Download or read book Changes in Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Associated with Switchgrass Production written by Porfirio Jose Lobo Alonzo and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Greater knowledge of the short- and long-term effects of biomass production practices on soil biological and chemical properties is needed to determine influences on sustainable land management. Soil samples under switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), other forage grasses, cultivated crops, and forest were collected seasonally at six locations. Soil organic C (SOC), total N, soil microbial biomass C (SMBC) and N (SMBN), soil mineralizable C and N, and basal soil respiration (BSR) were in general greatest under long-term coastal bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] pasture (>40 years), second highest under Alamo switchgrass and kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L.) planted in 1992 and forest, followed by Alamo switchgrass planted in 1997, and was lowest under the cultivated soils. Soil organic C at 0-5 cm was 42-220% greater in soils under Alamo switchgrass planted in 1992 than cultivated soils, except at College Station where SOC values under Alamo planted in 1992 and the cultivated rotation were not significantly different. Although the rotation treatment is cultivated at this location, two high residue crops are used, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.]. Similar trends were noted for total N, SMBC, SMBN, mineralizable C and N, BSR, and the ratio of SMBC/SOC. Insufficient information was collected in this study to determine whether the parameters evaluated for forest and switchgrass were different. In addition to its high yield potential, adaptation to marginal sites and tolerance to water and nutrient limitations, switchgrass appeared to be a competitive crop in terms of land sustainability, resulting in enhanced soil quality characteristics compared to long-term cultivated soils.

Download or read book Nitrogen Fertilization Impacts on Soil Organic Carbon and Structural Properties Under Switchgrass written by Ji Young Jung and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract: A paradigm shift from maximum to sustainable agricultural production also applies to cultivation of bioenergy crops. Nitrogen (N) fertilization is needed to sustain the biomass yield of switchgrass as a biofuel feedstock and, consequently, may influence the potential for soil quality improvement through soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. Because changes in soil quality can feed back to affect the sustainability of biomass production, the impacts of N application on switchgrass biomass production and soil quality need to be evaluated together. Therefore, the overall objective of this study was to assess the effects of N fertilization on switchgrass biomass, changes in SOC concentration and pool, and soil structural properties. This objective was realized by conducting field experiments in Ohio and Tenessee, and a laboratory incubation study in Ohio. The aboveground biomass of switchgrass was more strongly influenced by N fertilization than the belowground biomass. Even when the aboveground biomass was harvested and removed, N fertilization led to an increase in SOC, both in Ohio and Tennessee. The data from laboratory incubation study showed that N additions could retard the decomposition of organic matter, which may contribute towards higher SOC pools in N fertilized plots. The results from the Tennessee experiments indicated the important role of roots in stabilizing soil structure. Despite higher SOC concentrations in plots receiving a high rate of N fertilization, higher soil structural stability was associated with greater root biomass and longer root length in plots receiving none or a low rate of N fertilizer. These data indicated that root growth is a crucial driver of surface soil structure.

Download or read book Estimation of Available Phosphorus in Soils by Extraction with Sodium Bicarbonate written by Sterling Robertson Olsen and published by . This book was released on 1954 with total page 20 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Impact of Switchgrass Bioenergy Feedstock Production on Soil Carbon Dioxide Flux and Below Ground Soil Organic Carbon Storage in East Tennessee written by Leah Denise Soro and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 77 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bioenergy production from switchgrass has shown promise in restoring degraded soils and helping to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. CO2 loss and C-sequestration in soils are important topics for research to better understand the environmental impacts of bioenergy crops. The need for more thorough research of the carbon cycle in soils used for bioenergy production precipitated the primary interest of this study. The specific objectives of this study were 1) to measure SOC under switchgrass production in order to predict storage of carbon in soils based on previous cropping history, land management, soil physical characteristics, and time; and to 2) measure soil CO2 flux through the entire year to establish a) the annual, seasonal, and daily respiration rates, and b) use this data with soil carbon data to better understand the carbon life cycle in soils under switchgrass production in East Tennessee. Chapter 1 of the study was conducted on twelve farms across East Tennessee. Seven previous different cropping systems, four soil textural classes, and four soil taxonomy classes are represented in this study. There was an increase in SOC of roughly 1 Mg ha−1 from 2008 to 2011. No-till planting resulted in a significant increase in SOC compared to conventional tillage planting resulting in no significant changes in SOC. Chapter 2 results as hypothesized, soil temperature and moisture had a significant influence on CO2 flux variance. Soil temperature and soil moisture were able to explain 83% and 81.5% of variance in flux from clumps (cover) and between clumps (bare) respectively. The summer months exhibited the highest flux rate followed by spring, fall, and finally winter. Although largely overlooked in previous research, the winter months did contribute 5.4 MgCO2 ha−1 season−1 (±2.5 MgCO2 ha−1 season−1) from clumps (cover) and 4.0 MgCO2 ha−1 season−1 (±3.2 MgCO2 ha−1 season−1) from between clumps (bare). Annual switchgrass flux rate was 7.39 MgCO2 ha−1 (±4.08 MgCO2 ha−1).

Download or read book Structure and Organic Matter Storage in Agricultural Soils written by M.R. Carter and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 1995-10-23 with total page 502 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soils comprise the largest pool of terrestrial carbon and therefore are an important component of carbon storage in the biosphere-atmosphere system. Structure and Organic Matter Storage in Agricultural Soils explores the mechanisms and processes involved in the storage and sequestration of carbon in soils. Focusing on agricultural soils - from tropical to semi-arid types - this new book provides an in-depth look at structure, aggregation, and organic matter retention in world soils. The first two sections of the book introduce readers to the basic issues and scientific concepts, including soil structure, underlying mechanisms and processes, and the importance of agroecosystems as carbon regulators. The third section provides detailed discussions of soil aggregation and organic matter storage under various climates, soil types, and soil management practices. The fourth section addresses current strategies for enhancing organic matter storage in soil, modelling techniques, and measurement methods. Throughout the book, the importance of the soil structure-organic matter storage relationship is emphasized. Anyone involved in soil science, agriculture, agronomy, plant science, or greenhouse gas and global change studies should understand this relationship. Structure and Organic Matter Storage in Agricultural Soils provides an ideal source of information not only on the soil structure-storage relationship itself, but also on key research efforts and direct applications related to the storage of organic matter in agricultural soils.

Download or read book Root Decomposition and Annual Changes in Soil Profile Carbon in a Hybrid Poplar switchgrass Intercropping System written by Alex Reed Crump and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Impacts of Landscape Position and Nitrogen Fertilizer on Soils Carbon and Nitrogen Leaching and Greenhouse Gas Fluxes from Switchgrass Production in South Dakota written by Liming Lai and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 752 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Environmental Genomics written by C. Cristofre Martin and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-01-18 with total page 363 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Here is a manual for an environmental scientist who wishes to embrace genomics to answer environmental questions. The volume covers: gene expression profiling, whole genome and chromosome mutation detection, and methods to assay genome diversity and polymorphisms within a particular environment. This book provides a systematic framework for determining environmental impact and ensuring human health and the sustainability of natural populations.

Download or read book Soil Erosion and Carbon Dynamics written by Eric J. Roose and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2005-12-09 with total page 499 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The most complete, nonpartisan source of information on this hot agronomic topic available today, this book brings together a diverse group of papers and data to resolve the debate between sedimentologists and soil scientists and agronomists over whether the effects of soil erosion on carbon and atmospheric CO2 is beneficial or destructive. Divided into four sections, it offers data on how soil erosion affects soil, water, and air quality. Topics include mineralization rate, inundation, sediment deposition, and global warming potential, as well as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions, and the implications of soil erosion on the global carbon cycle and carbon budget.

Download or read book Experiments in Ecology written by A. J. Underwood and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1997 with total page 536 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First published in 1996, this book is a logical and consistent approach to experimental design using statistical principles.

Download or read book Negative Emissions Technologies and Reliable Sequestration written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2019-04-08 with total page 511 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To achieve goals for climate and economic growth, "negative emissions technologies" (NETs) that remove and sequester carbon dioxide from the air will need to play a significant role in mitigating climate change. Unlike carbon capture and storage technologies that remove carbon dioxide emissions directly from large point sources such as coal power plants, NETs remove carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere or enhance natural carbon sinks. Storing the carbon dioxide from NETs has the same impact on the atmosphere and climate as simultaneously preventing an equal amount of carbon dioxide from being emitted. Recent analyses found that deploying NETs may be less expensive and less disruptive than reducing some emissions, such as a substantial portion of agricultural and land-use emissions and some transportation emissions. In 2015, the National Academies published Climate Intervention: Carbon Dioxide Removal and Reliable Sequestration, which described and initially assessed NETs and sequestration technologies. This report acknowledged the relative paucity of research on NETs and recommended development of a research agenda that covers all aspects of NETs from fundamental science to full-scale deployment. To address this need, Negative Emissions Technologies and Reliable Sequestration: A Research Agenda assesses the benefits, risks, and "sustainable scale potential" for NETs and sequestration. This report also defines the essential components of a research and development program, including its estimated costs and potential impact.

Download or read book Bioenergy Feedstocks written by Malay C. Saha and published by Wiley-Blackwell. This book was released on 2013-06-24 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bioenergy and biofuels are generated from a wide variety of feedstock. Fuels have been converted from a wide range of sources from vegetable oils to grains and sugarcane. Second generation biofuels are being developed around dedicated, non-food energy crops, such as switchgrass and Miscanthus, with an eye toward bioenergy sustainability. Bioenergy Feedstocks: Breeding and Genetics looks at advances in our understanding of the genetics and breeding practices across this diverse range of crops and provides readers with a valuable tool to improve cultivars and increase energy crop yields. Bioenergy Feedstocks: Breeding and Genetics opens with chapters focusing primarily on advances in the genetics and molecular biology of dedicated energy crops. These chapters provide in-depth coverage of new, high-potential feedstocks. The remaining chapters provide valuable overview of breeding efforts of current feedstocks with specific attention paid to the development of bioenergy traits. Coverage in these chapters includes crops such as sorghum, energy canes, corn, and other grasses and forages. The final chapters explore the role of transgenics in bioenergy feedstock production and the development of low-input strategies for producing bioenergy crops. A timely collection of work from a global team of bioenergy researchers and crop scientists, Bioenergy Feedstocks: Breeding and Genetics is an essential reference on cultivar improvement of biomass feedstock crops.

Download or read book Soil Phosphorus written by Rattan Lal and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2016-09-19 with total page 351 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Phosphorus is an essential plant nutrient, but global population growth has dramatically reduced the availability of phosphorus fertilizer resources. Despite this scarcity, there remain numerous problems associated with the excessive and inappropriate use of phosphorus leading to non-point source pollution and eutrophication of natural waters. Identifying appropriate systems for managing soil phosphorus and reducing the risks of eutrophication are needed to minimize the environmental risks. This book focuses on the availability and recycling of phosphorus; regulatory and policy issues of sustainable phosphorus use; and water quality management in agroecosystems pertaining to phosphorus. Sections are dedicated to global phosphorus reserves; cycling and pathways of phosphorus; phosphorus in agriculture; human dimensions and policy intervention; and research and development priorities. Phosphorus is a finite but crucial resource and is an essential element to all life. Sub-optimal availability and nutrient imbalance in the root zone can adversely impact plant growth, and the quality of food and feed grown on these soils. However, the proven reserves of phosphorus can hardly be adequate for a few centuries only. Yet, its misuse and mismanagement has caused severe problems of eutrophication of water and pollution of the environment. Thus, judicious management of soil phosphorus is essential. This volume is specifically devoted to availability and recycling of phosphorus, regulatory/policy issues of sustainable use of phosphorus, and management in agroecosystems in the context of maximizing the use efficiency and minimizing the environmental risks of water quality.

Download or read book The Architecture and Biology of Soils written by Karl Ritz and published by CABI. This book was released on 2011 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Soil is a fundamental and critical, yet often overlooked, component of terrestrial ecosystems. It is an extremely complex environment, supporting levels of diversity far greater than any ecosystem above ground. This book explores how soil structure develops and the consequences this has for life underground. The effects of spatial arrangement, of soil's physical and biological components on their interaction and function are used to demonstrate their roles in ecosystem dynamics.

Download or read book Nitrogen Isotope Techniques written by Roger Knowles and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 1992-10 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the first laboratory manual to bring together basic procedures for measurement of stable and radioactive isotopes of nitrogen, with specific applications to plant, soil, and aquatic biology. This bench-top reference gives practical coverage of mass and emission spectrometry, nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and identification, organic nitrogen, and the radioactive isotope 13N. Methods are described so that researchers can adapt them, without the aid of outside references, to virtually any task they may encounter in investigations of nitrogen transformation processes. Serves as a practical guide for nitrogen isotope techniques Features studies of nitrogen transformations in terrestrial and aquatic systems Includes basic measurement techniques plus specific applications for stable and radioactive nitrogen isotopes Presents detailed protocols, overviews, and key references Includes fifty figures and sixteen tables Hands-on reference for both students and researchers

Download or read book Switchgrass written by Andrea Monti and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-03-09 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The demand for renewable energies from biomass is growing steadily as policies are enacted to encourage such development and as industry increasingly sees an opportunity to develop bio-energy enterprises. Recent policy changes in the EU, USA and other countries are spurring interest in the cultivation of energy crops such as switchgrass. Switchgrass has gained and early lead in the race to find a biomass feedstock for energy production (and for the almost requisite need for bio-based products from such feedstocks). Switchgrass: A Valuable Biomass Crop for Energy provides a comprehensive guide to the biology, physiology, breeding, culture and conversion of switchgrass as well as highlighting various environmental, economic and social benefits. Considering this potential energy source, Switchgrass: A Valuable Biomass Crop for Energy brings together chapters from a range of experts in the field, including a foreword from Kenneth P. Vogel, to collect and present the environmental benefits and characteristics of this a crop with the potential to mitigate the risks of global warming by replacing fossil fuels. Including clear figures and tables to support discussions, Switchgrass: A Valuable Biomass Crop for Energy provides a solid reference for anyone with interest or investment in the development of bioenergy; researchers, policy makers and stakeholders will find this a key resource.

Download or read book Biochar Application written by T. Komang Ralebitso-Senior and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2016-05-07 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Biochar Application: Essential Soil Microbial Ecology outlines the cutting-edge research on the interactions of complex microbial populations and their functional, structural, and compositional dynamics, as well as the microbial ecology of biochar application to soil, the use of different phyto-chemical analyses, possibilities for future research, and recommendations for climate change policy. Biochar, or charcoal produced from plant matter and applied to soil, has become increasingly recognized as having the potential to address multiple contemporary concerns, such as agricultural productivity and contaminated ecosystem amelioration, primarily by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and improving soil functions. Biochar Application is the first reference to offer a complete assessment of the various impacts of biochar on soil and ecosystems, and includes chapters analyzing all aspects of biochar technology and application to soil, from ecogenomic analyses and application ratios to nutrient cycling and next generation sequencing. Written by a team of international authors with interdisciplinary knowledge of biochar, this reference will provide a platform where collaborating teams can find a common resource to establish outcomes and identify future research needs throughout the world. Includes multiple tables and figures per chapter to aid in analysis and understanding Includes a comprehensive table of the methods used within the contents, ecosystems, contaminants, future research, and application opportunities explored in the book Includes knowledge gaps and directions of future research to stimulate further discussion in the field and in climate change policy Outlines the latest research on the interactions of complex microbial populations and their functional, structural, and compositional dynamics Offers an assessment of the impacts of biochar on soil and ecosystems