Corn Stover Removal Responses on Soil Test P and K Levels in Coastal Plain Ultisols

Sustainability

DouglasL. Karlen¹  JamesR. Frederick²  JeffreyM. Novak²  ThomasF. Ducey²  DonW. Watts² 

[1] D.L. Karlen Consulting LLC, St. Paul, MN 55102, USA;United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Coastal Plains Soil, Water and Plant Research Center, Florence, SC 29501, USA;

关键词: cellulosic biomass;    corn stover harvest;    nutrient budget;    plant available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K);    Ultisols;   

DOI  :  10.3390/su13084401

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Corn (Zea mays L.) stover is used as a biofuel feedstock in the U.S. Selection of stover harvest rates for soils is problematic, however, because excessive stover removal may have consequences on plant available P and K concentrations. Our objective was to quantify stover harvest impacts on topsoil P and K contents in the southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain Ultisols. Five stover harvest rates (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% by wt) were removed for five years from replicated plots. Grain and stover mass with P and K concentration data were used to calculate nutrient removal. Mehlich 1 (M1)-extractable P and K concentrations were used to monitor changes within the soils. Grain alone removed 13–15 kg ha⁻¹ P and 15–18 kg ha⁻¹ K each year, resulting in a cumulative removal of 70 and 85 kg ha⁻¹ or 77 and 37% of the P and K fertilizer application, respectively. Harvesting stover increased nutrient removal such that when combined with grain removed, a cumulative total of 95% of the applied P and 126% of fertilizer K were taken away. This caused M1 P and K levels to decline significantly in the first year and even with annual fertilization to remain relatively static thereafter. For these Ultisols, we conclude that P and K fertilizer recommendations should be fine-tuned for P and K removed with grain and stover harvesting and that stover harvest of >50% by weight will significantly decrease soil test M1 P and K contents.

【 授权许可】

Unknown