Data from: Comparative productivity of six bioenergy cropping systems on marginal lands in the Great Lakes Region, United States
Data files
Jun 26, 2024 version files 8.58 MB
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Agronomic_soil_chemistry_data_from_deep_core_samples_-_GLBRC-Marginal_Land_Experiment.csv
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Dry_matter_yield_data_-_GLBRC-Marginal_Land_Experiment.csv
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README.md
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Species_composition_-_GLBRC-Marginal_Land_Experiment.csv
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Stand_counts_-_GLBRC-Marginal_Land_Experiment.csv
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Volumetric_water_content_-_GLBRC-Marginal_Land_Experiment.csv
Abstract
Growing lignocellulosic crops on marginal lands is a promising solution for sustainable biofuel production. We evaluated the productivity of bioenergy cropping systems (switchgrass [Panicum virgatum L., var. Cave‐In‐Rock], miscanthus [Miscanthus × giganteus, ‘Illinois clone’], hybrid poplar [Populus nigra × P. maximowiczii A. Henry ‘NM6’], native grasses [five species], early successional vegetation, and restored prairie vs. historical vegetation [as reference control]) with and without nitrogen fertilization on low‐fertility former cropland at five sites in the Great Lakes Region, United States. We reported biomass yields for the first 7 years after establishment. Switchgrass was most consistently productive across all sites, but miscanthus was more productive at three of the five sites. When averaged across sites, years, and nitrogen (N) treatments, biomass yields followed the order miscanthus > switchgrass > hybrid poplar ≈ native grasses > restored prairie > early successional vegetation ≈ historical vegetation, but varied substantially by crop and site, with a significant crop by site interaction. Yields of miscanthus and switchgrass peaked after four to five growing seasons and declined thereafter, while yields of both native grasses and restored prairie increased throughout 6 years with no sign of follow‐on decline, suggesting that polycultures may outperform monocultures over the long term. Yields of early successional vegetation—similar in composition to historical vegetation at each site—did not improve with time. Nitrogen fertilization increased the yields of all cropping systems at all sites. Our results demonstrate the viability of low‐productivity former cropland for long‐term bioenergy production and suggest there is no single crop best suited for all low-fertility soils.
README: Data from: Comparative productivity of six bioenergy cropping systems on marginal lands in the Great Lakes Region, United States
Title: Agronomic soil chemistry data from deep core samples - GLBRC-Marginal Land Experiment
Description:
*year = year soil sampled.
*sample_date = date of the month soil sampled.
*site = marginal land site in Michigan or Wisconsin where deep core soil samples collected.
*treatment = dedicated bioenergy cropping system. G5-G11 include switchgrass, miscanthus, native grasses, hybrid poplar, early successional vegetation, restored prairie, and historical vegetation control, respectively.
*campaign = soil sampling method which is deep core sampling (1 m).Each deep core sample consisted of four horizons (0-10 cm, 10-25 cm, 25-50 cm, and 50-100 cm).
*replicate = replicate nested within the treatment.
*top_depth_cm = upper soil sampling dept given in centimeters.
*bottom_depth_cm =lower soil sampling depth given in centimeters.
*ph = pH of soil solution.
*p_ppm = phosphorus in soil measured as milligrams per kilogram.
*k_ppm = potassium in soil measured as milligrams per kilogram.
*ca_ppm = calcium in soil measured as milligrams per kilogram.
*mg_ppm = magnesium in soil measured as milligrams per kilogram.
*n_treatment = nitrogen treatment of the split plot.
Data source: https://data.sustainability.glbrc.org/datatables/438
Title: Dry matter yield data - GLBRC-Marginal Land Experiment
Description:
*year = year of the growing season.
*harvest_date = date biomass harvested.
*site = marginal land site in Michigan or Wisconsin where biomass harvested.
*treatment = dedicated bioenergy cropping system. G5-G11 include switchgrass, miscanthus, native grasses, hybrid poplar, early successional vegetation, restored prairie, and historical vegetation control, respectively.
*replicate = replicate nested within the treatment.
*crop = dedicated bioenergy cropping system.
*field_section = section of the field.
*n_treatment = nitrogen treatment of the split plot. Split-plot treatments were initiated in 2014-2016 to examine the effect of nitrogen fertilization [plus_n (+N) vs control (0N)] on all cropping systems.
*area_harvested_ft2 = area harvested in squarefoot.
*dry_matter_yield_mg_ha = dry matter yield given as mega grams per hectare. Biomass was harvested by machine harvesting herbaceous perennial treatments (G5-G7 and G9-G10), clear-cut harvesting poplar (G8), and hand-sampling historical vegetation reference (G11).G11 was hand-harvested at 3 stations per split plot from 2015-2017 and since 2018 at 2 stations per split plot.
*moisture_at_harvest = percent moisture measured at harvest as grams per hectogram.
Data source: https://data.sustainability.glbrc.org/datatables/465
Title: Volumetric water content - GLBRC-Marginal Land Experiment
Description:
*location = location of the weather station.
*datetime = date and time in coordinated universal time.
*vwc_avg = cubic centimeters of water per cubic centimeter of soil within 10 cm fraction. Volumetric water content data with 10 cm fraction were not available from Michigan Central.
*vwc_2_avg = cubic centimeters of water per cubic centimeter of soil within 25 cm fraction. Volumetric water content data within 25 cm fraction were not available from Michigan Central.
Data source: https://data.sustainability.glbrc.org/datatables/507
Title: Species composition - GLBRC-Marginal Land Experiment
Description:
*sample_date = the date at which the species surveyed at or near maturity of the dominant plant species using the line point intercept method.
*site = marginal land site in Michigan or Wisconsin where species sampled.
*plot = dedicated bioenergy cropping system and their replicates sampled. G5-G11 include switchgrass, miscanthus, native grasses, hybrid poplar, early successional vegetation, restored prairie, and historical vegetation control, respectively.
*subplot = nitrogen treatment of the split plot.
*line = transect line sampled using the line-point intercept method. The Line-point intercept method consists of employing a pin/point along a set of transects to arrive at an estimate of cover.
*species = name of the species sampled.
Data source: https://data.sustainability.glbrc.org/datatables/592
Title: Stand counts - GLBRC-Marginal Land Experiment
Description:
*sample_date = date stand counts taken in 2017 and 2019.
*experiment = name of the experiment.
*treatment = dedicated bioenergy cropping system. G5-G7 and G10 include switchgrass, miscanthus, native grasses, and restored prairie, respectively.
*site = marginal land site in Michigan or Wisconsin where stand counts taken.
*replicate = replicate nested within the treatment.
*n_treatment = nitrogen treatment of the split plot.
*average_stand_count = stand counts measured as plants per square meter. Stand counts were not applicable for early successional and historical vegetation.
Data source: https://data.sustainability.glbrc.org/datatables/620
Methods
See accompanying paper for details.