Universal Journal of Chemistry(CEASE PUBLICATION) Vol. 3(3), pp. 91 - 97
DOI: 10.13189/ujc.2015.030302
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Environmental Analysis of Switchgrass on Soil

Gija Geme ^1,*, Christina Dobson-Jones ², Brittany Hagenhoff ³, Scott McKay ^1
1 College of Science and Engineering, Natural Resource Research Center, Southern Arkansas University, United States
² College of Science, The University of Utah, United States
³ College of Arts and Sciences, University of Missouri, United States

ABSTRACT

Conversion of biomass to fuel is quickly gaining popularity due to its carbon neutral status and the cost volatility of the traditional fossil fuel resources. Biomass feedstocks, such as switchgrass, require minimal fertilizers, labor, and land management. For sustainable switchgrass production to occur, we must understand environmental effects associated with switchgrass, such as any changes soil is undergoing during the growth of switchgrass. This particular study focuses on concentrations of potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen in soil. Numerous soil samples were taken from four different species of switchgrass in areas with different amounts of nitrogen fertilization. This study found that there was not an overall trend amongst all the soil and switchgrass plots, however there were some similarities within the individual soils and grasses. The soil samples showed that there tends to be an overall decrease in phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen but some of the soil samples showed an increase in phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen content in 2009. Average nitrogen concentrations observed in soil ranged from 2.11-8.99 g N/kg soil and in switchgrass ranged from 3.38-7.67 g N/kg grass. The amounts of phosphorus in soil ranged from 30.7-179 mg P/kg soil and in switchgrass ranged from 14.5-52.7 g of P/kg grass. The amounts of potassium in soil ranged from 162-337 mg K/kg soil.

KEYWORDS
Switchgrass, Nutrients, Soil, Environment

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Gija Geme , Christina Dobson-Jones , Brittany Hagenhoff , Scott McKay , "Environmental Analysis of Switchgrass on Soil," Universal Journal of Chemistry(CEASE PUBLICATION), Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 91 - 97, 2015. DOI: 10.13189/ujc.2015.030302.

(b). APA Format:
Gija Geme , Christina Dobson-Jones , Brittany Hagenhoff , Scott McKay (2015). Environmental Analysis of Switchgrass on Soil. Universal Journal of Chemistry(CEASE PUBLICATION), 3(3), 91 - 97. DOI: 10.13189/ujc.2015.030302.