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At least 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2024

Longitudinal genome-wide association study reveals early QTL that predict biomass accumulation under cold stress in sorghum

Sorghum bicolor is a promising cellulosic feedstock crop for bioenergy due to its high biomass yields. However, early growth phases of sorghum are sensitive to cold stress, limiting its planting in temperate environments. Cold adaptability is crucial for cultivating bioenergy and grain sorghum at higher latitudes and elevations, or for extending the growing season. Identifying genes and alleles that enhance biomass accumulation under early cold stress can lead to improved sorghum varieties through breeding or genetic engineering. We conducted image-based phenotyping on 369 accessions from the sorghum Bioenergy Association Panel (BAP) in a controlled environment with early cold treatment. The BAP includes diverse accessions with dense genotyping and varied racial, geographical, and phenotypic backgrounds. Daily, non-destructive imaging allowed temporal analysis of growth-related traits and water use efficiency (WUE). A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to identify genomic intervals and genes associated with cold stress response. The GWAS identified transient quantitative trait loci (QTL) strongly associated with growth-related traits, enabling an exploration of the genetic basis of cold stress response at different developmental stages. This analysis of daily growth traits, rather than endpoint traits, revealed early transient QTL predictive of final phenotypes. The study identified both known and novel candidate genes associated with growth-related traits and temporal responses to cold stress. The identified QTL and candidate genes contribute to understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying sorghum's response to cold stress. These findings can inform breeding and genetic engineering strategies to develop sorghum varieties with improved biomass yields and resilience to cold, facilitating earlier planting, extended growing seasons, and cultivation at higher latitudes and elevations.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Bird Species Use of Bioenergy Croplands in Illinois, USA—Can Advanced Switchgrass Cultivars Provide Suitable Habitats for Breeding Grassland Birds?

Grassland birds have sustained significant population declines in the United States through habitat loss, and replacing lost grasslands with bioenergy production areas could benefit these species and the ecological services they provide. Point count surveys and autonomous acoustic monitoring were used at two field sites in Illinois, USA, to determine if an advanced switchgrass cultivar that is being used for bioenergy feedstock production could provide suitable habitats for grassland and other bird species. At the Brighton site, the bird use of switchgrass plots was compared to that of corn plots during the breeding seasons of 2020–2022. At the Urbana site, the bird use of restored prairie, switchgrass, and Miscanthus × giganteus was studied in the 2022 breeding season. At Brighton, Common Yellowthroat, Dickcissel, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Sedge Wren occurred on switchgrass plots more often than on corn; Common Yellowthroat and Dickcissel increased on experimental plots as the perennial switchgrass increased in height and density over the study period; and the other two species declined over the same period. At Urbana, Dickcissel was most frequent in prairie and switchgrass; Common Yellowthroat was most frequent in miscanthus and switchgrass. These findings suggest that advanced switchgrass cultivars could provide suitable habitats for grassland birds, replace lost habitats, and contribute to the recovery of these vulnerable species.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Status of genome function annotation in model organisms and crops

Abstract Since the entry into genome‐enabled biology several decades ago, much progress has been made in determining, describing, and disseminating the functions of genes and their products. Yet, this information is still difficult to access for many scientists and for most genomes. To provide easy access and a graphical summary of the status of genome function annotation for model organisms and bioenergy and food crop species, we created a web application ( https://genomeannotation.rheelab.org ) to visualize, search, and download genome annotation data for 28 species. The summary graphics and data tables will be updated semi‐annually, and snapshots will be archived to provide a historical record of the progress of genome function annotation efforts. Clear and simple visualization of up‐to‐date genome function annotation status, including the extent of what is unknown, will help address the grand challenge of elucidating the functions of all genes in organisms.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Rye as an Energy Cover Crop: Management, Forage Quality, and Revenue Opportunities for Feed and Bioenergy

Harvesting a winter rye energy cover crop (Secale cereale L.) could help sustain growing food and energy demand, provide new revenue streams, and enhance ecosystem services without inducing land-use change. A two-year field experiment with three planting methods and three N fertilization rates (0, 60, and 120 kg N ha -1 ) that produced >5.0 Mg ha -1 yr -1 of biomass was evaluated for (1) fresh and anaerobically digested rye forage quality; (2) revenue potential from renewable bioenergy, carbon markets, and digestate feed protein; and (3) potential greenhouse gas (GHG) offsets. We showed that rye can be harvested as forage for animals or anaerobically digested to produce renewable natural gas (RNG), with the residue after digestion (digestate) still available as a feed protein concentrate. Anaerobically digesting rye improved forage quality indicators. Digestion significantly decreased acid- and neutral-detergent fiber (ADF and NDF) by 5.2% and 17.8%, respectively, while significantly increasing crude protein (CP) (33.6%), total digestible nutrients (TDN) (2.0%), relative feed value (RFV) (23.6%), net energy for lactation (8.3%), maintenance (7.5%), and gain (20.0%). Using market prices for RNG, high protein feed, and GHG mitigation, potential on-farm revenue ranged from USD 307 Mg -1 and USD 502 Mg -1 dry matter with an average of USD 402 Mg -1 . However, there are substantial costs associated with RNG and the revenue potential does not represent the profitability of this system. Evaluation of the integrated system showed GHG emissions associated with rye fertilization were more than offset by the benefits of increasing yield in the 60 kg N ha -1 treatment. The overall carbon footprint of the integrated system was strongly carbon negative, confirming the potential of this strategy to sustainably intensify land use in the Midwestern United States.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Data for "Field-scale Evaluation of Ecosystem Service Benefits of Bioenergy Switchgrass"

Purpose-grown perennial herbaceous species are nonfood crops specifically cultivated for bioenergy production and have the potential to secure bioenergy feedstock resources while enhancing ecosystem services. This study assessed soil greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 and N2O), nitrate (NO3-N) leaching reduction potential, evapotranspiration (ET), and water-use efficiency (WUE) of bioenergy switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) in comparison to corn ( Zea mays L.). The study was conducted on field-scale plots in Urbana, IL, during the 2020–2022 growing seasons. Switchgrass was established in 2020 and urea-fertilized at 56 kg N ha−1 year−1. Corn management followed best management practices for the US Midwest, including no-till and 202 kg N ha−1 year−1 fertilization, applied as urea–ammonium nitrate (32%). Our results showed lower direct N2O emissions in switchgrass compared to corn. Although soil CO2 emissions did not differ significantly during the establishment year, emissions in subsequent years were over 50% higher in switchgrass than in corn, likely due to increased belowground biomass, which was over five times higher in switchgrass. Nitrate-N leaching decreased as the switchgrass stand matured, reaching 80% lower than in corn by the third year. Differences in ET and WUE between corn and switchgrass were not significant; however, results indicate a trend toward reduced WUE in switchgrass under drought, driven by lower aboveground biomass production. Our study demonstrates that switchgrass can be implemented at a commercial scale without negatively impacting the hydrological cycle, while potentially reducing N losses through nitrate-N leaching and soil N2O emissions, and enhancing belowground C storage.

field data↗
DOE OSTI2024

Biomass yield potential, feedstock quality, and nutrient removal of perennial buffer strips under continuous zero fertilizer application

Perennial-based buffer strips have been promoted as having the potential for improving ecosystem services from riparian areas while producing biomass as livestock feed or as a bioenergy feedstock. Both biomass production and nutrient removal of buffer strips are substantially influenced by the vegetation types for the multipurpose perennial buffers. In this 2016–2019 study in western Illinois, two perennial cropping systems, including forage crops composed of cool-season grass mixtures (forage system) and bioenergy crops made up of warm-season grass mixtures (bioenergy system), were used to establish buffer strips for assessing biomass production, feedstock quality, nutrient removal, and buffer longevity. Treatments for this study reflecting agronomic practices included (1) two harvests occurring in summer (at anthesis) and fall (after complete senescence) and (2) one harvest in fall for the forage system (two-cut vs. one-cut forage) and (3) one fall harvest for the bioenergy system (one-cut bioenergy). Successively harvesting without any fertilizer input resulted in a yield decline in forage biomass over 3 years by approximately 30 % (6.3 to 4.4 Mg DM ha –1 (dry matter) with a rate of 1.0 Mg ha –1 yr –1 ) in the two-cut forage and by 35 % (4.9 to 3.2 Mg DM ha –1 with a rate of 0.9 Mg ha –1 yr –1 ) in the one-cut forage systems. The feed quality also decreased over the years by showing declined rates of 12.9 (crucial protein), 0.9 (calcium), 0.7 (copper), and 1.3 g kg –1 DM yr –1 (zinc). Empirical models predicted enteric CH 4 emissions from cattle ranged from 225.7 to 242.6 g per cow per day based on the feed nutritive values. In contrast, bioenergy biomass yield increased by 27 % from 4.9 to 6.7 Mg DM ha –1 with a consistent quality (cellulose of ~ 397.9 g kg –1 ; hemicellulose of ~ 299.4 g kg –1 ), corresponding to the increased total theoretical ethanol yield from 1.8 × 10 3 to 2.4 × 10 3 L ha –1 (~ 33 % increase). Annual nutrient removals of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg were significantly higher in the forage systems (e.g., two-cut: 52.6–106.9 kg N ha –1 ; one-cut: 44.5–84.1 kg N ha –1 ) than those in the bioenergy system (e.g., 25.9–34.4 kg N ha –1 ); however, the removal rate declined rapidly over 3 years (e.g., ~ 49 % reduction) as the annual biomass yield declined in the forage systems. This on-farm field study demonstrated the potential of the perennial crop used as buffer strip options for biomass production and buffer sustainability at the edge of the field.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Predicting Field Efficiency of Round-Baling Operations in High-Yielding Biomass Crops

Model simulations for bioenergy harvest planning need to utilize equipment-capacity relationships for equipment operating under the high-yield conditions typical of a biomass crop. These performance assumptions have a direct bearing on the estimates of machine capacity, the number of machines required, and, therefore, the cost to fulfill the biorefinery plant demands for a given harvest window. Typically, two major issues in these models have been poorly understood: the available time required to complete the harvest operation (often called probability of workdays) and the capacity of the harvest equipment as impacted by yield. Simulations use annual yield estimates, which incorporate weather events, to demonstrate year-to-year effects. Some simulations also incorporate potential yield increases from genetically modified energy crops. There are limited field performance data for most current forage equipment used for harvesting high-yield biomass crops. Analysis shows that the impact of wrap/eject time for round balers resulted in a 50% reduction in achieved throughput capacity (Mg/h). After the maximum throughput is reached, the cost of the round bale operation (3.23 USD/Mg) is double that of the large-square baler (1.63 USD/Mg). The round baler achieved throughput capacity is 50% less (32.7 Mg/h compared to 71.0 Mg/h) than the large-square baler.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Saturated Bioenergy Buffers: Site Suitability Classification and Estimated Areas of Candidate Sites in the U.S. Midwest Under Three Scenarios

The loss of nutrients applied to tile-drained row-crop fields is a critically important component of agriculture’s impact on surface water quality, because drain tiles provide a short circuit to ditches and creeks, resulting in rapid nutrient loss. This nutrient loss ultimately advances eutrophication and hypoxia, i.e., the creation of dead zones in bodies of water, both locally and regionally (for example, in western Lake Erie and the Gulf of Mexico). Saturated buffers help address the tile-drainage water quality problem, and incorporating bioenergy crops into saturated bioenergy buffers could provide both environmental protection and an additional source of income for farmers.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Field–scale evaluation of ecosystem service benefits of bioenergy switchgrass

Purpose-grown perennial herbaceous species are nonfood crops specifically cultivated for bioenergy production and have the potential to secure bioenergy feedstock resources while enhancing ecosystem services. This study assessed soil greenhouse gas emissions (CO 2 and N 2 O), nitrate (NO 3 -N) leaching reduction potential, evapotranspiration (ET), and water-use efficiency (WUE) of bioenergy switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) in comparison to corn (Zea mays L.). The study was conducted on field-scale plots in Urbana, IL, during the 2020–2022 growing seasons. Switchgrass was established in 2020 and urea-fertilized at 56 kg N ha –1 year –1 . Corn management followed best management practices for the US Midwest, including no-till and 202 kg N ha –1 year –1 fertilization, applied as urea–ammonium nitrate (32%). Our results showed lower direct N 2 O emissions in switchgrass compared to corn. Although soil CO 2 emissions did not differ significantly during the establishment year, emissions in subsequent years were over 50% higher in switchgrass than in corn, likely due to increased belowground biomass, which was over five times higher in switchgrass. Nitrate-N leaching decreased as the switchgrass stand matured, reaching 80% lower than in corn by the third year. Differences in ET and WUE between corn and switchgrass were not significant; however, results indicate a trend toward reduced WUE in switchgrass under drought, driven by lower aboveground biomass production. Our study demonstrates that switchgrass can be implemented at a commercial scale without negatively impacting the hydrological cycle, while potentially reducing N losses through nitrate-N leaching and soil N 2 O emissions, and enhancing belowground C storage.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Switchgrass ( Panicum Virgatum ) and Miscanthus ( Miscanthus × Giganteus ) Long-Term Yield Patterns Reveal Consistent Productivity Declines

Perennial grasses like switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum ) and miscanthus ( Miscanthus × giganteus ) are expected to supply a substantial amount of the United States bioeconomy's feedstock demand. However, uncertainties around their long-term yields challenge the viability of their potential and limit their wider adoption. To resolve their long-term yield patterns, we analyzed over 200 plantings of switchgrass and miscanthus across Michigan and Wisconsin, USA, measured over 5–15 years. We found a consistent two-phase long-term yield dynamic; during a yield-building phase , peak yields occurred within 4–5 years after planting, followed by a yield-decline phase in which switchgrass and miscanthus lost 30%–47% and 14%–40% of peak yields, respectively. Among the potential drivers of this dynamic and the yield decline, we found that weather conditions had little impact, as the variation across years was not large enough to drive the observed yield differences. Added nitrogen increased peak yields by 10%–20% and attenuated the yield decline by 20%–50%. However, since fertilized stands still showed a yield decline, other factors became limiting as stands aged. This conserved long-term yield dynamic has direct implications on management. A farm-to-gate economic analysis suggests replanting switchgrass and miscanthus 5 and 9 years following their peak yields maximizes profit over a 30-year time horizon. Results call for further management and breeding strategies to mitigate the yield-decline phase, and for reparameterization of global bioenergy models with carbon capture and storage, which may overestimate yields and the economic and environmental benefits of crops grown for bioenergy feedstocks.

bioenergy↗
DOE OSTI2021

Data from Bioenergy Sorghum Maintains Photosynthetic Capacity in Elevated Ozone Concentrations

Elevated tropospheric ozone concentration (O3) significantly reduces photosynthesis and productivity in several C4 crops including maize, switchgrass and sugarcane. However, it is unknown how O3 affects plant growth, development and productivity in sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L.), an emerging C4 bioenergy crop. Here, we investigated the effects of elevated O3 on photosynthesis, biomass and nutrient composition of a number of sorghum genotypes over two seasons in the field using free-air concentration enrichment (FACE), and in growth chambers. We also tested if elevated O3 altered the relationship between stomatal conductance and environmental conditions using two common stomatal conductance models. Sorghum genotypes showed significant variability in plant functional traits, including photosynthetic capacity, leaf N content and specific leaf area, but responded similarly to O3. At the FACE experiment, elevated O3 did not alter net CO2 assimilation (A), stomatal conductance (gs), stomatal sensitivity to the environment, chlorophyll fluorescence and plant biomass, but led to reductions in the maximum carboxylation capacity of phosphoenolpyruvate and increased stomatal limitation to A in both years. These findings suggest that bioenergy sorghum is tolerant to O3 and could be used to enhance biomass productivity in O3 polluted regions.

Feedstock Production↗
DOE OSTI2021

Genomic mechanisms of climate adaptation in polyploid bioenergy switchgrass

Long-term climate change and periodic environmental extremes threaten food and fuel security and global crop productivity. Although molecular and adaptive breeding strategies can buffer the effects of climatic stress and improve crop resilience, these approaches require sufficient knowledge of the genes that underlie productivity and adaptation—knowledge that has been limited to a small number of well-studied model systems. Here we present the assembly and annotation of the large and complex genome of the polyploid bioenergy crop switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum ). Analysis of biomass and survival among 732 resequenced genotypes, which were grown across 10 common gardens that span 1,800 km of latitude, jointly revealed extensive genomic evidence of climate adaptation. Climate–gene–biomass associations were abundant but varied considerably among deeply diverged gene pools. Furthermore, we found that gene flow accelerated climate adaptation during the postglacial colonization of northern habitats through introgression of alleles from a pre-adapted northern gene pool. The polyploid nature of switchgrass also enhanced adaptive potential through the fractionation of gene function, as there was an increased level of heritable genetic diversity on the nondominant subgenome. In addition to investigating patterns of climate adaptation, the genome resources and gene–trait associations developed here provide breeders with the necessary tools to increase switchgrass yield for the sustainable production of bioenergy.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Bioenergy sorghum maintains photosynthetic capacity in elevated ozone concentrations

Abstract Elevated tropospheric ozone concentration (O 3 ) significantly reduces photosynthesis and productivity in several C 4 crops including maize, switchgrass and sugarcane. However, it is unknown how O 3 affects plant growth, development and productivity in sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor L.), an emerging C 4 bioenergy crop. Here, we investigated the effects of elevated O 3 on photosynthesis, biomass and nutrient composition of a number of sorghum genotypes over two seasons in the field using free‐air concentration enrichment (FACE), and in growth chambers. We also tested if elevated O 3 altered the relationship between stomatal conductance and environmental conditions using two common stomatal conductance models. Sorghum genotypes showed significant variability in plant functional traits, including photosynthetic capacity, leaf N content and specific leaf area, but responded similarly to O 3 . At the FACE experiment, elevated O 3 did not alter net CO 2 assimilation ( A ), stomatal conductance ( g s ), stomatal sensitivity to the environment, chlorophyll fluorescence and plant biomass, but led to reductions in the maximum carboxylation capacity of phosphoenolpyruvate and increased stomatal limitation to A in both years. These findings suggest that bioenergy sorghum is tolerant to O 3 and could be used to enhance biomass productivity in O 3 polluted regions.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗