Premium
Cutting Frequency and Nitrogen Fertilization Effects on Yield and Nitrogen Concentration of Switchgrass in a Short Season Area
Author(s) -
Madakadze I. C.,
Stewart K. A.,
Peterson P. R.,
Coulman B. E.,
Smith D. L.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1999.0011183x003900020041x
Subject(s) - panicum virgatum , loam , agronomy , cultivar , biology , human fertilization , forage , panicum , growing season , tifton , nitrogen , zoology , bioenergy , soil water , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry , renewable energy
Adapted warm season grasses have potential for both summer forage and biomass production in eastern Canada. A field study was conducted in 1995 and 1996 to determine the response of switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) cv. Cave‐in‐Rock, Pathfinder, and Sunburst to nitrogen (N) fertilization at 0,75, or 150 kg ha −1 and three harvest schedules in a short season area. The grass was harvested at 4‐ or 6‐wk intervals or left uncut until the end of the season. These treatments were combined in a split‐plot design in each of three blocks on a St. Bernard sandy clay loam (Typic Hapludalf). Herbage yield and herbage N concentration were determined at each harvest for the cutting schedules. Herbage yields revealed a cultivar × N × harvest schedule interaction in 1996, while in 1995 only the two‐way interactions between cultivar × harvest schedule and N × harvest schedule were evident (P < 0.05). Total yield ranking for the harvest regimes was uncut > 6‐wk > 4‐wk with their respective mean yields being 11,10, and 8 Mg ha −1 for Cave‐in‐Rock; 10,8, and 6 Mg ha −1 for Pathfinder and 11,8, and 7 Mg ha −1 for Sunburst. Nitrogen concentrations increased with fertilization and varied with harvest and year, but not with cultivar. Mean N concentrations were 12.4, 13.9, and 15.4 g kg −1 dry matter (DM) for the 0, 75, and 150 kg ha −1 N levels, respectively, under the 4‐wk system. Corresponding values were 10.1, 11.6, and 12.9 g kg −1 for the 6‐wk system. End of season N concentrations for the uncut regime averaged 5.4, 6.0, and 7.6 g kg −1 DM in increasing order of N fertilization. The results indicate that switchgrass has potential in both grazed or hay forage systems in eastern Canada.