Soil physical and hydrological properties under three biofuel crops in Ohio

Abstract

While biofuel crops are widely studied and compared for their energy and carbon footprints, less is known about their effects on other soil properties, particularly hydrologic characteristics. Soils under three biofuel crops, corn (Zea mays), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and willow (Salix spp.), were analyzed seven years after establishment to assess the effects on soil bulk density (ρ_b), penetration resistance (PR), water-holding capacity, and infiltration characteristics. The PR was the highest under corn, along with the lowest associated water content, while PR was 50–60% lower under switchgrass. In accordance with PR data, surface (0–10 cm) bulk density also tended to be lower under switchgrass. Both water infiltration rates and cumulative infiltration amounts varied widely among and within the three crops. Because the Philip model did not fit the data, results were analyzed using the Kostiakov model instead. Switchgrass plots had an average cumulative infiltration of 69 cm over 3 hours with a constant infiltration rate of 0.28 cm min^?1, compared with 37 cm and 0.11 cm min^?1 for corn, and 26 cm and 0.06 cm min^?1 for willow, respectively. Results suggest that significant changes in soil physical and hydrologic properties may require more time to develop. Soils under switchgrass may have lower surface bulk density, higher field water capacity, and a more rapid water infiltration rate than those under corn or willow.     

Estimation of nitrogen and sulfur mineralization in soils amended with crop residues contributing to nitrogen and sulfur nutrition of crops in the North Central U.S

Predicting nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) mineralization of crop residues from the preceding crop might be a useful tool for forecasting soil N and S availability. Two soils from eastern North Dakota and three crop residues – corn, spring wheat, and soybean were used in an 8-week incubation study to estimate N and S mineralization from crop residues. The cumulative N and S mineralized were fit to a first-order kinetic model. Cumulative N mineralized ranged between 0.34 and 2.15 mg kg^?1 and 0.45 to 3.41 mg kg^?1 for the Glyndon and Fargo soils, respectively. Un-amended soils showed higher N mineralization than residue treated soils. For S, the highest mineralization occurred in un-amended Glyndon soil and in spring wheat-amended Fargo soil. This study indicates that crop residue additions can have a negative impact on plant available nutrients due to immobilization of N and S during the time when crops need the nutrients most.     

Arginine ammonification and L‐glutaminase assays as rapid indices of corn nitrogen availability

Increasing use of N fertilizer for crop production necessitates more rapid estimates on N provided by the soil in order to prevent under‐ or overfertilization and their adverse effect on plant nutrition and environmental quality. A study was conducted to investigate the responses of arginine ammonification (AA), L‐glutaminase activity (LG), soil N–mineralization indices, corn (Zea mays L.) crop–yield estimation, and corn N uptake to application of organic amendments. The relationships between corn N uptake and the microbial and enzymatic processes which are basically related to N mineralization in soil were also studied. The soil samples were collected from 0–15 cm depth of a calcareous soil that was annually treated with 0, 25, or 100 Mg ha^–1 (dry‐weight basis) of sewage sludge and cow manure for 7 consecutive years. Soil total N (TN), potentially mineralizable N (N₀), and initial potential rates of N mineralization (kN₀) were significantly greater in sewage sludge–treated than in cow manure–treated soils. However, the amendment type did not influence soil organic C (SOC), AA, LG, and anaerobic index of N mineralization (N_ana). The application rates proportionally increased N‐availability indices in soil. Corn N concentration and uptake were correlated with indices of mineralizable N. A multiple stepwise model using AA and N_ana as parameters provided the best predictor of corn N concentration (R = 0.86, p < 0.001). Another model using only LG provided the best predictor of corn N uptake (R = 0.78, p < 0.001). This results showed that sewage‐sludge and cow‐manure application is readily reflected in certain soil biological properties and that the biological tests may be useful in predicting N mineralization and availability in soil.     

Evaluation of the fertilizer value and nutrient release from corn and soybean residues under laboratory and greenhouse conditions

Abstract

Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted on a moderately fertile Taloka (fine, mixed, thermic mollic Albaqualf) silt loam and a low fertility Leadvale (fine‐silty, siliceous, thermic typic Fragiudult) silt loam to evaluate nutrient release and fertilizer value of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Herr.] and corn (Zea mays L.) residues as compared to the inorganic fertilizer 13–13–13–13 (N‐P₂O₅‐K₂O‐S). Residues and the inorganic fertilizer were applied at 50 mg N/kg in a incubation study and at 25 and 50 mg N/kg in a greenhouse study. The incubation study indicted that carbon dioxide (CO₂) evolution and nitrogen (N) mineralization followed a identical sequence: soybean > corn residues, similar to residue N concentration and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio sequence. Application of corn residues produced N immobilization in both soils (‐20 mg N/kg soil), whereas soybean increased inorganic soil N in the Leadvale soil (3 mg N/kg soil) and particularly in the Taloka soil (17 mg N/kg soil). The greenhouse study showed the superiority of the inorganic fertilizer over corn and soybean residues for sorghum‐sudan yield, and N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) total uptake. No significant differences were found among the residues and between residues and the control with the exception of the higher soybean rate for total N uptake in the Taloka soil, and the higher corn and soybean residue rate in the Leadvale soil for total K uptake. It also appeared that soybean residues provided a substantial amount of N and S to sorghum‐sudan. Higher rates of both soybean and corn residues constituted a prime source of K, particularly in the Landvale soil which had a low exchangeable soil K level.     

Effect of cropping systems on nitrogen mineralization in soils

 Understanding the effect of cropping systems on N mineralization in soils is crucial for a better assessment of N fertilizer requirements of crops in order to minimize nitrate contamination of surface and groundwater resources. The effects of crop rotations and N fertilization on N mineralization were studied in soils from two long-term field experiments at the Northeast Research Center and the Clarion-Webster Research Center in Iowa that were initiated in 1979 and 1954, respectively. Surface soil samples were taken in 1996 from plots of corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), oats (Avena sativa L.), or meadow (alfalfa) (Medicago sativa L.) that had received 0 or 180 kg N ha^–1 before corn and an annual application of 20 kg P and 56 kg K ha^–1. N mineralization was studied in leaching columns under aerobic conditions at 30  °C for 24 weeks. The results showed that N mineralization was affected by cover crop at the time of sampling. Continuous soybean decreased, whereas inclusion of meadow increased, the amount of cumulative N mineralized. The mineralizable N pool (N _o) varied considerably among the soil samples studied, ranging from 137 mg N kg^–1 soil under continuous soybean to >500 mg N kg^–1 soil under meadow-based rotations, sampled in meadow. The results suggest that the N _o and/or organic N in soils under meadow-based cropping systems contained a higher proportion of active N fractions. Received: 10 February 1999     

Winter cover cropping influence on nitrogen mineralization,presidedress soil nitrate test,and corn yields

The mineralization and availability of cover crop N to the succeeding crop are critical components in the management of soil N to reduce N leaching. The effects of several leguminous and non-leguminous cover crops on soil N availability, N mineralization potential, and corn (Zea mays L.) yield were examined. The cover crops had variable effects on soil N availability and corn yield and N uptake. Because of the rapid mineralization of the cover crops following incorporation, the inorganic N levels in the soil sampled in mid-May 1992 (4 weeks after incorporation of cover crops), rather than the potentially mineralizable N, rate constants, initial potential mineralization rate, or cumulative N mineralized over 14 weeks, correlated well with N concentrations, C:N ratios, or the N added in the cover crops. However, the inclusion of potentially mineralizable N with inorganic N in a multiple regression improved the variability in the corn yield and the N uptake accounted for. Since extensive mineralization had occurred before the 21 May sampling, the potentially mineralizable N was affected more by the soil organic N and C than by the N concentrations of the cover crops. The presidedress NO₃ ^--N test levels were well predicted by the inorganic and potentially mineralizable N (R ²=0.89, P<0.01), although the test levels were better in predicting corn yield and N uptake. If the available soil N test needs to be made earlier than recommended by the presidedress NO₃ ^--N test, both inorganic and potentially mineralizable N are needed to better predict the corn yield and N uptake in the soils.     

Switchgrass Influences on Soil Biogeochemical Processes in the Dryland Region of the Pacific Northwest

Switchgrass and other perennial grasses have been promoted as biomass crops for production of renewable fuels. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of biomass removal on soil biogeochemical processes. A 3-year field study consisting of three levels of net primary productivity (NPP; low, medium, and high growing season precipitation) and two biomass crops (winter wheat and switchgrass) was conducted near Pendleton, Oregon. Switchgrass increased soil carbon (C)–nitrogen (N) ratio, but the effect varied with net primary productivity (NPP) and soil depth. In situ soil respiration (carbon dioxide; CO₂) rate from switchgrass increased with NPP level but switchgrass had greater cumulative flux than wheat in medium and low NPP. Nitrogen mineralization and microbial biomass carbon were significantly greater under switchgrass than under wheat at high and medium NPP. Introduction of switchgrass initiates major changes in soil nutrient dynamics through organic-matter input.     

Nitrogen mineralization in relation to site history and soil properties for a range of Australian forest soils

Rates of N mineralization were measured in 27 forest soils encompassing a wide range of forest types and management treatments in south-east Australia. Undisturbed soil columns were incubated at 20°C for 68 days at near field-capacity water content, and N mineralization was measured in 5-cm depth increments to 30 cm. The soils represented three primary profile forms: gradational, uniform and duplex. They were sampled beneath mature native Eucalyptus sp. forest and from plantations of Pinus radiata of varying age (<1 to 37 years). Several sites had been fertilized, irrigated, or intercropped with lupins. The soils ranged greatly in total soil N concentrations, C:N ratios, total P, and sand, silt, and clay contents. Net N mineralization for individual soil profiles (0–30 cm depth) varied from 2.0 to 66.6 kg ha^-1 over 68 days, with soils from individual depths mineralizing from <0 (immobilization) to 19.3 kg ha^-1 per 5 cm soil depth. Only 0.1–3.1% of the total N present at 0–30 cm in depth was mineralized during the incubation, and both the amount and the percentage of total N mineralized decreased with increasing soil depth. N fertilization, addition of slash residues, or intercropping with lupins in the years prior to sampling increased N mineralization. Several years of irrigation of a sandy soil reduced levels of total N and C, and lowered rates of N mineralization. Considuring all soil depths, the simple linear correlations between soil parameters (C, N, P, C:N, C:P, N:P, coarse sand, fine sand, silt, clay) and N mineralization rates were generally low (r<0.53), but these improved for total N (r=0.82) and organic C (r=0.79) when the soils were grouped into primary profile forms. Prediction of field N-mineralization rates was complicated by the poor correlations between soil properties and N mineralization, and temporal changes in the pools of labile organic-N substrates in the field.     

Crop yield and SOC responses to biochar application were dependent on soil texture and crop type in southern Quebec,Canada

Changes to soil nutrient availability and increases for crop yield and soil organic C (SOC) concentration on biochar‐amended soil under temperate climate conditions have only been reported in a few publications. The objective of this work was to determine if biochar application rates up to 20 Mg ha^?1 affect nutrient availability in soil, SOC stocks and yield of corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) on two coarse‐textured soils (loamy sand, sandy clay loam) in S Quebec, Canada. Data were collected from field experiments for a 3‐y period following application of pine wood biochar at rates of 0, 10, and 20 Mg ha^?1. For corn plots, at harvest 3 y after biochar application, 20 Mg biochar ha^?1 resulted in 41.2% lower soil NH on the loamy sand; the same effect was not present on the sandy clay loam soil. On the loamy sand, 20 Mg biochar ha^?1 increased corn yields by 14.2% compared to the control 3 y after application; the same effect was not present on the sandy clay loam soil. Biochar did not alter yield or nutrient availability in soil on soybean or switchgrass plots on either soil type. After 3 y, SOC concentration was 83 and 258% greater after 10 and 20 Mg ha^?1 biochar applications, respectively, than the control in sandy clay loam soil under switchgrass production. The same effect was not present on the sandy clay loam soil. A 67% higher SOC concentration was noted with biochar application at 20 Mg ha^?1 to sandy clay loam soil under corn.     

柳枝稷生物炭对来自不同地区的两种土壤上植物生物量和微生物动态的影响

Biochar amendments to soils may alter soil function and fertility in various ways, including through induced changes in the microbial community. We assessed microbial activity and community composition of two distinct clayey soil types, an Aridisol from Colorado (CO) in the U.S. Central Great Plains, and an Alfisol from Virginia (VA) in the southeastern US following the application of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) biochar. The switchgrass biochar was applied at four levels, 0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%, approximately equivalent to biochar additions of 0, 25, 50, and 100 t ha^-1, respectively, to the soils grown with wheat (Triticum aestivum) in an eight-week growth chamber experiment. We measured wheat shoot biomass and nitrogen (N) content and soil nutrient availability and N mineralization rates, and characterized the microbial fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles of the soils. Net N mineralization rates decreased in both soils in proportion to an increase in biochar levels, but the effect was more marked in the VA soil, where net N mineralization decreased from -2.1 to -38.4 mg kg^-1. The 10% biochar addition increased soil pH, electrical conductivity, Mehlich- and bicarbonate-extractable phosphorus (P), and extractable potassium (K) in both soil types. The wheat shoot biomass decreased from 17.7 to 9.1 g with incremental additions of biochar in the CO soil, but no difference was noted in plants grown in the VA soil. The FAME recovery assay indicated that the switchgrass biochar addition could introduce artifacts in analysis, so the results needed to be interpreted with caution. Non-corrected total FAME concentrations indicated a decline by 45% and 34% with 10% biochar addition in the CO and VA soils, respectively, though these differences became nonsignificant when the extraction efficiency correction factor was applied. A significant decline in the fungi:bacteria ratio was still evident upon correction in the CO soil with biochar. Switchgrass biochar had the potential to cause short-term negative impacts on plant biomass and alter soil microbial community structure unless measures were taken to add supplemental N and labile carbon (C).     

Cover crop potential of winter oilseed crops in the Northern U.S. Corn Belt

ABSTRACT

Winter camelina [WC, Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] and field pennycress (FP, Thlaspi arvense L.) are emerging oilseed crops in corn–soybean rotations, but little is known about their cover crop potential. A 2-year study was conducted in Minnesota, USA to evaluate the effect of winter oilseed crops on nitrogen (N) use, growth and yield of corn and soybean. Treatments included WC, FP, winter rye (WR, Secale cereale L.), and a no cover crop (NC) control. Oilseed crops produced 40–50% less spring biomass and accumulated less N compared to WR. The tissue-N of WC and FP was 39.0% and 6.6% higher than WR, respectively. The C:N ratio of cover crops was lower than 20:1, suggesting rapid decomposition. Compared with NC, cover crops lowered soil nitrate before major crops planting, but the post-harvest N profile following corn and soybean was not affected. Compared with NC, cover crops significantly decreased corn yield, with 8.7%, 9.5% and 9.8% reduction following WC, FP and WR, respectively. Cover crops did not affect growth, yield and N uptake of soybean. Oilseed crops showed potential to improve N cycling in the rotation, but more research of their impact on major crops is needed.     

Effect of pH on nitrogen mineralization in crop-residue-treated soils

Summary This study compares N mineralization in soils treated with crop residues [corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.)] or alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) at three adjusted soil pH values (4, 6, and 8); pH was adjusted with dilute H₂SO₄ or KOH. A sample of soil (20 g) was treated with 0.448 g plant material (equivalent to 50t ha^–1), mixed with 20 g silica sand adjusted to the pH of the soil, and packed in a leaching tube. The soil-sand mixture was leached with 100 ml 5 mM CaCl₂ adjusted to the same pH as that of the treated soil to remove the initial mineral N, and incubated at 30°C. The leaching procedure was repeated every 2 weeks for 20 weeks. Results from three soils showed that N mineralization increased as the soil pH increased. In one soil (Lester soil), significant amounts of NH ₄ ⁺ -N accumulated at pH 4 during the first 12 weeks. Treatment with corn and soybean residues resulted in a marked reduction in N mineralization, especially at pH 4. The percentage of organic N mineralized from sorghum residue and alfalfa added to soils increased as the soil pH increased; the values ranged from 7.7% to 37.0% for sorghum and from 17.2% to 30.1% for alfalfa.     

Doybean growth and composition as affected by K,Ca, and Mg rates and corn rotation

Abstract

Different rates of K, Ca, and Mg were applied to bulklots of Decatur clay loam (pH 5.8) which had been collected from an area under natural vegetation. Nitrogen and P were each applied at the rate of 100 ppm. Soybean (Glycine max L.) and corn (Zea mays L.) were planted to pots in four replications of each treatment. Plants were grown for 6 weeks and subsequently all the pots were re‐planted to soybeans. This crop rotation was repeated until six crops had been harvested from each pot.

Potassium fertilization did not affect soybean growth but increased the dry matter of corn plants. Calcium application affected the growth of neither crop, but Mg addition to the soil reduced the growth of both crops. The composition of the plants generally reflected the available amounts of each nutrient. Additionally, Mg consistently decreased K in soybeans but increased Mn in the two crops. The inclusion of corn in rotation with soybeans resulted in the following effects on the succeeding soybean harvests: more tolerance to high Mg, greater reduction of plant Ca and Mg caused by K application, and lower levels of available K and Ma in soils and soybeans. However, the greater rate of depletion of soil K and Mn under corn rotation did not appear Co affect the dry matter yields of the following soybean plants relative to the plants under the continuous soybean cropping system.     

Corn and soybean grain yield responses to soil amendments and cover crop in upland soils

A field study was conducted on upland soils for six years to determine interactive effects of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cover crop, organic and inorganic soil amendments on grain yields and nutrient utilizations in a no-till corn (Zea mays)-soybean (Glycine max) rotation. Experimental design was a split-plot arrangement with four replicates. Cover crops were the main plots and fertilization treatments used as sub-plot. Fertilization treatments included an unfertilized control, poultry litter, poultry litter (PL) plus flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum and inorganic N fertilizer applied every other year to corn. Corn grain yield and grain N and P uptake were greater with PL than inorganic fertilizer in 2014 and 2016. Addition of FGD gypsum to PL significantly increased corn grain yield by 15% in 2016. Cover crop increased corn and soybean grain yields in a year with less seasonal rainfall possibly by conserving soil moisture.     

Nitrogen accumulation in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is increased by manure compost application in drained paddy fields as a result of increased soil nitrogen mineralization

The application of manure compost is an effective way to increase soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield and nitrogen (N) fertility in drained paddy fields. We investigated changes in soil N mineralization during soybean cultivation using reaction kinetics analysis to determine the contribution of increased N mineralization after manure compost application (at a rate of 0 to 6?kg?m^?2) on N accumulation and seed yield of soybean under drained paddy field conditions. The seed yield and N accumulation decreased markedly in the second and third year of the experiment, but soil N mineralization increased in both years. No decrease in soil N mineralization occurred even after two soybean crops. Soil N availability was not the main cause of decreased soybean yield in the second and third years. The differences in plant aboveground N content between plots with and without manure compost was similar to the increase in N mineralization caused by manure compost application in the second and third years. The application of 6?kg?m^?2 of manure compost increased the amount of ureide-N and nitrate-N in soybean in the third year. Our results suggest that manure compost application increases soil N mineralization and soybean N₂ fixation, resulting in increased N accumulation and seed yield. However, the soybean yield remained less than 300?g?m^?2 in the second and third years (i.e., below the yield in the first year) at all levels of manure compost application due to the remarkable decrease of N accumulation in the second and the third crops.     

Nitrogen response of no‐till corn in first and second years following conservation reserve program

Abstract

A considerable amount of land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has been and will be returned to row crop production. It is difficult to predict how to manage nitrogen (N) fertilizer for these row crops, since there are plausible reasons to expect either substantial N immobilization or substantial N mineralization due to the effects of CRP enrollment. Our objective was to characterize corn (Zea mays L.) yield response to N following CRP in order to develop N management recommendations. Corn was planted either directly into killed CRP sod (CRP‐corn) or following soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] that had been planted into killed CRP sod (CRP‐SB‐corn)‐ We applied a range of N rates and determined the economically optimum N rate from the yield response data. In both years of the study, the optimum N rate for CRP‐corn was much higher (181 and 230 lb N acre^‐1 in 1996 and 1997, respectively) than theoptimum N rate for CRP‐SB‐corn(108 and 113 lb Nacre^‐1 in 1996 and 1997, respectively). CRP‐corn with no N fertilizer appeared extremely N deficient for the first half of the season. We observed a large flush of inorganic soil N in late summer of the first year out of CRP, but this N was apparently too late for optimum corn production that season. We recommend soybean as the first choice row crop to plant immediately following CRP. If corn is to be planted immediately following CRP, we recommend higher‐than‐normal N rates to optimize production.     

Dynamics of Soil Moisture,pH, Organic Carbon,and Nitrogen Under Switchgrass Cropping in a Semiarid Sandy Wasteland

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a perennial biofuel crop with a high production potential and suitable for growth on marginal land. This study investigates the long-term planting effect of switchgrass on the dynamics of soil moisture, pH, organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^–-N) and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) for soils to a depth of 90-cm in a sandy wasteland, Inner Mongolia, China. After crop harvesting in 2015, soil samples were collected from under switchgrass stands established in 2006, 2008, and 2009, native mixture, and a control that was virgin sand. Averaged across six layers, soil moisture and pH was significantly higher under the native mixture than switchgrass or virgin sand. However, SOC and TN were significantly higher under the 2006 switchgrass stand when compared with all other vegetation treatments and the control. The SOC and TN increased from 2.37 and 0.26 g kg^?1, respectively, for 2009 switchgrass stand, and to 3.21 and 0.42 g kg^?1, respectively, for 2006 switchgrass stand. Meanwhile, SOC and TN contents were 2.51 and 0.27 g kg^?1, respectively, under the native mixture. The soil beneath switchgrass and native mixture showed the highest NO₃^–-N and NH₄⁺-N, respectively. The soil moisture increased with depth while SOC, TN, and NO₃^–-N decreased. An obvious trend of increasing moisture, SOC, TN, and mineral N was observed with increasing switchgrass stand age. Thus, growing switchgrass on sandy soils can enhance SOC and TN, improve the availability of mineral N, and generate more appropriate pH conditions for this energy cropping system.     

Accumulation of Miscanthus‐derived carbon in soils in relation to soil depth and duration of land use under commercial farming conditions

Bioenergy is becoming an important option in Global Change mitigation policy world‐wide. In agriculture, cultivation of energy crops for biodiesel, biogas, or bioethanol production received considerable attention in the past decades. Beyond this, the cultivation of Miscanthus, used as solid fuel for combustion, may lead to an increase in soil organic matter content compared to other agricultural land use, since C‐sequestration potential in soils of Miscanthus crops is high due to, e.g., high amounts of harvest residues. This may indirectly contribute to a reduction of atmospheric CO₂ concentration. The objective of the present work was to investigate the development of soil organic carbon and Miscanthus‐derived C contents, as well as to estimate carbon stocks in soils cultivated with Miscanthus using ¹³C‐natural‐abundance technique. The investigations were carried out in relation to soil depth up to 150 cm in a sequence of 2, 5, and 16 y of cultivation relative to a reference soil cultivated with cereals. Amounts of total organic C (TOC) and Miscanthus‐derived C (Miscanthus‐C) increased with increasing duration of cultivation. For example, TOC increased from 12.8 to 21.3 g C kg^–1 after 16 y of cultivation at the depth of 0–15 cm, whereby the portion of Miscanthus‐C reached 5.8 g C kg^–1. Also within deeper soil layers down to 60 cm depth a significant enhancement of Miscanthus‐C was detectable even though TOC contents were not significantly enhanced. At soil depth below 60 cm, no significant differences between treatments were found for Miscanthus‐C. Within 16 y of continuous commercial farming, Miscanthus stands accumulated a total of 17.7 Mg C ha^–1 derived from Miscanthus residues (C4‐C), which is equivalent to 1.1 Mg C4‐C ha^–1 y^–1. The annual surplus might function as CO₂ credit within a greenhouse‐gas balance. Moreover, the beneficial properties of Miscanthus cultivation combined with a low requirement on fertilization may justify the status of Miscanthus as a sustainable low‐input bioenergy crop.     

Soil microbial, fungal, and nematode responses to soil fumigation and cover crops under potato production

Sodium N-methyldithiocarbamate (metam sodium) and 1,3 dichloropropene are widely used in potato production for the control of soil-borne pathogens, weeds, and plant parasitic nematodes that reduce crop yield and quality. Soil fumigation with metam sodium has been shown in microcosm studies to significantly reduce soil microbial populations and important soil processes such as C and N mineralization. However, few published data report the impact of metam sodium on microbial populations and activities in potato production systems under field conditions. Fall-planted white mustard (Brassica hirta) and sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense) cover crops may serve as an alternative to soil fumigation. The effect of metam sodium and cover crops was determined on soil microbial populations, soil-borne pathogens (Verticillium dahliae, Pythium spp., and Fusarium spp.), free-living and plant-parasitic nematodes, and C and N mineralization potentials under potato production on five soil types in the Columbia Basin of Eastern Washington. Microbial biomass C was 8–23% greater in cover crop treatments compared to those fumigated with metam sodium among the soil types tested. Replacing fumigation with cover crops did not significantly affect C or N mineralization potentials. Cumulative N mineralized over a 49-day laboratory incubation averaged 18 mg NO₃-N kg⁻¹ soil across all soil types and treatments. There was a general trend for N mineralized from fumigated treatments to be lower than cover-cropped treatments. Soil fungal populations and free-living nematode levels were significantly lowered in fumigated field trials compared to cover-cropped treatments. Fumigation among the five soil types significantly reduced Pythium spp. by 97%, Fusarium spp. by 84%, and V. dahliae by 56% compared to the mustard cover crop treatment. The percentage of bacteria and fungi surviving fumigation was greater for fine- than coarse-textured soils, suggesting physical protection of organisms within the soil matrix or a reduced penetration and distribution of the fumigants. This suggests the potential need for a higher rate of fumigant to be used in fine-textured soils to obtain comparable reductions in soil-borne pathogens.     

Sweet Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] Biomass Production for Biofuel and the Effects of Soil Types and Nitrogen Fertilization

This research aimed to determine the optimum nitrogen fertilization rate on three soils for producing biomass sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor cultivar M81E) and corn (Zea mays cultivar P33N58) grain yield and to compare their responses. The research was conducted in Missouri in rotations with soybean, cotton, and corn. Seven rates of nitrogen (N) were applied. Sweet sorghum dry biomass varied between 11 and 27.5 Mg ha^?1) depending on year, soil type, and N rate. Nitrogen fertilization on the silt and sandy loam soils had no effect (P > 0.05) on sweet sorghum yield grown after cotton and soybean. However, yield increased in the clay soil. Corn grain yielded from 1.3 to 12.9 Mg ha^?1, and 179 to 224 kg N ha^?1 was required for maximum yield. Increasing biomass yield required N application on clay but not on silt loam and sandy loam in rotations with soybean or cotton.