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Fertility Issues in Switchgrass Production

Fertility Issues in Switchgrass Production. Donald Tyler. University of Tennessee. Joint Meetings of SERA-ieg 6, NEC-17 and NCRA-13 2008 Nashville, Tennessee. DOE UT Switchgrass Project. Burt English (Co-director) Daniel DeLaTorre Ugarte (Co-director). Chris Clark Clark Garland

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Fertility Issues in Switchgrass Production

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  1. Fertility Issues in Switchgrass Production Donald Tyler University of Tennessee Joint Meetings of SERA-ieg 6, NEC-17 and NCRA-13 2008 Nashville, Tennessee

  2. DOE UT Switchgrass Project Burt English (Co-director) Daniel DeLaTorre Ugarte (Co-director) Chris Clark Clark Garland Ken Goddard Kim Jensen Roland Roberts Larry Steckel Donald Tyler Marie Walsh

  3. Sources of Ethanol in USA • Corn – starch based • Sugarcane – sugar – (Brazil) Corn – limited suitable land - competes for corn as food - high inputs - FFE of 1.1 to 1.2 to 1

  4. Cellulosic Ethanol • Wood wastes (expensive) • Corn and wheat stover (limited) • Crops: • Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) FFE 5.2 to 1 • Giant miscanthus • Hybrid poplar (North USA)

  5. Status No surplus or production advantage for corn or soybean production in TN. Our competitive advantage is perennial switchgrass. Thrust for cellulosic ethanol production and use at national and state level. Lack of efficient switchgrass production strategies in TN.

  6. Switchgrass Perennial Native species Planted with seed Relatively low input crop No specialized planting or harvesting equipment Competitive advantage in the Southeast Other species & biomass sources

  7. Dedicated Energy Crops -- 2010 Estimated using POLYSYS analytical system, Daniel De La Torre Ugarte and Burton English

  8. Dedicated Energy Crops -- 2020 160 million tons of switchgrass from 19 million acres Estimated using POLYSYS analytical system, Daniel De La Torre Ugarte and Burton English

  9. Dedicated Energy Crops -- 2030 362 million tons of switchgrass from 35 million acres Estimated using POLYSYS analytical system, Daniel De La Torre Ugarte and Burton English

  10. Research in Progress Soil / landscape suitability Seeding / nitrogen rate interactions Cultivar selection Weed control strategies On – farm demonstrations Switchgrass production:

  11. Seeding Rate – Nitrogen Study Nitrogen rates: 0, 60, 120, 180 lbs. N per acre as NH4NO3. Spring applied starting the 2nd season. Seeding rates: 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 lbs. PLS per acre. Alamo variety

  12. Nitrogen • Being evaluated • Responses vary • Presently 60 lbs. N/A after first year

  13. 180 lbs. N/A 8.5 a 11.0 a 10.8 a 2.5 9.4 a 10.0 a 10.7 a 5.0 8.9 a 10.1 a 11.3 a 7.5 9.2 a 11.5 a 10.7 a 10.0 7.7 a 9.6 a 10.0 a 12.5 2006 Well drained to moderatelywell drained level upland Seeding Rate 0 lbs. N/A 60 lbs. N/A 120 lbs. N/A Lbs./ A PLS DM Yield in T/A 11.3 ab 10.6 ab 12.6 a 10.5 b 10.5 b Values within a nitrogen rate followed by the same letter are not significantly different at P = 0.05 <

  14. 180 lbs. N/A 2.6b 2.4 b 4.0 a 2.5 3.1 ab 4.6 a 5.2 a 5.0 3.0 ab 4.5 a 5.0 a 7.5 3.4 ab 4.8 a 5.4 a 10.0 3.8 a 3.8 ab 5.2 a 12.5 2006 poorly drained floodplain Seeding Rate 0 lbs. N/A 60 lbs. N/A 120 lbs. N/A Lbs./ A PLS DM Yield in T/A 5.1 b 6.8 a 7.2 a 7.2 a 7.0 a Values within a nitrogen rate followed by the same letter are not significantly different at P = 0.05 <

  15. Phosphorus • Removed tissue concentration ( 8 locations over 5 years) 0.09% P • 8 tons to the acre = 14 lbs P/A or 32 lbs P2O5 • Low testing (Mehlich 1) = 40 lbs P2O5/A

  16. Potassium • Removal tissue concentration (8 locations over 5 years) 0.52% K • 8 tons/A = 83 lbs K/A or 100 lbs K2O/A • Low testing (Mehlich 1) = 80 lbs K2O/A

  17. Soil Acidity • No lime recommended pH 5.0 and above • O. M. complexing Al and Mn

  18. Summary Establishment – 6 lbs./A PLS – Tilled or no-tilled ½ inch or less coverage. Fertilization – 60 lbs./A N after 1 year – 40 lbs./A P2O5 & 80 lbs./A K2O at low soil test. Weed Control – Broadleaf available – Grass control in process. Harvest – Big round or square bales – Modules? – Stack storage? – In field processing?

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