Wilske, B., J. Xie, T. Zenone, M.W. Deal, R. John, P. Jasrotia, K. Kahmark, S. Bohm, S.K. Hamilton, G.P. Robertson, and J.Chen
Presented at the GLBRC Sustainability Retreat (2010-02-10 to 2010-02-12 )
We studied the influence of land conversion on soybean as a representative of crops that have been suggested for use in bioenergy crop rotation systems. We investigated photosynthesis, microclimate and plant biometric characteristics at six soybean fields, which had been previously managed as corn field © or as native prairie (P) under the Conservation Reserve Program. Variation of plant incident photosynthesis was as large between different sample plots within a field as between fields and/or between field of different prior land use (LU). However, LU significantly influenced important plant biometric parameters such as aboveground (AGB) and belowground biomass (BGB). While yields of both AGB and BGB were significantly higher at LU-P than LU-C, soil moisture was slightly higher at LU-C than LU-P. LU obviously influenced the capability to develop symbiotic N-supply and the paper further investigates LU, site and plot specific biophysical constraints that may interfere with the nutrient supply of the soybean.
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