Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer on biofuel crop biochemistry and soil carbon sequestration

摘要

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L) was chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as a model herbaceous biofuel crop due to its high potential for biomass production and its cost-effective characteristics. In addition, the extensive root systems of switchgrass can act to improve soil carbon sequestration. Our prior study has indicated that individual biochemical components of plant biomass respond differently to N fertilization, suggesting that we can engineer biofuel cropping to optimize feedstock for biofuel production and soil C storage potential. Combining elemental analysis and 13C NMR, we examined the effect of N fertilization on switchgrass root yield and biochemistry as well as SOM content and molecular structure in a biofuels cropping trial in Tennessee. Results indicate that N fertilizer significantly impacted the biochemistry of switchgrass roots.