4.6 Article

Evaluation of eastern gamagrass as dual-purpose complementary bioenergy and forage feedstock to switchgrass

Journal

GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
Volume 15, Issue 6, Pages 776-790

Publisher

WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/gcbb.13054

Keywords

bioenergy; cover crop; eastern gamagrass; forage quality; nitrogen application

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This study evaluated the potential of eastern gamagrass (GG) as a complementary feedstock to switchgrass (SG) for biomass production. The results showed that GG had lower biomass yield but higher forage quality compared to SG. Nitrogen fertilizer had a significant impact on biomass yield and forage quality of both crops. This study demonstrated that GG could be used as a dual-purpose crop for bioenergy and forage feedstock.
Switchgrass (SG) is considered a model bioenergy crop and a warm-season perennial grass (WSPG) that traditionally served as forage feedstock in the United States. To avoid the sole dependence on SG for bioenergy production, evaluation of other crops to diversify the pool of feedstock is needed. We conducted a 3-year field experiment evaluating eastern gamagrass (GG), another WSPG, as complementary feedstock to SG in one- and two-cut systems, with or without intercropping with crimson clover or hairy vetch, and under different nitrogen (N) application rates. Our results showed that GG generally produced lower biomass (by 29.5%), theoretical ethanol potential (TEP, by 2.8%), and theoretical ethanol yield (TEY, by 32.9%) than corresponding SG under the same conditions. However, forage quality measures, namely acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), and elements P, K, Ca, and Mg were significantly higher in GG than those in SG. Nitrogen fertilizer significantly enhanced biomass (by 1.54 Mg ha(-1)), lignin content (by 2.10 g kg(-1)), and TEY (787.12 L ha(-1)) in the WSPGs compared to unfertilized treatments. Intercropping with crimson clover or hairy vetch did not significantly increase biomass of the WSPGs, or TEP and TEY in unfertilized plots. This study demonstrated that GG can serve as a complementary crop to SG and could be used as a dual-purpose crop for bioenergy and forage feedstock in farmers' rotations.

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