The 4 th Annual Biomass Crop Production Workshop

Transcription

1 The 4 th Annual Biomass Crop Production Workshop Emily Heaton 1 and Ferman Milster 2 1 Dept. of Agronomy, Iowa State University 2 Office of Sustainability, University of Iowa

2 Overview Heaton Introduction to dedicated energy crops in Iowa General agronomy of Miscanthus (Miscanthus giganteus)

3 December 7, 2012

4 Hot spots of grassland conversion: This map shows the percentage of existing grasslands that were converted into corn or soybean fields between 2006 and Wright C K and Wimberly M C, PNAS 2013;110: by National Academy of Sciences 4

5 Nitrate-N Reduction Practices Buffers 91 (20)** *Load reduction not concentration reduction **Concentration reduction of that water interacts with active zone below the buffer Practice % Nitrate-N Reduction [Average (Std. Dev.)] % Corn Yield Change Nitrogen Management Timing (Fall to spring) 6 (25) 4 (16) Nitrogen Application Rate (Reduce rate to MRTN) 10-1 Nitrification Inhibitor (nitrapyrin) 9 (19) 6 (22) Cover Crops (Rye) 31 (29) -6 (7) Perennial Pasture/Land retirement 85 (9) Land Use Perennial Energy Crops 72 (23) Extended Rotations 42 (12) 7 (7) Controlled Drainage 33 (32)* Shallow Drainage 32 (15)* Edge-of-Field Wetlands 52 Bioreactors 43 (21)

6 Phosphorus Reduction Practices Practice % Phosphorus-P Reduction [Average (Std. Dev.)] % Corn Yield Change Phosphorus Management Producer does not apply phosphorus until STP drops to optimal level No-till (70% residue) vs. conventional tillage (30% residue) 17 (40) 0 90 (17) -6 (8) Cover Crops (Rye) 29 (37) -6 (7) Land Use Perennial Land retirement 75 (-) Pasture 59 (42) Buffers 58 (32) Edge-of-Field Terraces 77 (19) Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy; Slide Courtesy Matt Helmers

7 Complementing Corn Integrating perennial vegetation can ameliorate damage crop annual row crops. Those perennials can (and should be!) dedicated biomass crops. Source: Iowa NRCS 7

8 What makes a good biomass crop? C4 photosynthesis Long canopy duration High water use efficiency Recycles nutrients to roots Low input Mobile nutrients & carbs to shoot in spring Clean burning Sterile non-invasive Winter standing Easily removed translocated below ground as shoot senesces No known pests/diseases Easily managed Heaton et al., (2008) Current Opn in Biotech. 19, Translocation increases nutrient use efficiency in perennial grasses

9 Leading Energy Crops Sorghum Switchgrass Miscanthus Photo credit: Ceres, Inc. and Rothamsted Research Ltd. Energycane

10 Switchgrass US model biomass species Native prairie grass Widely adapted US DOE breeding and evaluation programs Yield 3-9 t ac -1 (8-22 Mg ha -1 ) Smooth seeded Can be established under corn Switchgrass plot harvest, Ames, Iowa, 2011

11 Planting Switchgrass Traditional switchgrass planting, Illinois, 2004 Photo credit: Emily Heaton Improved planting under corn, Iowa, 2009 Photo credit: Landscape Biomass Project 11

12 Switchgrass Management Pest management Weeds: plant under corn, use corn herbicides (not Roundup) Insect and fungi pests not yet commonly treated Fertility N: lb/ac P: lb/ac K: lb/ac

13 Switchgrass Harvest Near Ames, Iowa, 2012 Photo credit: Heaton Lab Near Ames, Iowa, 2012 Photo credit: Heaton Lab

14 Mg ha-1 Miscanthus yields more 30 Urbana, IL. Photo courtesy M. Liebman Miscanthus Switchgrass Harvestable Dry Biomass Heaton et al. (2008) Global Change Biology; Dohleman et al. (2012) Global Change Biology Bioenergy

15 What is M. giganteus? Miscanthus sinensis Miscanthus sacchariflorus Miscanthus giganteus STERILE = Diploid 2n=2x=38 Tetraploid 2n=4x=76 Triploid 2n=3x=57

16 Rhizomes Plugs CEEDS Credit: Emily Heaton Credit: Nicolas Boersma Credit: New Energy Famrs

17 New Energy Farms Easton, IL 2009 Photo credit: Brian Barnick

18 18 Easton, IL 2009 Photo credit: Brian Barnick

19 19 Easton, IL 2009 Photo credit: Brian Barnick

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21 A year in the life of perennial grasses April May August/ September November December February Emergence Canopy Closure Maximum biomass Senescence Dry Down Over winter

22 Easton, IL 2012 Photo credit: John Caveny

23 Cane Harvest Options

24 Cane Harvesting Options Moisture 10-20% at winter harvest Photo: Carl Hart

25 Easton, IL 2012 Photo credit: John Caveny

26 Nutrient Recommendations Not limiting late spring nitrate test if possible Maintenance 10 lb/ton cane Not limiting at planting soil test Maintenance 1.5 lb/ton cane Not limiting at planting soil test Maintenance lb/ton cane N P K LIME: ph = 5 7.5

27 Weed Control ESSENTIAL!! Pre-emergent: Prowl (pendimethalin) Harness (acetochlor) Harness Extra (acetochlor + atrazine) * GREEN = LABELED Post-emergent Callisto (mesotrione) 2,4-D Dicamba Atrazine CULTIVATION Anderson et al. (2010). Weed Technology 24:

28 M. x giganteus Yields 12 Dry Matter Yield (Mg ha -1 ) BFT C. Clover Control Oats R. Clover Plug Rhizome Rye S. Clover Tritical W. Clover W. Wheat

29 Challenges: Many, mainly planting Planting Consistency of rhizomes Lifting Grading Storing Planting Irrigation of live plants Harvesting Feeding of long, slick, brittle material Harvest losses of chopped material if windy Equipment design for tall, dry, high yield 29

30 University of Iowa Biomass Fuel Project

31 Resources

32 Questions?

33 Boersma et al. In preparation

34 Boersma et al. In preparation