Effect of nitrogen on the distribution of biomass and element composition of the root system of miscanthus × giganteus

Abstract

Perennial bioenergy grass crops, despite a relatively similar production of aboveground biomass, show significant differences in the overall root biomass. Rhizomes play a key role in economizing nutrients in miscanthus. The aim of this research was to establish the effect of N (nitrogen) on the distribution of biomass and concentration of major macro- and micronutrients in the miscanthus root system, using simple experiment in pots. After two years of growth, the rhizomes and roots were taken out of the pots, cleaned of earth and analyzed. About 2/3 of the mass of the miscanthus root system consist of rhizome mass. The overall dry biomass of newly formed rhizomes and roots is decreased with the increase in the amount of applied N fertilization. Thereby, the N concentration in the entire root system, as well as in some of its parts, increased with the rise in applied amount of N. Our results show that increasing amounts of applied N consistently negatively correlate with P concentrations in the miscanthus root system, in contrast to Mn concentrations, with which they correlate positively.

Nutrition Effect to Productivity of Bioenergy Crop Miscanthus X Giganteus in Different Environments

“…There were also statistically significant variations between individual treatments (Table 2, Figure 3a). The impact of meteorological conditions and nitrogen fertilizers on the yield of stalks was significant, which was also found in the research by Gonzalez-Dugo et al (2010); Dželetović et al (2013); Dželetović and Glamočlija (2015); Glamočlija et al (2018) and Đurić et al (2019).…”

Influence of rhizome mass on the crop establishment and dry matter yield of Miscanthus×giganteus over ten seasons

“…During the first season, miscanthus develops a loose root system, with the original rhizome in the center. In the second season, a dense system of lateral roots is formed together with a great number of new rhizomes (Dželetović and Glamočlija, 2015). Humentyk et al (2013) found that, in the first season when the mass of the planted rhizomes was 20-30 g, at the end of the vegetation season, the root system mass amounted to 471 g (the 18-fold increase), while with the rhizomes of 90-120 g, the total root system mass amounted to 664 g (the 6-fold increase).…”

“…Contrary to the majority of other agricultural crops, miscanthus is a plant with an extensive root system, which remains dormant during winter, but it may respond quickly to increased plant requirement for assimilates at the start of growing season in the spring (Himken et al, 1997). Rhizome mass comprises approximately 2/3 of root biomass (Dželetović and Glamočlija, 2015). It has a shallow root system, with almost 90% of root biomass concentrated in the surface soil layer (0-35 cm) (Monti and Zatta, 2009).…”

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on the Dynamics of Concentration and Uptake of Selected Microelements in the Biomass of Miscanthus x giganteus

“…Miscanthus biomass is presently used in the combustion process [14] as an ideal fuel plant, providing annual easy cultivation, harvesting, and high yields of dry matter [9]. The examination of the biomass chemical composition is necessary to test the suitability for bioenergy conversion [15], which is indispensable for the production of derived fuels and chemical substances [16]. The determination of the nutrient composition in plants is crucial, not only in the combustion process but also for examining the nutrient uptake by crops [17].…”