of the Sweet Sorghum Ethanol Association and a full time Research Scientist at Monsanto Company. Gene Stevens is a Faculty at the University of Missouri. Sinsin Brice is the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Abomey-Calavi, and Director of the Laboratory of Applied Ecology in Benin Republic. This research was funded by the Missouri Life Science Research Board, and by the Missouri Fertilizer and Ag. Lime Board. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.