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Biomass production potential of three short rotation woody crop species under varying nitrogen and water availability

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Abstract

A study was conducted in an agricultural field to examine the biomass production of three fast-growing short rotation woody crop (SRWC) species, Populus deltoides, Quercus pagoda, and Platanus occidentalis using fertilization and irrigation (fertigation). The study included a randomized complete block (RCB) with five treatments; control, irrigated, and irrigated with 56, 112, and 224 kg nitrogen (N) ha−1 year−1. We quantified survival, basal area, standing biomass, aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), leaf area index (LAI), and growth efficiency (GE) for each species along the soil nitrogen and water gradient. P. deltoides had low rates of survival (83, 82, and 77% years six, seven, and eight, respectively), but had production values greater than Q. pagoda and P. occidentalis. Standing biomass reached its peak for P. deltoides and P. occidentalis (17.56 and 10.36 Mg ha1, respectively) in the irrigation treatment, and in the 112 kg N treatment for Q. pagoda (5.42 Mg ha−1). P. deltoides and P. occidentalis ANPP peaked in the irrigation treatment (6.66 and 6.31 Mg ha−1 year−1, respectively) and in the 112 kg N (4.43 Mg ha−1 year−1) for Q. pagoda. ANPP was correlated with LAI; however, the relationship was species specific. Maximum ANPP was reached below the maximum LAI for Q. pagoda and P. occidentalis. P. deltoides ANPP was highest at the maximum LAI, which was achieved with IRR. These results suggest that species-specific cultural practices producing optimum LAI and maximum ANPP should be identified before fertigation techniques are adopted widely for SRWC production on agricultural fields.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Cathy Hardin, Sara Merritt, and LeWayne White for their help with data collection and sample preparation. This project was funded in part by the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Florida, the William Paul Shelly Sr. Memorial Fund at the School of Forest Resources and Conservation and International Paper.

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  1. Missouri Department of Conservation, Open Rivers and Wetlands Field Station, 3815 East Jackson Boulevard, Jackson, MO, 63755, USA

    Dawn E. Henderson

  2. Center for Agroforestry, University of Missouri, 203 ABNR Bldg., Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Shibu Jose

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  1. Dawn E. Henderson
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Correspondence to Dawn E. Henderson.

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Henderson, D.E., Jose, S. Biomass production potential of three short rotation woody crop species under varying nitrogen and water availability. Agroforest Syst 80, 259–273 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-010-9283-1

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