Storing corn stover in wet, anaerobic conditions is an active management approach to reduce the risk of significant aerobic degradation and catastrophic loss due to fire. An estimated 50% of the corn stover available in the U.S. is too wet at the time of harvest to be stored safely in baled formats and is compatible with wet, anaerobic storage through ensiling. A logistics system based on field-chopping and particle size reduction early in the supply chain removes the dependency on field-drying of corn stover prior to baling, allows for an expanded harvest window, results in diminished size reduction requirements at the biorefinery, and is compatible with ensiling as a storage approach. The unit operations were defined for this chopped logistics system, which included field chopping, bulk transportation to a biorefinery site, on-site preprocessing to meet biorefinery size and ash specifications, industrial-scale storage through ensiling, and delivery of corn stover at a rate of 2,000 tonnes per day for approximately 50% of the year. The chopped system was compared to the conventional bale system for 30% moisture (wet basis) corn stover, a likely delivered moisture content for baled corn stover harvested wet. Techno-economic analysis showed that the chopped logistics system is cost competitive, costing only 10% more than the baled logistics system, meanwhile reducing the energy consumption by 48% and greenhouse gas release by 60%. In summary, a chopped logistics system utilizing on-site preprocessing and storage at a biorefinery gate is an economically viable approach to provide a stable source of corn stover for use when dry bales are not available, meanwhile reducing the risk of loss in long-term storage.

/pdf/techno-economic-assessment-of-a-chopped-feedstock-logistics-11z1snjrd0.pdf

Techno-Economic Assessment of a Chopped Feedstock Logistics Supply Chain for Corn Stover

To successfully develop production systems for switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), miscanthus (Miscanthus spp.), and giant reed (Arundo donax L.), accurate information on effective nitrogen fertilization management on different soil types, climate and growth conditions, and for specific end uses is essential. Nitrogen is the main element, along with water, that determines biomass productivity, but at the same time, it is also the most environmentally and economically impacting agronomic factor. Variation in rhizomes, soil biota, mycorrhizae, N deposition, absorption, mobilization, and N sources renders the uniform estimation of N need very byzantine. Moreover, the majority of studies refer to environmental conditions that are insufficiently defined or subject to peculiar local conditions that can lead to controversial or inconclusive results. The literature clearly shows that (i) great deal of uncertainty surrounds this subject, (ii) clear justifications of the N fertilization dose used in the context of agronomic trials are often missing, and (iii) researchers generally rely on common sense and personal experience, rather than sound science. Therefore, the present review has the ambition to help identify common denominators and guidelines to define the optimal N supply for switchgrass, miscanthus and giant reed as a function of environmental and growing conditions. This review addresses N supply for agronomic and ecological studies focused on biomass production and on breeding nurseries and trials focused on optimal cultivar development strategies.

Nitrogen Fertilization Management of Switchgrass, Miscanthus and Giant Reed: A Review

Development of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) as a dedicated bioenergy feedstock requires intensive and extensive breeding programs that include careful and thoughtful consideration of appropriate target populations of environments (TPEs). The purpose of this study was to evaluate region (climate), soil quality, and N fertilization level as potential factors influencing the choice of TPE. A total of 45 switchgrass genotypes were evaluated in uniform field studies at six field sites defined as prime or marginal soils in New Jersey, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Region and soil quality had strong interactions with genotype, but N fertilization had little impact on genetic variation or ranking of genotypes. Lowland genotypes were considerably more sensitive than upland genotypes to interactions with environmental factors, probably due to these field sites being outside of the traditional lowland adaptation zones. Genotype rankings were highly inconsistent across regions and soil types, indicating that breeding programs that target marginal soils should be located on soils that represent the appropriate TPE. Furthermore, interactions across the three regions suggest that breeding programs for the lowland ecotype should be subdivided into different sets of TPEs, which are largely a function of hardiness zone and annual precipitation. Lastly, even with negligible interactions involving N fertilization level, future definitions of TPEs should be based on minimal or no N fertilizer applications to allow breeders to select plants with greater N-use efficiency, N-scavenging ability, and N-recycling efficiency.

/pdf/soil-quality-and-region-influence-performance-and-ranking-of-2rnqgzf7qn.pdf

Soil Quality and Region Influence Performance and Ranking of Switchgrass Genotypes

Development of perennial biomass cropping systems is focused on maximizing biomass yield with minimum inputs, particularly nitrogen (N) fertilizer. Historical breeding efforts have focused on increasing biomass yield but have ignored N-use efficiency. The purpose of this study was to quantify the increased N demand associated with realized gains in biomass yield from big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) breeding programs. Nitrogen demand was highly variable across locations and years, ranging from − 1.7 to + 6.8 kg N Mg−1 DM, with an average of 2.2 kg N Mg−1 DM. Increases in N demand were closely associated with realized gains in biomass yield and were observed for all types of switchgrass (upland, lowland, and hybrid) as well as for big bluestem. Attenuation of these responses will require alternative breeding schemes that are focused on evaluation of switchgrass genotypes and progeny under low-N conditions and include a high-throughput tissue N analysis as a component of future selection criteria, designed to develop new cultivars with high biomass yield and low tissue N.

/pdf/nitrogen-demand-associated-with-increased-biomass-yield-of-2otcnwcwv8.pdf

Nitrogen Demand Associated with Increased Biomass Yield of Switchgrass and Big Bluestem: Implications for Future Breeding Strategies

ABSTRACT FIELD drying rates for alfalfa between 80 and 20% moisture content (wet basis) were measured along with environmental conditions from 1977 to 1984 at East Lansing, MI. Linear correlation was used to determine environmental factors which most influenced drying rate and nonlinear regression was used to develop an empirical model of drying rate as a function of the environment. Drying rate was most heavily influenced by solar insolation. Other factors which influenced drying included dry bulb temperature or vapor pressure deficit, soil moisture content, and swath density. Drying was also faster on the day in which the crop was mowed. When chemical conditioning was used, drying rate was influenced by the application rate of the chemical solution. Following the chemical treatment, swath density and the first day of drying had more influence on drying rate. Models relating these factors to drying rate provided a coefficient of determination of 0.64 when validated by comparing predicted and actual drying rate.

Alfalfa drying model for the field environment.

In the North-Central USA, switchgrass to be used as a biomass feedstock typically will be harvested in the autumn. The accumulated area harvested over the harvest season (defined here as the harvest progression) will influence the size of the machinery fleet and seasonal labor required to complete the majority of the harvest before the first lasting snow. A harvest progression model was developed that uses drying rate, mower and baler productivity, and weather conditions as major inputs. Ten years of weather data (2005–2014) from Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska (WI, IA, NE) were used. Harvest progression was modeled for four harvest systems involving conventional and intensive conditioning both swathed and tedded (CC, IC, CCT, and ICT, respectively) and two dates at which harvest began (1 September and after a killing frost). To reduce risk of exposing crop to prolonged periods of inclement weather, mowers were idled when more than 80 ha were cut but not yet baled. For all sites, the harvest start date and the mower idled constraint had greater impact on harvest progression than the type of harvest system. Harvest progression was greatest when mowing started on 1 September and continued whenever weather permitted (i.e., no mower idled constraint). Compared to the harvest system used today (CC), using the IC system resulted in more area harvested with less crop exposed to rain after cutting and considerably less area left to be baled in the spring. Starting harvest on 1 September, using intensive conditioning, and not idling the mowers might be considered the system that best balances the desire for rapid harvest progression, small equipment fleet size, low-capital expenditures, and maximum labor utilization.

Switchgrass Harvest Progression in the North-Central USA

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Switchgrass Harvest Progression in the North-Central USA