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Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Nitrate Leaching, and Biomass Yields from Production of Miscanthus × giganteus in Illinois, USA

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Abstract

Understanding the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization on Miscanthus × giganteus greenhouse gas emissions, nitrate leaching, and biomass production is an important consideration when using this grass as a biomass feedstock. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of three N fertilization rates (0, 60, and 120 kg N ha−1 using urea as the N source) on nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, nitrogen leaching, and the biomass yields and N content of M. × giganteus planted in July 2008, and evaluated from 2009 through early 2011 in Urbana, Illinois, USA. While there was no biomass yield response to N fertilization rates in 2009 and 2010, the amount of N in the harvested biomass in 2010 was significantly greater at the 60 and 120 kg N ha−1 N rates. There was no significant CO2 emission response to N rates in 2009 or 2010. Similarly, N fertilization did not increase cumulative N2O emissions in 2009, but cumulative N2O emissions did increase in 2010 with N fertilization. During 2009, nitrate (NO −3 ) leaching at the 50-cm soil depth was not related to fertilization rate, but there was a significant increase in NO −3 leaching between the 0 and 120 kg N ha−1 treatments in 2010 (8.9 and 28.9 kg NO3–N ha−1 year−1, respectively). Overall, N fertilization of M. × giganteus led to N2O releases, increased fluxes of inorganic N (primarily NO −3 ) through the soil profile; and increased harvested N without a significant increase in biomass production.

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Acknowledgments

Funding was provided by Department of Energy-funded Sun Grant Herbaceous Feedstock Partnership and the Energy Biosciences Institute. We thank Corey A. Mitchell for analyzing the inorganic N resin lysimeter data and Robert G. Darmody for collecting baseline soil samples and conducting texture analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, W-503 Turner Hall 1102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Gevan D. Behnke & Mark B. David

  2. Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, S-416 Turner Hall 1102 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Thomas B. Voigt

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  1. Gevan D. Behnke
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Correspondence to Mark B. David.

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Behnke, G.D., David, M.B. & Voigt, T.B. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Nitrate Leaching, and Biomass Yields from Production of Miscanthus × giganteus in Illinois, USA. Bioenerg. Res. 5, 801–813 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-012-9191-5

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