Open AccessSoil nitrogen dynamics in switchgrass seeded to a marginal cropland in South Dakota
Author(s) -
Lai Liming,
Oh Hong Chang,
Kumar Sandeep,
Osborne Shan L.,
Lehman R. Michael,
Owens Vance N.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
gcb bioenergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.378
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1757-1707
pISSN - 1757-1693
DOI - 10.1111/gcbb.12475
Subject(s) - panicum virgatum , environmental science , leaching (pedology) , agronomy , soil water , bioenergy , biofuel , nitrogen , soil science , chemistry , ecology , biology , organic chemistry
The potential ecological impacts of switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.), as a biofuel feedstock, have been assessed under different environmental conditions. However, limited information is available in understanding the integrated analysis of nitrogen (N) dynamics including soil nitrate ( NO 3 − ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions, and NO 3 − leaching under switchgrass land management. The specific objective was to explore N dynamics for 2009 through 2015 in switchgrass seeded to a marginally yielding cropland based on treatments of N fertilization rate (N rate; low, 0; medium, 56; high, 112 kg N ha −1 ) and landscape position (shoulder, backslope, and footslope). Our findings indicated that N rate impacted soil NO 3 − (0–5 cm depth) and surface N 2 O fluxes but did not impact NO 3 − leaching during the observed years. Medium N (56 kg N ha −1 ) was the optimal rate for increasing biomass yield with reduced environmental problems. Landscape position impacted the N dynamics. At the footslope position, soil NO 3 − , soil NO 3 − leaching, and N 2 O fluxes were higher than the other landscape positions. Soil N 2 O fluxes and NO 3 − leaching had downward trends over the observed years. Growing switchgrass on marginally yielding croplands can store soil N, reduce N losses via leaching, and mitigate N 2 O emissions from soils to the atmosphere over the years. Switchgrass seeded on marginally yielding croplands can be beneficial in reducing N losses and can be grown as a sustainable bioenergy crop on these marginal lands.