Converting Conventional Agriculture to Poplar Bioenergy Crops: Soil Chemistry

ABSTRACT

Woody bioenergy is a viable source of alternative energy; however, questions remain on how purpose-grown bioenergy feedstock production management impact surface soil chemistry. In order to understand the soil processes under poplar (Populus spp.) trees and adjacent agricultural sites, surface (0–15 cm) soil samples were collected from four northwestern United States locations over a four-year period. Initial and final surface soil samples were analyzed for various soil chemical parameters, including organic matter, pH, cation exchange capacity and nutrient concentrations. Fields selected to compare poplar and agricultural management initially differed in some key soil chemical parameters. Many soil chemical parameters changed over time and the magnitude of change often depended on location; however, initial differences between management types within any one location did not change over time for most soil chemical variables. Consistent in-location differences between management types over time show poplar did not alter soil chemical parameters relative to agricultural management during the study period. Together all observations indicate that little of the overall soil chemistry was impacted by the introduction of poplar in the traditionally agricultural fields.

KEYWORDS:

• Short rotation coppice
• soil organic matter
• pH
• cations
• nutrients
• soil quality

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the funding agency Agriculture, and Food Resource Initiative Competition Grants from USDA-NIFA with the grant number: 2011-68005-30407. The authors would also like to thank Mr. Bhanu Bhattari, and Ms. Jessica Saurear for their help with soil sample collection during the initial, and final stages of the project. We greatly appreciate access to agricultural fields provided by Kyle Meyer, Aaron Schumacher, Rob Miller Alan Staringer, and Robert and Bobby Kirtlan.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture [2011-68005-30407].