Switchgrass （Panicum virgaturn L.） has been proposed as a sustainable bioenergy crop because of its high yield potential, adap- tation to marginal sites, and tolerance to water and nutrient limitations. A better und...Switchgrass （Panicum virgaturn L.） has been proposed as a sustainable bioenergy crop because of its high yield potential, adap- tation to marginal sites, and tolerance to water and nutrient limitations. A better understanding of the potential effects of biomass energy crop production practices on soil biological properties and organic matter dynamics is critical to its production. Our objective was to evaluate changes in C pools under a warm-season perennial switchgrass in different soils compared to typically-grown crops col- lected at College Station, Dallas, and Stephenville, TX in February 2001. Sampling depths were 0-5, 5-15, and 15-30 cm. Switchgrass increased soil organic C （SOC）, soil microbial biomass C （SMBC）, mineralizable C, and particulate organic matter C （POM-C） com- pared to conventional cropping systems. Soil C concentrations were in the order： long-term coastal bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon （L.） Pers.] 〉 switchgrass or kleingrass （Panicum coloratura L.） planted in 1992 〉 switchgrass 1997 〉 conventional cropping systems. Soil C concentrations tended to increase with increasing clay content. Greater microbial biomass C followed the order of Dallas 〉 College Station 〉 Stephenville, and ranged from approximately 180 mg C kg-1 soil at Stephenville to 1 900 mg C kg-1 soil at Dallas. Particulate organic C was more sensitive than other fractions to management, increasing as much as 6-fold under long-term coastal bermudagrass compared to conventional cropping systems. Our study indicated that conversion of conventional cropping systems into switchgrass production can sequestrate more SOC and improve soil biological properties in the southern USA.展开更多
基金Supported by the Department of Energy Bioenergy Feedstock Development Program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA(No. 19XSY091C)the Consortium for Agricultural Soils Mitigation of Greenhouse Gases (CASMGS), USA
文摘Switchgrass （Panicum virgaturn L.） has been proposed as a sustainable bioenergy crop because of its high yield potential, adap- tation to marginal sites, and tolerance to water and nutrient limitations. A better understanding of the potential effects of biomass energy crop production practices on soil biological properties and organic matter dynamics is critical to its production. Our objective was to evaluate changes in C pools under a warm-season perennial switchgrass in different soils compared to typically-grown crops col- lected at College Station, Dallas, and Stephenville, TX in February 2001. Sampling depths were 0-5, 5-15, and 15-30 cm. Switchgrass increased soil organic C （SOC）, soil microbial biomass C （SMBC）, mineralizable C, and particulate organic matter C （POM-C） com- pared to conventional cropping systems. Soil C concentrations were in the order： long-term coastal bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon （L.） Pers.] 〉 switchgrass or kleingrass （Panicum coloratura L.） planted in 1992 〉 switchgrass 1997 〉 conventional cropping systems. Soil C concentrations tended to increase with increasing clay content. Greater microbial biomass C followed the order of Dallas 〉 College Station 〉 Stephenville, and ranged from approximately 180 mg C kg-1 soil at Stephenville to 1 900 mg C kg-1 soil at Dallas. Particulate organic C was more sensitive than other fractions to management, increasing as much as 6-fold under long-term coastal bermudagrass compared to conventional cropping systems. Our study indicated that conversion of conventional cropping systems into switchgrass production can sequestrate more SOC and improve soil biological properties in the southern USA.
