Demand for K and P in reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) during the harvest years

Abstract

Reed canary grass (RCG) is a tall perennial grass that can be used as fuel in boilers if harvested in a delayed harvest system. To increase the crop's ability to compete with forest fuels, there is a need for cropping cost reductions. We did fertilization experiments during two harvest years at two sites in Sweden, one in the north and one in the south, to determine if P and K fertilization can be reduced and to determine the effect of recycling of RCG ash as a fertilizer. All treatments were given 100 kg N per ha. Both sites were moderately low in plant available P and K. There was no increase in RCG yield by P, K or RCG ash fertilization. However, significant differences in the P and K concentrations in the crop and in plant available P and K in the soil were observed. We conclude that even in relatively P and K poor soils, P and K fertilization of RCG can be omitted or replaced with recycling of RCG ash without any negative short-term effects on yields.

Keywords

Reed canary grass; Bioenergy; PK fertilization; ash fertilization

Published in

Grassland Science in Europe
2014, Volume: 19, pages: 498-501 Title: EGF at 50: The Future of European Grasslands. Proceedings of the 25th General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation Aberystwyth, Wales 7-11 September 2014
ISBN: 978-0-9926940-1-2Publisher: IBERS, Aberystwyth University

Conference

25th General Meeting of the European grassland federation

SLU Authors

• Palmborg, Cecilia

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lindvall, Eva

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Gustavsson, Anne-Maj

  • Department of Agricultural Research for Northern Sweden, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science
Renewable Bioenergy Research
Soil Science


Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/65213