Seasonal dynamics of above‐ and below‐ground biomass and nitrogen partitioning in M iscanthus × giganteus and P anicum virgatum across three growing seasons
Open accessAbstract
The first replicated productivity trials of the C 4 perennial grass M iscanthus × giganteus in the U nited S tates showed this emerging ligno‐cellulosic bioenergy feedstock to provide remarkably high annual yields. This covered the 5 years after planting, leaving it uncertain if this high productivity could be maintained in the absence of N fertilization. An expected, but until now unsubstantiated, benefit of both species was investment in roots and perennating rhizomes. This study examines for years 5–7 yields, biomass, C and N in shoots, roots, and rhizomes. The mean peak shoot biomass for M. × giganteus in years 5–7 was 46.5 t ha−1 in O ctober, declining to 38.1 t ha−1 on completion of senescence and at harvest in D ecember, and 20.7 t ha−1 declining to 11.3 t ha−1 for P anicum virgatum. There was no evidence of decline in annual yield with age. Mean rhizome biomass was significantly higher in M. × giganteus at 21.5 t ha−1 compared to 7.2 t ha−1 for P. virgatum, whereas root biomass was similar at 5.6–5.9 t ha−1. M. × giganteus shoots contained 339 kg ha−1 N in A ugust, declining to 193 kg ha−1 in D ecember, compared to 168 and 58 kg ha−1 for P. virgatum. The results suggest substantial remobilization of N to roots and rhizomes, yet still a substantial loss with D ecember harvests. The shoot and rhizome biomass increase of 33.6 t ha−1 during the 2‐month period between J une and A ugust for M. × giganteus corresponds to a solar energy conversion of 4.4% of solar energy into biomass, one of the highest recorded and confirming the remarkable productivity potential of this plant.
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For switchgrass, more carbon was allocated to the roots than to the rhizomes.
“For switchgrass, more C was allocated to the roots than to the rhizomes [25, 66, 71].”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [66]
Due to differences in stand age, depth and sampling frequency, belowground biomass inputs appear very variable.
“Due to differences in stand age, depth and sampling frequency inputs appear very variable [65, 66, 84].”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [66]
Belowground biomass is concentrated in the upper part of the profile; despite large amounts of roots under M. giganteus observed down to 1 to 1.8 m, more than 50% were in the top 30 cm.
“BGB is concentrated in the upper part of the profile [61]; in spite of large amounts of roots under M. giganteus observed down to 1 to 1.8 m [57, 61, 66, 80, 84], more than 50 % were in the top 30 cm.”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [66]
Carbon inputs from Miscanthus rhizomes (1.01 to 2.66 Mg C ha−1 year−1) were generally greater than those from roots (0.19-0.86 Mg C ha−1 year−1).
“The C inputs from Miscanthus rhizomes (1.01 to 2.66 Mg C ha−1 year−1) were generally greater [57, 61, 66, 80, 85] than those from roots (0.19–0.86 Mg C ha−1 year−1, Table 1).”
From Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? (2015) · cites this paper as [66]
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- Authors
- Dohleman, F. G., Heaton, E. A., Arundale, R. A., & Long, S. P.
- Affiliations
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- Iowa State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Long, Stephen P.
- Venue
- GCB Bioenergy
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2012-01-16
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 534-544
- ISSN
- 1757-1693 (ISSN-L)
- 1757-1707
- OpenAlex
- W2038066255
- Cited by
- 175
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 41.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- lib.dr.iastate.edu
- Locations
- GCB Bioenergy (publishedVersion)
- Iowa State University Digital Repository (Iowa State University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Bioenergy crop production and management
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Crop Yield and Soil Fertility
- Keywords
- Miscanthus × giganteus, switchgrass, perennial grasses, seasonal biomass dynamics, nitrogen partitioning, rhizome biomass, root biomass, nitrogen remobilization, shoot biomass, solar energy conversion efficiency, yield stability, nitrogen fertilization
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