#Growth analysis and Gompertz function

[oaresearchpaper]

Seasonal Growth Dynamics of Arundo donax L. in the U.S

Abstract

Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) has been extensively evaluated as a dedicated energy crop for biomass and biofuel production in southern Europe and the United States, with very favorable results. Current agronomic and biologic research on giant reed focuses on management practices, development of new cultivars, and determining differences among existing cultivars. Even though detailed information on the growth patterns of giant reed would assist in development of improved management practices, this information is not available in the United States. Therefore, the objective of this 2-year field study was to describe the seasonal growth patterns of giant reed in Alabama, United States. Changes in both plant height and biomass yield of giant reed with time were well described by a Gompertz function. The fastest growing period occurred at approximately 66 d after initiation of regrowth (mid-May), when the absolute maximum growth rate was of 0.045 m d-1 and 0.516mg ha-1 d-1. After mid-May, the rate of growth decreased until maturation at approximately 200 d after initiation of regrowth (mid- to late September). The observed maximum average plant height and biomass yield were 5.28 m and 48.56mg ha-1, respectively. Yield decreased following maturation up to 278 d after initiation (early to mid-December) of growth in spring, partly as a result of leaf loss, and was relatively stable thereafter.

Introduction

Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) is a perennial rhizomatous C3 grass native to East Asia which is grown in both grasslands and wetlands, and is especially well adapted to Mediterranean environments (Polunin and Huxley, 1987). Since giant reed is sterile, it is propagated vegetatively, either from stem cuttings or rhizome pieces, or by means of micro-propagation. Due to its easy adaptability to different environment conditions and rapid growth with little or no fertilizer and pesticide inputs, giant reed has been extensively evaluated as a dedicated cellulosic energy crop for biomass and biofuel production in southern Europe and the United States, with very favorable results (Vecchiet et al., 1996; Merlo et al., 1998; Hidalgo and Fernandez, 2000; Lewandowski et al., 2003; Odero et al., 2011; Huang et al., 2014; Nocentini et al., 2018; Monti et al., 2019). Most perennial grasses have poor yields during the year of establishment, but giant reed is an exception: a first-year yield of over 16mg ha-1 was reported by Angelini et al. (2005) at a planting density of 20,000 plants ha-1 . Biomass yields are typically 20-40mg ha-1 year-1 without any fertilization after establishment (Angelini et al., 2005; Cosentino et al., 2005; Angelini et al., 2009). Calorific value of mature giant reed biomass is about 17 MJkg-1 (Angelini et al., 2005). The average energy input is approximately 2% of the average energy output over a 12-year period (Angelini et al., 2009). Unlike most other grasses, giant reed possesses a lignin content of 25%, which is similar to that of wood, and a cellulose content of 42% and a hemicellulose content of 19%, making it a desirable cellulosic energy crop for both solid and liquid biofuels production (Faix et al., 1989; Scordia et al., 2012; Lemons et al., 2015). Giant reed can also help mitigate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels because rhizomes sequester carbon into the soil. The reported carbon (C) sequestration by giant reed rhizomes was 40-50mg C ha-1 over an 11-year period (Huang, 2012), which is 6-8 times higher than that by the roots of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) (Ma, 1999), a model cellulosic energy crop selected by the United States Department of Energy (Wright, 2007). Current agronomic and biologic research on giant reed focuses on management practices, development of new cultivars, and determining differences among existing cultivars (Nassi o Di Nasso et al., 2010; Nassi o Di Nasso et al., 2011; Nassi Nassi o Di Nasso et al., 2013; Dragoni et al., 2016). Even though detailed information on the growth patterns of giant reed would assist in development of improved management practices, this information is not available in the United States. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the seasonal growth patterns of giant reed in Alabama, United States.

Source : Seasonal Growth Dynamics of Arundo donax L. in the U.S | InformativeBD

[innspubnet]

Research paper on Seasonal growth patterns of Arundo donax L. | IJAAR Journal

Research paper on Seasonal growth patterns of Arundo donax L. | IJAAR Journal

Mr. Ping Huang, and David I Bransby from the institute of the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA, wrote a research article entitled “Seasonal growth patterns of Arundo donax L. in the United States.” This paper was published by the International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research – IJAAR, under volume 16, March issue 2020.…