U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Northeast Area University Park, Pennsylvania Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Adler, Paulitem
                                            Sanderson, Mattitem
                                            El Nashaar, Hossienitem
                                            Griffith, Stephenitem
                                            Banowetz, Gary
  Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 6/25/2008
                                    Publication  Date: 10/5/2008
                                    Citation: Adler, P.R., Sanderson, M.A., El Nashaar, H., Griffith, S.M., Banowetz, G.M. 2008. Seasonal time and frequency of switchgrass harvest affects biomass yield and feedstock quality. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Paper No. 296.Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required.
                                Technical Abstract: Seasonal time of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) harvest affects both yield and feedstock quality and there is interest in reducing harvest frequency to improve wildlife habitat value when using Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land for biomass production. A field study in central Pennsylvania compared three seasonal harvest management treatments (i) summer at peak biomass (mid August), (ii) fall after frost, and (iii) in the spring after over wintering in the field, harvested either annually, every 2 yr, or every 3 yr. Annual summer and spring harvested yields were similar but 30% lower than fall yields. Biennial and triennial yields showed a different relationship; summer and fall harvested yields were similar, while spring yields were about 35% lower. Only 15 to 25% of the standing harvestable biomass was from previous year's growth in the biennial and triennial harvest, however, residue remaining after harvest accounted for 35 to 55% of the total biomass produced. If management practices could be developed to capture this residue, the economic viability of reduced harvest frequencies could improve. Multifunctional benefits of wildlife habitat, feedstock quality, yield, and year round supply may best be met by harvesting fields over a range of seasons and frequencies.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov