Possibilities for Growing Switch-grass (Panicum virgatum) as Second Generation Energy Crop in Dry-subhumid, Semiarid and Arid Regions of the Argentina

Abstract

Panicum virgatum (swich-grass) is cultivated in some countries to obtain biomass used in the production of heat, fiber, electricity and second generation ethanol. Currently, in Argentina, this species is used for forage and as an ornamental. The aim of this work was to design an agroclimatic zoning model for swich-grass in Argentina, both for upland and lowland ecotypes, based on its bioclimatic requirements and employing a Geography Information System. The variables taken into consideration were: average temperature during growing period and reproductive period, frost free days and rainfall during growing season. This work demonstrated that an ample region of the country is agro-climatically suitable for the implantation of switch-grass in rainfed conditions or with complementary irrigation. The agroclimatic zoning for the upland ecotype shows that suitability reaches latitudes of up to 46ºS, while the lowland ecotype can be grown up to 40ºS. Thornthwaite's Moisture Index equal to zero was overlapped to the Argentinean agroclimatic zoning for upland and lowland types, to obtain the potential growing areas under dry-subhumid, semiarid to arid climates. The areas where switch-grass should be effectively tested are those categorized as optimal, very suitable, suitable, and very suitable/suitable with irrigation, located to the West of TMI equal to zero, which include dry-subhumid (0<TMI<-20), semiarid and arid climates. This agroclimatic zoning model can be applied to any region in the world, using the same bioclimatic indices and the classes delimited in this paper.

An Agro-ecological Zoning Model Highlighting Potential Growing Areas for Medicinal Plants in Punjab

“…36 Similarly, potential growing areas for Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, Acrocomia aculeate, Lesquerella fendleri (a multipurpose oilseed crop), Jatropha curcas, Salicornia bigelovii and Camelina sativa, Panicum virgatum and Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels were highlighted in different zones of Argentina. [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] Most of the studies on the agro-climatic zoning model were limited to analyzing the meteorological data such as temperature, rainfall, frost-free days, etc. for highlighting potential zones, however, the inclusion of significant land pattern data like soil texture and pH could have added more strength to the work.…”

Forage grass productivity and quality in south-western part of Pannonian basin

“…Perennial grasses, unlike legumes, are less sensitive to soil acidity, they are more tolerant to diseases and insect attacks (Leto et al, 2006;Nie and Norton, 2009). Dry and high summer temperatures reduce the number of cuts and increase the risk of production (Tucak et al, 2016;Falasca et al, 2017). Therefore, it is necessary to systematically collect information about the adaptability of forage grasses for each climate location within each region (Romani et al, 2002;Chapman et al, 2008).…”