Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium removal from perennial energy grasses when grown on wet marginal land

Cooney, Danielle Rose

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/105708 Copy

Description

Title

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium removal from perennial energy grasses when grown on wet marginal land

Author(s)

Cooney, Danielle Rose

Issue Date

2019-07-18

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Lee, DoKyoung

Department of Study

Crop Sciences

Discipline

Crop Sciences

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

marginal land, perennial energy grass, nutrient removal

Abstract

Reduction of nutrient loss from agricultural lands is a major concern facing the agricultural industry. On-farm efforts will lead to a proactive approach that has the potential to confer key ecosystem services. The field study was conducted from 2012 to 2015 on marginal land located at the beginning of a priority IL watershed with the goal of understanding the effects of harvest timing (peak standing crop, H1, and after a killing frost, H2), species (switchgrass, Miscanthus x giganteus, prairie cordgrass, and a native grass mixture), and N-rate (0, 56, and 112 kg N ha-1), on nutrient removal in grass biomass grown on a riparian buffer. Harvest year, harvest timing, species, and N- rate, all significantly affected nutrient concentrations in biomass and removals. Nutrient removal across all species was generally greater at H1 than with H2 and with increasing application of nitrogen. At H1, switchgrass removed the most nitrogen and phosphorus, the most potassium removal occurred in Miscanthus x giganteus. From this study, we inferred there is considerable potential for perennial energy crops to remove excess nutrients when grown on a riparian buffer; however, a specific recommendation for species selection and best management practices including N fertilization and harvest timing will be dependent on the desired outcome for either biomass or forage production.

Graduation Semester

2019-08

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/105708

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2019 Danielle Cooney

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