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Biofuel Production The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 promotes the growth of biofuels and is expected to require twenty-one million gallons of advanced biofuels to be incorporated into vehicle fuels by 2022 (H.R.6, 2007).

Perennial Grasses Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) feedstocks qualify as advanced biofuel, and for the United States energy initiative, it may be considered to be better suited for growth on marginal lands than some other crops (Holman, et al., 2011). Switchgrass in Kansas can produce up to seven tons for each acre with adequate water or irrigation, or two to four tons per acre under marginal conditions (Holman, et al., 2011). The cultivar Blackwell is an Upland type originating from north central Oklahoma, and the cultivar Kanlow is a lowland type originating from east central Oklahoma; both cultivars were developed at the USDA-NRCS Plant material Center in Manhattan, Kansas (Holman, et al., 2011).

Description of Study Site

This study was performed at the Southwest Research-Extension Center located in Garden City, Kansas (38°01’17”N, 100°49’26”W, elevation 2897 ft) indicated by a star on Figure 1. The switchgrass plots are part of an experiment started in 2007 studying switchgrass cultivar establishment, iron chlorosis, and biomass yield (Holman, 2011). The soil series for the area is a Ulysses silt loam which is in the particle size family of fine-silty. The previous study stated a pH of 7.8 and organic matter of 1.7% in the top 6 inches of soil (Holman, 2011). The switchgrass plots are 180 square feet; in May 2007, they were planted with a target seeding depth of .25 inches and a target plant density of one plant per square foot (Holman, 2011). For the switchgrass portion of the experiment, a well-performing cultivar (Blackwell) was chosen for it exhibited high stand density and very few bare patches; in comparison, an underperforming cultivar (Kanlow) was also chosen as it exhibited a lower stand density with more bare patches. For a broader comparison, plots in conventional forage rotations – triticale (Triticosecale Wittmack), forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), and oats (Avena sativa) – from a neighboring experiment also harvested for biomass were selected.

Introduc4on  

Objec4ves  

Wind Erodible Fraction The samples were retrieved from the upper five centimeters of soil and placed in large square pans measuring 40.6 centimeters on each side. The switchgrass plots were sampled with four replications and three randomized repetitions and the conventional forage plots with four replications and three randomized repetitions. The samples were dried in ovens at 60°C for 48 hours and measured for dry aggregate size distribution by the modified rotary sieve procedure (Lyles et al., 1970). Aggregates <0.84 mm are considered the wind erodible fraction.

Methods  

Figure 3a: Effect of feedstock and fraction on total nitrogen value. Different lowercase letters indicate a significant difference between the perennial forages and the annual forages (P<0.0001). Figure 3b: Effect of feedstock and fraction on total potassium value Different lowercase letters indicate a significant difference between the perennial forages and the annual forages (P<0.0001).

Conclusions  

• A lower WEF is more desirable, and generally, the perennial grasses did have a smaller WEF. This portion of the study could be expanded by an ongoing study sampling at different times of the year, taking into account the periods of time when soil is more likely to erode. • There was no difference in the nutrient concentration (Total N and K) of the WEF and bulk soil. • The annual treatments contained more N than the perennial treatment; however, this reflects the fertilization level of the annual forages study. • The perennial treatments also contained less K than the annuals. Since no K fertilizer has ever been administered to either the annuals or perennials, this could indicate a higher degree of K mining by the perennials. • Sampling location was critical for the biological parameters. Sampling near the base of the crowns had high levels of biomass and activity, while the bare areas between crowns had low activity and biomass. • The spring –harvested forages had the highest biological activity, while the summer forage (sorghum) had similar biological activity to the switchgrass, therefore, date of sampling likely has an effect on the biological parameters measured. • In summary, dense healthy stands of either perennials or annuals are necessary for limiting wind erosion and for maintaining soil quality. Nutrient levels must be monitored to prevent depletion of soil fertility. • Sustainable bioenergy must not lead to soil degradation if it is to maintain the concept of sustainability.

References  

Cabrera, M.L. and M.H. Beare. 1993. Alkaline Persulfate Oxidation for Determining Total Nitrogen in Microbial Biomass Extracts. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 57:1007-1012. Casida, L.E., Jr., D.A. Klein, and T. Santoro. 1964. Soil Dehydrogenase Activity. Soil Sci. 98:371-376. Holman, J.D., et al. 2011. Switchgrass cultivar establishment iron chlorosis, and biomass yield in southwest and southeast Kansas. Online. Forage and Grazinglands doi: 10.1094/FG-2011-0126-02-RS Holman J., et al., Kansas Switchgrass Production Handbook, Kansas State University, November 2011. Lyles, L., J.D. Dickerson, and L.A. Disrud. 1970. Modified rotary sieve for improved accuracy. Soil Sci. 109:207-210. United States House of Representatives. 2007. The Energy Independence and Security Act H.R.6. Vance, E.D., P.C. Brookes, and D.S. Jenkinson. 1987. An Extraction Method for Measuring Soil Microbial Biomass. Soil Biol. Biochem. 19(6): 703-707.

Acknowledgement  

This material is based upon work supported by National Science Foundation Grant: “REU Site: Summer Academy in Sustainable Bioenergy; NSF Award No.: SMA-1062895, awarded to Kansas State University.

The objective of this project is to determine changes or differences between treatments in abiotic and biotic soil quality indicators. These indicators will be considered by the physical (wind erodible fraction), chemical (N, P, and K values), and biological factors (microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity) under perennials and annuals grown as dedicated bioenergy crops.

Dehydrogenase Analysis

Figure 5a: Microbial Biomass differed significantly among feedstocks (P=0.004). Figure 5b: Dehydrogenase differed significantly among feedstocks (P=0.04).

Figure 4a: Effect of switchgrass variety and sampling location on microbial biomass. Different lowercase letters indicate a significant difference between sampling location within the same species (P<0.0001). Figure 4b: Effect of switchgrass variety and sampling location on dehydrogenase. Different lowercase letters indicate a significant difference between sampling location within the same species (P=0.0021).

Figure [X]: Effect of switchgrass variety and sampling location on microbial biomass. Different lowercase letters indicate a significant difference between sampling location within the same species (P<0.0001). Figure [X]: Effect of switchgrass variety and sampling location on dehydrogenase. Different lowercase letters indicate a significant difference between sampling location within the same species (P=0.0021).

Figure 2: Effect of feedstock on Wind Erodible Fraction. Different uppercase letters indicate a significant difference between the feedstocks (P=0.0146).

Nutrients A representative sample was taken of the bulk soil and wind erodible fraction of each pan sample and submitted to the Kansas State University Soil Testing Laboratory for analysis. The samples were tested for total nitrogen, total phosphorous, potassium, and total carbon.

Biological Activity To determine microbial biomass carbon, the Chloroform Fumigation Extraction method was used (Weaver, R.W. et al., 763-765). Dehydrogenase activity was determined using the assay method (Casida et al., 1964).

Sustainable  Bioenergy  REU,  Auburn  University1;    Department  of  Agronomy,  Kansas  State  University2  Jenna  PlaM1,  DeAnn  Presley2,  Peter  Tomlinson2,  John  Holman2,  Michelle  Busch2  

Soil  Quality  Indicators  in  Dedicated  Energy  Crops:  Perennials  and  Annuals  

Results  

Rotary Sieve Apparatus

Chloroform Fumigation Extraction

Figure 1. Study area