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Effect of Cultivars and Planting Dates on Bioenergy Feedstock Characteristics of Switchgrass (Panicumvirgatum) in South Korea
The objective of this study was to determine the best performing switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) cultivar under three different planting dates as a bioenergy feedstock source in South Korea. Height, yield, energy content and chemical composition of three switchgrass cultivars, Carthage (CT), Cave-in-Rock (CIR) and Forestburg (FB) were measured from 2009 to 2012. Plots were seeded on April 23, May 4, and May 13, 2009 and were harvested once in November each year. The experimental design applied was randomized complete block (RCBD) in factorial arrangement with three replications. Planting date at three levels and cultivars at three levels were used as experimental treatments. Samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), ash and total digestible nutrients (TDN). Planting dates did not significantly affect characteristics of CT, CIR and FB cultivars (P > 0.05). The NDF value of CT, CIR and FB were 81.19, 81.40 and 80.81% (DM basis), respectively (P = 0.9318). Also the ADF value was 45.24, 45.99 and 48.99% (DM basis; P = 0.3558) for CT, CIR and FB, respectively. Total dry biomass yields of CT, CIR and FB were 16.85, 15.90 and 4.50 ton/ha/year, respectively (P < 0.0001). Significant difference was also observed for height among CT, CIR and FB (177.59, 169.98 and 94.89 cm, respectively; P = 0.0002). There were no significant differences in energy content (P = 0.96) and chemical composition among varieties (P> 0.05). It appears that Carthage and Cave-in Rock are better adapted to South Korea climatic conditions than Forestburg as a biomass feedstock source.
Keywords: South Korea, bioenergy feedstock, cultivar, planting date