Soil Quality Impacts of Residue Removal for Biofuel Feedstock

Erianthus and Napier grass are large, C4 perennial grasses. Currently, we study on cultivation techniques of the two species in an attempt to use them as raw materials for cellulosic bioethanol. Energy crops should be grown in non-arable lands to avoid disturbance of food production so that their roots should be capable of acquiring water and nutrients from degraded soils. Because the entire aboveground biomass is harvested as raw materials, roots are only organic matters incorporated into soils. In energy crop cultivation, few studies were conducted belowground despite its importance. Thus, roots of the two species are also investigated in our study. Erianthus and Napier grass develop a large amount of roots in shallow soil layers while penetrating deeply. As a result, the amount of standing roots becomes very large compared with common crops, and a substantially large amount of dead roots is released into soils. Nodal roots are thick in diameter, and many starch grains accumulate in pith of their steles in autumn. Exodermis, endodermis and stele are unique in structure among gramineous plants. Soil sheath forms on root surfaces due to dense root hairs, and large air spaces are found in cortex. The two species can grow well in hard, poor soils and/or under flooded conditions. Soil carbon concentrations increase even after the repeated removal of entire aboveground biomass. Therefore, Erianthus and Napier grass should be potential energy crops in terms of their root growth and functions as well as their large aboveground biomass.

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Soil Quality Impacts of Residue Removal for Biofuel Feedstock

Cited by 5 publications

References 1 publication

Role of Soils for Satisfying Global Demands for Food, Water, and Bioenergy

Role of Soils for Satisfying Global Demands for Food, Water, and Bioenergy

Soil and crop management and biomass removal effects on soil organic matter content in Hungary

Roots of Erianthus and Napier grass as energy crops

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