Effects of Selection Regime on Invasive Characteristics in an Emerging Biomass Crop, Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5045
Author(s):  
Shelby A. Flint ◽  
Ruth G. Shaw ◽  
Nicholas R. Jordan
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
First Year ◽  
Biomass Feedstock ◽  
Young Stand ◽  
Panicum Virgatum L ◽  
Plant Densities ◽  
Biomass Yields ◽  
Invasive Traits

Production of biomass feedstock crops could produce substantial environmental benefits, but these will be sharply reduced if these crops become invasive. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is being bred for biomass production; these selective efforts may enhance invasive traits. To inform the assessment of invasive risk, undomesticated switchgrass strains were used as a baseline for comparison with strains bred for biomass production. In a three-year field experiment, we compared juvenile plant densities and survival, persistence of established plants, and aboveground biomass between selectively bred (cultivar) and undomesticated switchgrass strains. Cultivars had modestly greater third-year biomass and first-year plant densities than commercial ecotypes but lower survival and persistence; consequently, third-year plant densities did not significantly differ between cultivars and commercial ecotypes. Higher initial establishment and subsequent self-thinning in cultivars resulted in stands that were similar to those of commercial ecotypes. Therefore, our results do not suggest that the breeding of current cultivars of switchgrass enhanced juvenile and young-stand traits associated with invasiveness. Because biomass yields were not greatly different between cultivars and commercial ecotypes, use of the latter in biomass grasslands could provide functional benefits, including an enhanced habitat for native biodiversity and reduced pathogen loads, without incurring large losses in biomass production.

scholarly journals ВПЛИВ УМОВ ВИРОЩУВАННЯ НА КІЛЬКІСНІ ПОКАЗНИКИ РОСЛИН СВІТЧГРАСУ (PANICUM VIRGATUM L.) ПЕРШОГО РОКУ ВЕҐЕТАЦІЇ

2012 ◽  
pp. 62-67
Author(s):  
М. І. Кулик
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
First Year ◽  
Panicum Virgatum L

Наведено обґрунтування доцільності використан-ня відновлювальних ресурсів на основі вирощування„енерґетичних культур” (на прикладі світчграсу –проса лозовидного) на деградованих ґрунтах із ме-тою отримання сировини для виробництва біопа-лива. Подано фенологічні спостереження – трива-лість міжфазних періодів протягом росту і роз-витку рослин при веґетації культури першого рокужиття та встановлено кількісні показники (ви-соту і густоту рослин), їх взаємозв’язок для фор-мування фітомаси світчграсу залежно від дослі-джуваних сортів за різної ширина міжрядь. The article investigates the suitability of growing switchgrass ondegraded soils with the aim of obtaining the raw material for biofuelproduction. Phenological observations during the growth anddevelopment of the first year plants were performed. Quantitativeparameters (height and stand density) of different varieties and theirinterrelationship for biomass production depending on row spacingwere evaluated.

Switchgrass as a biofuels feedstock in the USA

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 1315-1325 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Sanderson ◽  
P. R. Adler ◽  
A. A. Boateng ◽  
M. D. Casler ◽  
G. Sarath
Keyword(s):  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Energy Crop ◽  
Genetic Enhancement ◽  
Biomass Feedstock ◽  
Panicum Virgatum L ◽  
The Usa

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been identified as a model herbaceous energy crop for the USA. In this review, we selectively highlight current USDA-ARS research on switchgrass for biomass energy. Intensive research on switchgrass as a biomass feedstock in the 1990s greatly improved our understanding of the adaptation of switchgrass cultivars, production practices, and environmental benefits. Several constraints still remain in terms of economic production of switchgrass for biomass feedstock including reliable establishment practices to ensure productive stands in the seeding year, efficient use of fertilizers, and more efficient methods to convert lignocellulose to biofuels. Overcoming the biological constraints will require genetic enhancement, molecular biology, and plant breeding efforts to improve switchgrass cultivars. New genomic resources will aid in developing molecular markers, and should allow for marker-assisted selection of improved germplasm. Research is also needed on profitable management practices for switchgrass production appropriate to specific agro-ecoregions and breakthroughs in conversion methodology. Current higher costs of biofuels compared to fossil fuels may be offset by accurately valuing environmental benefits associated with perennial grasses such as reduced runoff and erosion and associated reduced losses of soil nutrients and organic matter, increased incorporation of soil carbon and reduced use of agricultural chemicals. Use of warm-season perennial grasses in bioenergy cropping systems may also mitigate increases in atmospheric CO2. A critical need is teams of scientists, extension staff, and producer-cooperators in key agro-ecoregions to develop profitable management practices for the production of biomass feedstocks appropriate to those agro-ecoregions. Key words: Bioenergy, biomass conversion technologies, Panicum virgatum L., stand establishment, switchgrass improvement, USDA-ARS

scholarly journals Long-Term Productivity of Thirteen Lowland and Upland Switchgrass Ecotypes in the Mediterranean Region

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 923
Author(s):  
Efthymia Alexopoulou ◽  
Federica Zanetti ◽  
Eleni G. Papazoglou ◽  
Konstantinos Iordanoglou ◽  
Andrea Monti
Keyword(s):  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Biomass Crop ◽  
The North ◽  
Panicum Virgatum L ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Biomass Yields ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Marginal Soil

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been identified in the USA as an ideal biomass crop, in relation to its wide environmental suitability, mainly linked to the availability of both upland and lowland ecotypes, allowing the possibility of growing this species in most of the North American region. Switchgrass is conventionally grown for forage, but more recently, it has been considered as a model biofuel crop. Early European studies on switchgrass as a bioenergy crop started in the late 1990s, when a multi-location field trial was established in Greece (Aliartos) and Italy (Ozzano) to compare the productivity of 13 switchgrass genotypes, including upland (Carthage, Blackwell, Caddo, CIR, Forestburg, SU 94-1, Summer) and lowland (Alamo, Kanlow, Pangburn, SL 93-2, SL 93-3, SL94-1) genotypes. The scope was to identify the most suitable ecotype within each environment and, possibly, the best performing variety. The trials lasted 17 years (1998–2014) in Greece and 13 years (1998–2010) in Italy. While in Italy the trial was rainfed and unfertilized, in Greece, where the soil was marginal, drip irrigation was always applied, and the plots were fertilized regularly. The biomass yields in Greece, as averages across the 17 years, were similar for the lowland and upland varieties (11.5 vs. 11.1 Mg ha−1, respectively), while in Italy, as averages across the 13 years, the differences were relevant: 15.4 vs. 11.3 Mg ha−1 for lowland and upland, respectively. Alamo (lowland) was the most productive variety, both in Greece and Italy, with average annual yields of 12.7 and 16.6 Mg ha−1, respectively; CIR in Greece (10.1 Mg ha−1) and Forestburg in Italy (9.1 Mg ha−1) (both upland) were the least productive genotypes. The present results demonstrate the good suitability of switchgrass as biomass crop for the Mediterranean climate. Despite the very marginal soil (i.e., very shallow and with a sandy texture) in the Greek trial, the application of regular fertilization and irrigation produced biomass yields above 11 Mg ha−1 (grand mean) in the present 17-year-long study.

Nutrient sources and harvesting frequency on quality biomass production of switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L .) for biofuel

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 ◽  
pp. 242-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yesuf Assen Mohammed ◽  
William Raun ◽  
Gopal Kakani ◽  
Hailin Zhang ◽  
Randy Taylor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Nutrient Sources ◽  
Panicum Virgatum L

scholarly journals Outbreak of Smut Caused by Tilletia maclaganii on Cultivated Switchgrass in Iowa

Plant Disease ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 596-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Gravert ◽  
L. H. Tiffany ◽  
G. P. Munkvold
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Fungal Spores ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Smut Fungi ◽  
Iowa State College ◽  
State College ◽  
The North ◽  
Panicum Virgatum L ◽  
Seed Yields

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a prairie grass native to Iowa, is cultivated for forage and biomass production. During the late 1990s, biomass and seed yields of switchgrass grown in southern Iowa began to decline, and the reduction has been attributed to unidentified diseases. In 1999, many plants in previously low-yielding fields were stunted and flowered prematurely. Glumes had an uncharacteristic purple pigmentation, and seeds had been replaced by fungal spores. A smut fungus identified as Tilletia maclaganii (Berk.) G.P. Clinton (1) was associated consistently with fields that yielded poorly. Teliospores were red-orange when immature and turned dark brown as they matured. Teliospores were globose to slightly irregular, ≈18 to 25 µm in diameter, finely verrucose, with a thick exospore. True sterile cells also were present. T. maclaganii infects switchgrass and has been reported previously in Iowa (2), although it is found only occasionally on the state's native switchgrass. The prevalence and incidence of disease was surveyed in late August 1999. A weighted random sampling procedure was used to select switchgrass production fields from 60 fields involved in the Chariton Valley Biomass Project. Fields were located in Appanoose, Lucas, Monroe, and Wayne counties in southern Iowa. The sampling procedure was designed so the probability of each field being chosen was proportional to its area. This resulted in samples being taken from 17 fields representing ≈50% of the total area of the 60 fields. All sampled fields were planted with the predominant cultivar, Cave-in-Rock. In each field, five 1-m2 samples (≈60 to 250 tillers) were taken from arbitrary points. The incidence of smut (percentage of tillers with smut) was calculated for each sample. Smut was found in 15 of 17 fields. We estimated that 50 to 82% of the area in switchgrass production in these counties was infested with T. maclaganii. The mean incidence of smut was estimated at 10.1% of all tillers in the area. Incidence in individual fields ranged from 0 to 70%. Fields with incidence >50% yielded less than half of the expected biomass. Some infested seed-production fields were a total loss in 1999. This disease presents a serious threat to the cultivation of switchgrass for biomass production in southern Iowa. The disease cycle for T. maclaganii is poorly documented, but because switchgrass is a perennial species, it is likely that affected fields will have recurring epidemics. Susceptibility of other cultivars is unknown but needs to be investigated. References: (1) G. W. Fischer. 1953. Manual of the North American Smut Fungi. Ronald Press, NY. (2) J. C. Gilman and W. A. Archer. The fungi of Iowa parasitic on plants. Iowa State College J. Sci. 3:299, 1929.

scholarly journals Designer Biochars Impact on Corn Grain Yields, Biomass Production, and Fertility Properties of a Highly-Weathered Ultisol

Environments ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Novak ◽  
Gilbert C. Sigua ◽  
Thomas F. Ducey ◽  
Donald W. Watts ◽  
Kenneth C. Stone
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Zea Mays L ◽  
Poultry Litter ◽  
Biomass Productivity ◽  
The Other ◽  
Corn Production ◽  
Biomass Yields ◽  
Corn Grain ◽  
Designer Biochar

There are mixed reports for biochars’ ability to increase corn grain and biomass yields. The objectives of this experiment were to conduct a three-year corn (Zea mays L.) grain and biomass production evaluation to determine soil fertility characteristics after designer biochars were applied to a highly weathered Ultisol. The amendments, which consisted of biochars and compost, were produced from 100% pine chips (PC); 100% poultry litter (PL); PC:PL 2:1 blend; PC mixed 2:1 with raw switchgrass (Panicum virgatum; rSG) compost; and 100% rSG compost. All treatments were applied at 30,000 kg/ha to a Goldsboro loam sandy (Fine-loamy, siliceous, sub-active, thermic Aquic Paleudult). Annual topsoil samples were collected in 5-cm depth increments (0 to 15-cm deep) and pH was measured along with Mehlich 1 phosphorus (M1 P) and potassium (M1 K) contents. After three years of corn production, there was no significant improvement in the annual mean corn grain or biomass yields. Biochar, which was applied from PL and PC:PL 2:1 blend, significantly increased M1 P and M1 K concentrations down to 10-cm deep, while the other biochar and compost treatments showed mixed results when the soil pH was modified. Our results demonstrated that designer biochar additions did not accompany higher corn grain and biomass productivity.

scholarly journals Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) Cultivar Adaptation, Biomass Production, and Cellulose Concentration as Affected by Latitude of Origin

ISRN Agronomy ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul G. Jefferson ◽  
W. Paul McCaughey
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Production ◽  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Stand Density ◽  
Canadian Prairie ◽  
Grazing Cattle ◽  
Northern Latitudes ◽  
Panicum Virgatum L ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Cellulose Concentration

Ten cultivars of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) of northern and southern origins that had demonstrated adaptation to North Dakota were evaluated for biomass production, cellulose concentration, and nutritive value in the southern Canadian prairie region: Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In this region, cultivars adapted to northern latitudes present interest for biomass production. Latitude of origin of the cultivars was positively correlated to stand density (r=0.83, P<0.01), biomass production (r=0.69, P<0.01), and cellulose (r=0.84, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with organic matter digestibility (r=−0.86, P<0.01) and N (r=−0.85, P<0.01). Dacotah and ND 3743, the northern origin cultivars, were more persistent in Brandon, MB (94 to 100% stand density) and exhibited higher cellulose and hemicellulose concentrations than southern cultivars. Southern cultivars produced higher biomass than northern-origin cultivars until they suffered significant stand and biomass decline. Cave-in-Rock, the southern origin cultivar, did not persist in the third year after seeding. However, southern-adapted cultivars exhibited better nutritive value for grazing cattle. We conclude that switchgrass production in the southern Canadian prairie should utilize the USA cultivars from northern latitudes or adapted Canadian cultivars should be developed.

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