Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii V.) are promising warm-season grasses for biomass production. Understanding the morphological and quality-related traits of these grasses can guide breeders in developing strategies to improve yield and quality for bioindustrial applications. Elite selections were made in Southern Quebec from four promising varieties of switchgrass and one of big bluestem. Biomass yield, morphological characteristics, and selected quality traits were evaluated at two sites in 2011 and 2012. Significant variation was detected for all measured characteristics, with differences varying by site and year. In some cases the selection process modified characteristics including increasing height and reducing tiller mortality. Switchgrasses reached a similar tiller equilibrium density in both years of 690？m？2 and 379？m？2 at a productive and marginal site, respectively. Differences in yield were pronounced at the marginal site, with some advanced selections having a higher yield than their parent varieties. Switchgrass yields were generally greater than those of big bluestem. A delayed spring harvest date greatly reduced yield but reduced moisture content and slightly increased cellulose concentration. Big bluestem had a higher cellulose content than switchgrass, likely due to greater stem content. 1. Introduction Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a perennial C4 grass native to North America which has historically been used as a forage crop and for conservation plantings [1–3]. Recently interest has shifted towards the use of the crop in biomass energy and biofibre applications [4], with research indicating significant production potential in Eastern Canada [5]. Growing interest in this multipurpose crop has led to an increasing number of breeding and selection programmes and the release of new commercial switchgrass selections in the 1980s (“Trailblazer,” “Forestburg,” “Dacotah,” and “KY1625”), 1990s (“Sunburst” and “Shawnee”), and 2000s (“High Tide,” “Carthage,” “BoMaster,” “Performer,” “Cimarron,” and “Colony”) [6–8]. Despite an increasing acreage dedicated to the production of this crop in Eastern Canada, these selections all represent the efforts of plant material improvement programs located in the Atlantic Coastal, Midwest, and Northern Great Plains regions of the United States. There has been little selection effort in situ in Eastern Canada or in the Northeastern United States. Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) is the most dominant grass of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem and has been
References
[1]
M. T. Panciera and G. A. Jung, “Switchgrass establishment by conservation tillage: planting date responses of two varieties,” Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, vol. 39, pp. 68–70, 1984.
[2]
M. A. Liebig, H. A. Johnson, J. D. Hanson, and A. B. Frank, “Soil carbon under switchgrass stands and cultivated cropland,” Biomass and Bioenergy, vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 347–354, 2005.
[3]
D. J. Parrish and J. H. Fike, “The biology and agronomy of switchgrass for biofuels,” Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, vol. 24, no. 5-6, pp. 423–459, 2005.
[4]
R. Samson, S. Mani, R. Boddey, et al., “The potential of C4 perennial grasses for developing a global BIOHEAT industry,” Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, vol. 24, no. 5-6, pp. 461–495, 2005.
[5]
H. Kludze, B. Deen, A. Weersink, R. van Acker, K. Janovicek, and A. de Laporte, “Impact of land classification on potential warm season grass biomass production in Ontario, Canada,” Canadian Journal of Plant Science, vol. 93, no. 2, pp. 249–260, 2013.
[6]
P. G. Jefferson and W. P. McCaughey, “Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cultivar adaptation, biomass production, and cellulose concentration as affected by latitude of origin,” ISRN Agronomy, vol. 2012, Article ID 763046, 9 pages, 2012.
[7]
K. P. Vogel, G. Sarath, J. Aaron, and R. B. Mitchell, “Switchgrass,” in Energy Crops, N. G. Halford and A. Karp, Eds., pp. 341–380, Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, UK, 2011.
[8]
M. D. Casler, “Switchgrass breeding, genetics, and genomics,” in Switchgrass, A. Monti, Ed., Green Energy and Technology, Springer, London, UK, 2012.
[9]
P. G. Jefferson, W. P. Mccaughey, K. May, J. Woosaree, L. MacFarlane, and S. M. Wright, “Performance of American native grass cultivars in the Canadian prairie provinces,” Native Plants Journal, vol. 3, pp. 24–33, 2002.
[10]
A. Tubeileh, T. J. Rennie, A. Kerr, A. A. Saita, and C. Patanè, “Biomass production by warm-season grasses as affected by nitrogen application in Ontario,” Agronomy Journal, vol. 106, pp. 416–422, 2013.
[11]
I. C. Madakadze, T. Radiotis, J. Li, K. Goel, and D. L. Smith, “Kraft pulping characteristics and pulp properties of warm season grasses,” Bioresource Technology, vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 75–85, 1999.
[12]
A. Boe, R. Bortnem, and K. D. Kephart, “Quantitative description of the phytomers of big bluestem,” Crop Science, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 737–741, 2000.
[13]
A. Boe and M. D. Casler, “Hierarchical analysis of switchgrass morphology,” Crop Science, vol. 45, no. 6, pp. 2465–2472, 2005.
[14]
H. G. Jung and K. P. Vogel, “Lignification of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) plant parts during maturation and its effect on fibre degradability,” Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, vol. 59, pp. 169–176, 1992.
[15]
W. Vermerris, Genetic Improvement of Bioenergy Crops, Springer, New York, NY, USA, 2008.
[16]
B. A. Robertson, P. J. Doran, L. R. Loomis, J. R. Robertson, and D. W. Schemske, “Perennial biomass feedstocks enhance avian diversity,” GCB Bioenergy, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 235–246, 2011.
[17]
M. A. Gardiner, J. K. Tuell, R. Isaacs, J. Gibbs, J. S. Ascher, and D. A. Landis, “Implications of three biofuel crops for beneficial arthropods in agricultural landscapes,” Bioenergy Research, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 6–19, 2010.
[18]
C. J. Zilverberg, W. C. Johnson, V. Owens, et al., “Biomass yield from planted mixtures and monocultures of native prairie vegetation across a heterogeneous farm landscape,” Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, vol. 186, pp. 148–159, 2014.
[19]
V. R. Mulkey, V. N. Owens, and D. K. Lee, “Management of warm-season grass mixtures for biomass production in South Dakota USA,” Bioresource Technology, vol. 99, no. 3, pp. 609–617, 2008.
[20]
USDA-NRCS Elsberry Plant Materials Center, Cave-In-Rock Switchgrass, (Panicum virgatum L.) Conservation Plant Release Brochure, 1986, http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/mopmcrb11259.pdf.
[21]
S. B. McLaughlin and L. A. Kszos, “Development of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) as a bioenergy feedstock in the United States,” Biomass & Bioenergy, vol. 28, no. 6, pp. 515–535, 2005.
[22]
A. J. Smart, L. E. Moser, and K. P. Vogel, “Morphological characteristics of big bluestem and switchgrass plants divergently selected for seedling tiller number,” Crop Science, vol. 44, no. 2, pp. 607–613, 2004.
[23]
K. M. Zarrough, C. J. Nelson, and D. A. Sleper, “Interrelationships between rates of leaf appearance and tillering in selected tall fescue populations,” Crop Science, vol. 24, pp. 565–569, 1984.
[24]
R. J. Jones, C. J. Nelson, and D. A. Sleper, “Seedling selection for morphological characters associated with yield of tall fescue,” Crop Science, vol. 19, pp. 631–634, 1979.
[25]
A. J. Smart and L. E. Moser, “Switchgrass seedling development as affected by seed size,” Agronomy Journal, vol. 91, no. 2, pp. 335–338, 1999.
[26]
G. Sarath, B. Dien, A. J. Saathoff, K. P. Vogel, R. B. Mitchell, and H. Chen, “Ethanol yields and cell wall properties in divergently bred switchgrass genotypes,” Bioresource Technology, vol. 102, no. 20, pp. 9579–9585, 2011.
[27]
P. R. Adler, M. A. Sanderson, A. A. Boateng, P. J. Weimer, and H.-J. G. Jung, “Biomass yield and biofuel quality of switchgrass harvested in fall or spring,” Agronomy Journal, vol. 98, no. 6, pp. 1518–1525, 2006.
[28]
J. Burvall, “Influence of harvest time and soil type on fuel quality in reed canary grass (Phalaris Arundinacea L.),” Biomass & Bioenergy, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 149–154, 1997.
[29]
S. Clarke, P. Eng, and F. Preto, Biomass Burn Characteristics, OMAFRA, Ontario, Canada, 2013, http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/11-033.pdf.
[30]
B. M. Jenkins, L. L. Baxter, and T. R. Miles Jr., “Combustion properties of biomass,” Fuel Processing Technology, vol. 54, no. 1–3, pp. 17–46, 1998.
[31]
R. Samson, Switchgrass Production in Ontario: A Management Guide, 2007, http://www.reap-canada.com/library/Bioenergy/2007%20SG%20production%20guide-FINAL.pdf.
[32]
R. Samson, E. Delaquis, and G. MacInnis, Enhancing the Commercial Viability of Switchgrass on Marginal Farmland through Plant Breeding, 2014, http://www.reap-canada.com/online_library/feedstock_biomass/Report%20-%20Switchgrass%20breeding%20on%20marginal%20farmland%20-%20Samson,%20Delaquis,%20MacInnis%202013.pdf.
[33]
G. W. Burton, “Recurrent restricted phenotypic selection increases forage yields of Pensacola Bahiagrass,” Crop Science, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 831–835, 1974.
[34]
K. J. Moore, L. E. Moser, K. P. Vogel, S. S. Waller, B. E. Johnson, and J. F. Pedersen, “Describing and quantifying growth stages of perennial forage grasses,” Agronomy Journal, vol. 83, pp. 1073–1077, 1991.
[35]
Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Official Methods for Analysis, AOAC, Arlington, Va, USA, 15th edition, 1990.
[36]
P. J. van Soest, J. B. Robertson, and B. A. Lewis, “Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition,” Journal of Dairy Science, vol. 74, no. 10, pp. 3583–3597, 1991.
[37]
SAS, SAS Institute Inc. Cary, North Carolina, USA. 2003.
[38]
A. Boe and P. O. Johnson, “Deriving a large-seeded switchgrass population using air-column separation of parent seed,” Crop science, vol. 27, pp. 147–148, 1987.
[39]
R. Lemus, E. C. Brummer, K. J. Moore, N. E. Molstad, C. L. Burras, and M. F. Barker, “Biomass yield and quality of 20 switchgrass populations in southern Iowa, USA,” Biomass and Bioenergy, vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 433–442, 2002.
[40]
J. H. Fike, D. J. Parrish, D. D. Wolf, et al., “Long-term yield potential of switchgrass-for-biofuel systems,” Biomass & Bioenergy, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 198–206, 2006.
[41]
D. R. West and D. R. Kincer, “Yield of switchgrass as affected by seeding rates and dates,” Biomass and Bioenergy, vol. 35, no. 9, pp. 4057–4059, 2011.
[42]
A. A. Hopkins, K. P. Vogel, K. J. Moore, K. D. Johnson, and I. T. Carlson, “Genotype effects and genotype by environment interactions for traits of elite switchgrass populations,” Crop Science, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 125–132, 1995.
[43]
S. D. Wullschleger, E. B. Davis, M. E. Borsuk, C. A. Gunderson, and L. R. Lynd, “Biomass production in switchgrass across the United States: database description and determinants of yield,” Agronomy Journal, vol. 102, no. 4, pp. 1158–1168, 2010.
[44]
R. Jannasch, P. Duxbury, and R. Samson, Development of bioenergy feedstocks: agronomy data from Eastern Canada, 2001, http://www.reap-canada.com/online_library/feedstock_biomass/8-Development%20of%20Bioenergy%20Feedstocks-Agronomy%20Data%20from%20Eastern%20Canada-Jannasch%20et%20al%202001.pdf.
[45]
D. S. Zamora, G. J. Wyatt, K. G. Apostol, and U. Tschirner, “Biomass yield, energy values, and chemical composition of hybrid poplars in short rotation woody crop production and native perennial grasses in Minnesota, USA,” Biomass & Bioenergy, vol. 49, pp. 222–230, 2013.
[46]
M. D. Casler, K. P. Vogel, C. M. Taliaferro, and R. L. Wynia, “Latitudinal adaptation of switchgrass populations,” Crop Science, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 293–303, 2004.
[47]
I. C. Madakadze, B. E. Coulman, A. R. Mcelroy, K. A. Stewart, and D. L. Smith, “Evaluation of selected warm-season grasses for biomass production in areas with a short growing season,” Bioresource Technology, vol. 65, no. 1-2, pp. 1–12, 1998.
[48]
D. D. Redfearn, K. J. Moore, K. P. Vogel, S. S. Waller, and R. B. Mitchell, “Canopy architecture and morphology of switchgrass populations differing in forage yield,” Agronomy Journal, vol. 89, no. 2, pp. 262–269, 1997.
[49]
D. M. Gustafson, A. Boe, and Y. Jin, “Genetic variation for Puccinia emaculata infection in switchgrass,” Crop Science, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 755–759, 2003.
[50]
C. K. Ong, C. Marshall, and G. R. Saoar, “The physiology of tiller death in grasses. 2. Causes of tiller death in a grass sward,” Journal of the British Grassland Society, vol. 33, pp. 205–211, 1978.
[51]
R. B. Mitchell, L. E. Moser, K. J. Moore, and D. D. Redfearn, “Tiller demographics and leaf area index of four perennial pasture grasses,” Agronomy Journal, vol. 90, no. 1, pp. 47–53, 1998.
[52]
I. C. Madakadze, B. E. Coulman, P. Peterson, K. A. Stewart, R. Samson, and D. L. Smith, “Leaf area development, light interception, and yield among switchgrass populations in a short-season area,” Crop Science, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 827–834, 1998.
[53]
I. Madakadze, B. E. Coulman, K. Stewart, P. Peterson, R. Samson, and D. L. Smith, “Phenology and tiller characteristics of big bluestem and switchgrass cultivars in a short growing season area,” Agronomy Journal, vol. 90, no. 4, pp. 489–495, 1998.
[54]
A. Boe, “Variation between two switchgrass cultivars for components of vegetative and seed biomass,” Crop Science, vol. 47, no. 2, pp. 636–642, 2007.
[55]
R. Samson, C. Ho Lem, and S. Bailey-Stamler, “Optomization of switchgrass management for commercial fuel pellet production,” 2008, http://www.reap-canada.com/online_library/feedstock_biomass/Optimization%20of%20switchgrass%20management%20for%20commercial%20fuel%20pellet%20production%20(Samson%20et%20al.,%202007).pdf.
[56]
A. Prochnow, M. Heiermann, M. Pl？chl, T. Amon, and P. J. Hobbs, “Bioenergy from permanent grassland—a review: 2. Combustion,” Bioresource Technology, vol. 100, no. 21, pp. 4945–4954, 2009.
[57]
J. Vogel, “Unique aspects of the grass cell wall,” Current Opinion in Plant Biology, vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 301–307, 2008.
[58]
Z. Hu, R. Sykes, M. F. Davis, E. C. Brummer, and A. J. Ragauskas, “Chemical profiles of switchgrass,” Bioresource Technology, vol. 101, no. 9, pp. 3253–3257, 2010.
[59]
S. Q. Turn, C. M. Kinoshita, and D. M. Ishimura, “Removal of inorganic constituents of biomass feedstocks by mechanical dewatering and leaching,” Biomass & Bioenergy, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 241–252, 1997.
