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A Single and Robust Critical Nitrogen Dilution Curve for Miscanthus × giganteus and Miscanthus sinensis

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Abstract

The sustainable development of miscanthus as a bioenergy feedstock requires optimizing its fertilizer inputs and, therefore, determining its nitrogen (N) requirements. The ‘critical nitrogen dilution curve’ is a powerful tool to characterize such N requirements; it relates the N concentration ([N]) in aboveground organs to their biomass, defining two domains depending on whether the N factor limits biomass growth or not. We aimed to develop such a tool in miscanthus. Using a rhizome N depletion strategy with green cutting pre-treatment over several years before the start of the experiment, we grew, in 2014, two cultivated species, Miscanthus × giganteus (M×g) and Miscanthus sinensis (Msin), at four fertilizer levels (0, 80, 160 and 240 kg N ha−1). We found a strong nitrogen fertilization effect. The shoot [N] decreased as the aboveground biomass increased in both species and in all of the treatments. [N] was strongly correlated with leaf/stem biomass ratio. The N treatments enabled the identification of the observed critical points, i.e. points with the maximum biomass (W) and the lowest [N], on each measurement date. These points could be fitted to the following critical dilution curve that was common between M×g and Msin: N concentration (Nc) (critical [N], g N kg−1) = 27.0 W −0.48 when W > 1 t ha−1 and Nc = 27.0 when W ≤ 1. This curve was validated by literature data, separated into N-limited or not-limited conditions. The similarity of the curves between the two species was due to compensation between leaf/stem biomass ratio and [N] in the stems. This curve is helpful to diagnose the crop N status and define the optimal fertilizer requirements of miscanthus crops.

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Abbreviations

(M×g):

Miscanthus × giganteus

(Msin):

Miscanthus sinensis Goliath

N:

Nitrogen

[N]:

Nitrogen concentration (g N kg−1)

QN :

Nitrogen quantity (kg N ha−1)

W :

Dry matter production (t ha−1)

Nc :

Critical [N] (g N kg−1) is defined as the minimum concentration of N that is required in shoots at a given time to maximize the aboveground biomass

Observed critical N points:

couple of points ([N], W) selected to fit the N dilution curve

Observed critical [N] or W :

[N] or W of the observed critical N points

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Acknowledgments

This work was performed in partnership with the SAS PIVERT, within the frame of French Institute for the Energy Transition (Institut pour la Transition Energétique (ITE)) PIVERT selected as an investment for the future (‘Investissement d’Avenir’). This work was supported, as part of investments for the future, by French government under the reference ANR-001-01.

The authors would like to acknowledge the support they received from the Picardie Region (MiscPic Project). They also thank Arvalis Bazièges, CRA Bretagne and INRA UE Ferlus who provided data on M. × giganteus for the validation of the critical N dilution curve. Finally, the authors would also like to thank the reviewers for their interesting comments and Marie-Chantal Mansard, Benoît Decaux, Stéphanie Arnoult, Julie Leroy and Valentine Hyuart who largely contribute to the field experiment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INRA, UR 1158 AgroImpact, Site d’Estrées-Mons, 80203, Péronne, France

    M. Zapater, M. Ollier, L. Fingar & M. Brancourt-Hulmel

  2. UR Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés (EDYSAN, FRE 3498 CNRS), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, 33 Rue Saint-Leu, 80039, Amiens Cedex 1, France

    M. Catterou & F. Dubois

  3. INRA, UR 1158 AgroImpact, Site de Laon, 02000, Barenton-Bugny, France

    B. Mary, F. Ferchaud & L. Strullu

  4. INRA, UE GCIE, Estrées-Mons, 80203, Péronne, France

    E. Mignot

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  1. M. Zapater
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  2. M. Catterou
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  3. B. Mary
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  4. M. Ollier
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  7. F. Ferchaud
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  8. L. Strullu
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  10. M. Brancourt-Hulmel
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Correspondence to M. Zapater.

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Zapater, M., Catterou, M., Mary, B. et al. A Single and Robust Critical Nitrogen Dilution Curve for Miscanthus × giganteus and Miscanthus sinensis . Bioenerg. Res. 10, 115–128 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-016-9781-8

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