Developmental Morphology and Biomass Yield of Upland and Lowland Switchgrass Ecotypes Grown in Iowa
2018
Muhammad Aurangzaib | Kenneth J. Moore | Andrew W. Lenssen | Sotirios V. Archontoulis | Emily A. Heaton | Shuizhang Fei
Sustainable development of the bioenergy industry will depend upon the amount and quality of bioenergy feedstock produced. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a model lignocellulosic bioenergy crop but critical information is lacking for improved management, growth, and development simulation model calibration. A field study was conducted near Ames, IA during 2012&ndash:2013 with the objective to evaluate upland (&ldquo:Cave-in-Rock&rdquo:, &lsquo:Trailblazer&rsquo: and &lsquo:Blackwell&rsquo:) and lowland (&ldquo:Kanlow&rdquo: and &ldquo:Alamo&rdquo:) switchgrass ecotypes for harvest timing on morphology (i.e., phenology, leaf area index (LAI), and biomass yield). The experiment used a randomized complete block design, with three upland and two lowland varieties harvested at six dates annually. In both years, delaying harvest to later maturity increased biomass yield: lowland cultivars produced greater biomass yield (6.15 tons ha&minus:1) than upland ecotypes (5.10 tons ha&minus:1). Lowland ecotypes had delayed reproductive development compared with upland ecotypes. At the end of both growing seasons, upland ecotypes had greater mean stage count (MSC) than lowland ecotypes. &ldquo:Cave-in-Rock&rdquo: had greatest MSC and LAI, but did not produce the greatest biomass. Relationships were nonlinear between MSC and biomass yield, with significant cultivar&ndash:year interaction. The relationship between biomass yield and MSC will be useful for improving switchgrass, including cultivar selection, fertilizer application, and optimum harvest time.
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