Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Sorghum and Switchgrass as Biofuel Feedstocks on Marginal Lands in Northern China

  • Published:
BioEnergy Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To avoid food versus fuel conflicts in China, the production of bioenergy crops requires the evaluation of marginal lands under arid and semiarid conditions. We conducted field experiments with sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) in Northern China. The biomass yield and nutrient (N, P, and K) accumulation of sorghum (leaves and stalks) and switchgrass (aboveground portion) were examined in 2012 and 2013. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content at depths of 0–30 cm was quantified at sorghum, switchgrass, and native grassland sites. The aboveground biomass yield of sorghum averaged 13.9 t ha−1 (14.2 and 13.6 t ha−1 in 2012 and 2013, respectively), while the switchgrass yield had a higher variability (14.8 versus 8.1 t ha−1 in 2012 and 2013, respectively) and averaged 11.5 t ha−1. The removals of N, P, and K averaged 56, 10, and 160 kg ha−1, respectively, for sorghum and 41, 11, and 89 kg ha−1, respectively, for switchgrass. To attain maximum biomass yield with minimum nutrient removal and the lowest transportation costs (due to the moisture content), the switchgrass harvest should be delayed until approximately 160 days after regrowth (DAR) in this region, whereas sorghum, which matures earlier, can be harvested as early as 120 days after sowing (DAS). Earlier harvests would increase the flexibility for large-scale ethanol production facilities. The SOC content within the 0–15-cm layer averaged 15.8 and 11.6 g C kg−1 before and 3 years after the establishment of the switchgrass culture, respectively, although the SOC increased with the culture age. In contrast, the SOC content of the 15–30-cm layer did not differ between the adjacent native grassland and the switchgrass planting. Under sorghum, the SOC content was reduced although it did not differ significantly from that of the native grassland at a significance level of p < 0.05. We conclude that high biomass yields can be obtained from the two crops under natural rainfall in the arid and semiarid conditions of Northern China. To address nutrient removal and SOC reduction, the leaves of sorghum should be returned to the field to increase the input of organic materials into the soil and reduce nutrient removal, which enhances soil fertility and sustainable production.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tilman D, Tilman D, Socolow R, Foley J, Foley J, Hill J, Hill J, Larson E, Larson E, Lynd L, Lynd L, Reilly J, Searchinger T, Somerville C, Somerville C, Williams R (2009) Beneficial biofuels—the food, energy, and environment trilemma. Science 325:270–271

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Wullschleger SD, Davis EB, Borsuk ME, Gunderson CA, Lynd LR (2010) Biomass production in switchgrass across the United States: database description and determinants of yield. Agron J 102:1158–1168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. RSB (Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials) (2013) Consolidated RSB EU RED principles & criteria for sustainable biofuel production

    Google Scholar 

  4. GBEP (2011) The global bioenergy partnership sustainability indicators for bioenergy. FAO, Rome

  5. ISO 13065 (2015) Sustainability criteria for bioenergy. International Organisation for Standardisation, Geneve

  6. Nyakatawa EZ, Mays DA, Tolbert VR, Green TH, Bingham L (2006) Runoff, sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus losses from agricultural land converted to sweetgum and switchgrass bioenergy feedstock production in north Alabama. Biomass Bioenergy 30:655–664

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Zhuang D, Jiang D, Liu L, Huang Y (2011) Assessment of bioenergy potential on marginal land in China. Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev 15:1050–1056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kou JP, Bi YY, Zhao LX et al (2008) Investigation and evaluation on wasteland for energy crops in China. Renewable Energy Resources 26:3–9

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wang Q (2005) Development and utilization of the energy plant. J Fujian Forestry Sci and Tech 32:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  10. Erickson JE, Woodard KR, Sollenberger LE (2012) Optimizing sweet sorghum production for biofuel in the southeastern USA through nitrogen fertilization and top removal. Bioenerg Res 5:86–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. McLaughlin SB, Kszos LA (2005) Development of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) as a bioenergy feedstock in the United States. Biomass Bioenergy 28:515–535

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Parrish DJ, Fike JH (2005) The biology and agronomy of switchgrass for biofuels. Crit Rev Plant Sci 24:423–459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Sanderson M, Reed R, Mclaughlin S, Wullschleger S, Wullschleger S, Conger B, Parrish D, Wolf D, Taliaferro C, Hopkins A, Ocumpaugh W, Hussey M, Read J, Tischler C (1996) Switchgrass as a sustainable bioenergy crop. Bioresource Technol 56:83–93

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Tew TL, Cobill RM, Richard EP Jr (2008) Evaluation of sweet sorghum and sorghum × sudangrass hybrids as feedstocks for ethanol production. Bioenerg Res 1:147–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Lewandowski I, Scurlock JMO, Lindvall E, Christou M (2003) The development and current status of perennial rhizomatous grasses as energy crops in the US and Europe. Biomass Bioenergy 25:335–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Reddy BV, Ashok Kumar A, Ramesh S (2007) Sweet sorghum: a water saving bio-energy crop. International conference on linkages between energy and water management for agriculture in developing countries. January 29–30, 2007. IWMI, ICRISAT Campus, Hyderabad

    Google Scholar 

  17. Rooney WL, Blumenthal J, Bean B, Mullet JE (2007) Designing sorghum as a dedicated bioenergy feedstock. Biofuels Bioprod Bior 1:147–157

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Venuto B, Kindiger B (2008) Forage and biomass feedstock production from hybrid forage sorghum and sorghum–sudangrass hybrids. Grassl Sci 54:189–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Mitchell R, Vogel KP, Sarath G (2008) Managing and enhancing switchgrass as a bioenergy feedstock. Biofuels Bioprod Bior 2:530–539

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ma Z, Wood CW, Bransby DI (2000) Soil management impacts on soil carbon sequestration by switchgrass. Biomass Bioenergy 18:469–477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Hohenstein WG, Wright LL (1994) Biomass energy production in the United States: an overview. Biomass Bioenergy 6:161–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Singh MP, Erickson JE, Sollenberger LE, Woodard KR, Vendramini JMB, Fedenko JR (2012) Mineral composition and biomass partitioning of sweet sorghum grown for bioenergy in the southeastern USA. Biomass Bioenergy 47:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Anex RP, Lynd LR, Laser MS, Heggenstaller AH, Liebman M (2007) Potential for enhanced nutrient cycling through coupling of agricultural and bioenergy systems. Crop Sci 47:1327–1335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Andrews, S. S. (2006) Crop residue removal for biomass energy production: effects on soils and recommendations. US Department of Agriculture–Natural Resource Conservation Service, http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/files/AgForum_Residue_White_Paper

  25. Cadoux S, Ferchaud F, Demay C, Boizard H, Machet JM, Fourdinier E, Preudhomme M, Chabbert B, Gosse G, Mary B (2014) Implications of productivity and nutrient requirements on greenhouse gas balance of annual and perennial bioenergy crops. GCB Bioenergy 6:425–438

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. US DOE. (2011) U.S. Billion-ton update: biomass supply for a bioenergy and bioproducts industry. R.D. Perlack and B.J. Stokes (Leads), ORNL/TM-2011/224. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN. 227p

  27. Fan F, Zhang YL, Zhu ZJ, Zhang QG, Dong YY, Wang J, Cao Y (2002) Soil features and control strategies for development of natural grassland in Tongliao City (In Chinese). J lnner Mongolia U National 17:130–135

    Google Scholar 

  28. Wolf B (1982) A comprehensive system of leaf analyses and its use for diagnosing crop nutrient status. Commun Soil Sci Plant Anal 13:1035–1059

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Nelson DW, Sommers LE (1980) Total nitrogen analysis of soil and plant tissues. J Association of Official Anal Chem 63:770–778

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Jackson, M. L., Barak, P. (2005) Soil chemical analysis: advanced course. UW-Madison Libraries Parallel Press. Madison, p 930

  31. Lal R (2004) Carbon sequestration in dryland ecosystems. Environ Manage 33:528–544

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Curt MD, Fernandez J, Martinez M (1995) Productivity and water use efficiency of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) cv. “Keller” in relation to water regime. Biomass Bioenergy 8:401–409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Laopaiboon L, Laopaiboon P (2012) Ethanol production from sweet sorghum juice in repeated-batch fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilized on corncob. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 28:559–566

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Laopaiboon L, Nuanpeng S, Srinophakun P, Klanrit P, Laopaiboon P (2009) Ethanol production from sweet sorghum juice using very high gravity technology: effects of carbon and nitrogen supplementations. Bioresource Technol 100:4176–4182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Laopaiboon L, Thanonkeo P, Jaisil P, Laopaiboon P (2007) Ethanol production from sweet sorghum juice in batch and fed-batch fermentations by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 23:1497–1501

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Nuanpeng S, Laopaiboon L, Srinophakun P, Klanrit P, Jaisil P, Laopaiboon P (2011) Ethanol production from sweet sorghum juice under very high gravity conditions: batch, repeated-batch and scale up fermentation. Electron J Biotechn 14:4–5

    Google Scholar 

  37. Turhollow AF, Johnson JW, Cushman JH (1988) Linking energy crop production to conversion: the case of herbaceous lignocellulosic crops to ethanol. RERIC Int Energy J 10:41–49

    Google Scholar 

  38. Vogel KP (1996) Energy production from forages (or American agriculture—back to the future). J Soil Water Conserv 51:137–139

    Google Scholar 

  39. Kim S, Dale BE (2004) Global potential bioethanol production from wasted crops and crop residues. Biomass Bioenergy 26:361–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Garland, C. D. (2008) Growing and harvesting switchgrass for ethanol production in Tennessee. University of Tennessee, Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension Publication SP701-A. Available at http://utextension.tennessee.edu/publications/spfiles/SP701-A.pdf.

  41. Boehmel C, Lewandowski I, Claupein W (2008) Comparing annual and perennial energy cropping systems with different management intensities. Agr Syst 96:224–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Schmer MR, Vogel KP, Mitchell RB, Perrin RK (2008) Net energy of cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass. P Natl A Sci India B 105:464–469

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Samson R, Mani S, Boddey R, Sokhansanj S, Quesada D, Urquiaga S, Reis V, Ho Lem C (2005) The potential of C4 perennial grasses for developing a global BIOHEAT industry. Crit Rev Plant Sci 24:461–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Barbanti L, Grandi S, Vecchi A, Venturi G (2006) Sweet and fibre sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), energy crops in the frame of environmental protection from excessive nitrogen loads. Eur J Agron 25:30–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Zhao YL, Dolat A, Steinberger Y, Wang X, Osman A, Xie GH (2009) Biomass yield and changes in chemical composition of sweet sorghum cultivars grown for biofuel. Field Crop Res 111:55–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Han LP, Steinberger Y, Zhao YL, Xie GH (2011) Accumulation and partitioning of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in different varieties of sweet sorghum. Field Crop Res 120:230–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Monti A, Virgilio N, Venturi G (2008) Mineral composition and ash content of six major energy crops. Biomass Bioenergy 32:216–223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Kaltschmitt M, Reinhardt GA, Stelzer T (1997) Life cycle of biofuels under different environmental aspects. Biomass Bioenergy 12:121–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Propheter JL, Staggenborg S (2010) Performance of annual and perennial biofuel crops: nutrient removal during the first two years. Agron J 102:798–805

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Ehlert P, Morel C, Fotyma M, Destain J (2003) Potential role of phosphate buffering capacity of soils in fertilizer management strategies fitted to environmental goals. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 166:409–415

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Parton WJ, Schimel DS, Cole CV, Ojima DS (1987) Analysis of factors controlling soil organic matter levels in Great Plains Grasslands1. Soil Sci Soc Am J 51:1173–1179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Chivenge PP, Murwira HK, Giller KE, Mapfumo P, Six J (2007) Long-term impact of reduced tillage and residue management on soil carbon stabilization: Implications for conservation agriculture on contrasting soils. Soil Tillage Res 94:328–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Kiluk, K. M. (2014) Impact of conservation tillage on soil organic carbon storage in Washtenaw County, MI. Honors Theses (Bachelor's), 2014-05 University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  54. McLaughlin SB, Walsh ME (1998) Evaluating environmental consequences of producing herbaceous crops for bioenergy. Biomass Bioenergy 14:317–324

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Meki MN, Snider JL, Kiniry JR, Raper RL, Rocateli AC (2013) Energy sorghum biomass harvest thresholds and tillage effects on soil organic carbon and bulk density. Ind Crop Prod 43:172–182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Frank AB, Berdahl JD, Hanson JD, Liebig MA, Johnson HA (2004) Biomass and carbon partitioning in switchgrass. Crop Sci 44:1391–1396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Gebhart DL, Johnson HB, Mayeux HS, Polley HW (1994) The CRP increases soil organic carbon. J Soil Water Conserv 49:488–492

    Google Scholar 

  58. Gentile RM, Vanlauwe B, Six J (2013) Integrated soil fertility management: aggregate carbon and nitrogen stabilization in differently textured tropical soils. Soil Biol Biochem 67:124–132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Villamil MB, Bollero GA, Darmody RG, Simmons FW, Bullock DG (2006) No-till corn/soybean systems including winter cover crops. Soil Sci Soc Am J 70:1936–1944

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Loveland P, Webb J (2003) Is there a critical level of organic matter in the agricultural soils of temperate regions: a review. Soil Till Res 70:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Zhao SJ, Zhang SZ, Ren WT, Tang LZ (1994) Preliminary experiment of leaf cutting device for sweet sorghum in field. Trans of the Chinese Soc of Agric Engin (In Chinese) 10:80–84

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31470555), the Chinese Universities Scientific Fund (project no. 2014 JD 053), and the Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (Project IRT0412) of P.R. China.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Hai Mei Fu & Bao Gui Zhang

  2. College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Fan Yu Meng & R. L. Molatudi

  3. School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Limpopo, Sovenga, 0727, South Africa

    R. L. Molatudi

  4. National Energy R&D Center for Biomass, China Agricultural University, 100193, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Hai Mei Fu, Fan Yu Meng, R. L. Molatudi & Bao Gui Zhang

Authors
  1. Hai Mei Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Fan Yu Meng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. L. Molatudi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bao Gui Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bao Gui Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fu, H.M., Meng, F.Y., Molatudi, R.L. et al. Sorghum and Switchgrass as Biofuel Feedstocks on Marginal Lands in Northern China. Bioenerg. Res. 9, 633–642 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-015-9704-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-015-9704-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation