Switchgrass Biomass Simulation at Diverse Sites in the Northern Great Plains of the U.S.
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Switchgrass Biomass Simulation at Diverse Sites in the Northern Great Plains of the U.S. J. R. Kiniry & M. R. Schmer & K. P. Vogel & R. B. Mitchell
Published online: 2 December 2008 # Springer Science + Business Media, LLC. 2008
Abstract The Agricultural Land Management Alternatives with Numerical Assessment Criteria (ALMANAC) model, originally developed and tested in Texas, needs to be tested for switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) simulation in more northerly locations. The Northern Great Plains of the U.S. has regionally adapted native populations of switchgrass and has excellent potential for growing switchgrass as a biofuel crop. The objective of this study was to adjust switchgrass parameters (potential leaf area index (DMLA) and degree days to maturity (PHU)) for northern sites and populations and to validate the model against switchgrass data from diverse sites in this region. Three or 4 years of measured yield data were used from a ten field sites in North Dakota (ND), South Dakota (SD), and Nebraska (NE). ALMANAC realistically simulated mean annual switchgrass yields ranging from means of 4.75 to 9.13 Mg ha−1. Mean simulated yields were within 3%, 15%, and 9% of mean measured yields for NE, SD, and ND, respectively. Sensitivity analysis with temperature and rainfall demonstrated variable responses of potential yields depending on whether season duration, soil water, or soil nitrogen was the limiting factor at a site. ALMANAC shows promise as a useful tool for switchgrass evaluation and management in the northern Great Plains and in similar latitudes with low rainfall such as the East European Plain.
J. R. Kiniry (*) Grassland Soil and Water Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, 808 East Blackland Road, Temple, TX 76502, USA e-mail: [email protected] M. R. Schmer : K. P. Vogel : R. B. Mitchell Grain, Forage and Bioenergy Research, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, USA
Keywords Biofuel . Degree days . Leaf area index Abbreviations ALMANAC Agricultural Land Management Alternatives with Numerical Assessment Criteria CRP Conservation reserve program DMLA Potential leaf area index GDD12 Growing degree day, base 12 C LAI Leaf area index NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration PHU Degree days to maturity PLS Pure live seed R1 stage Panicle fully emerged from boot R5 stage Postanthesis RUE Radiation use efficiency USDA-NRCS U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service
Introduction Switchgrass is a highly productive, perennial grass native to much of North America. It is easily established and provides excellent wildlife habitat, protects against nutrient losses to surface water in runoff, and stabilizes soil thereby preventing soil erosion. As the U.S. and other countries have considered how to best address energy needs and soil conservation, switchgrass has risen to the forefront. Before investing large scale economic and land resources into such perennial grass systems for biomass production, process based simulation models can be used to simulate and compare impacts of different plant
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