Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
ALMANAC Simulation Model
ALMANAC Applications
Hydrologic Data
Rangeland Research
Poultry Litter Application
Wheat Study 2003
Corn Fertility Study
Impact of Biological Control Agents on Musk Thistle Populations
MANAGE Nutrient Loss Database
Hydrologic Data Collection and Water Quality Sampling
Reprints Relevant to ALMANAC
Almanac Switchgrass
ALMANAC - Forestry Simulation
ALMANAC - Switchgrass Field Research Simulation
ALMANAC -Biofuel grass nutrient cycling
ALMANAC - Rangeland CEAP
Publications on Riesel Data and History
US Climatic Data
Hydrologic Data
Models
Atmospheric CO2 Research Group
 

Research Project: DEVELOPMENT OF MODELS AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES FOR WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCE ASSESSMENTS

Location: Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory

Title: Switchgrass leaf area index and light extinction coefficients

Authors
item Kiniry, James
item Johnson, Mari-Vaughn
item Mitchell, Robert
item Vogel, Kenneth
item Kaiser, Jerry -
item Bruckerhoff, Steve -
item Cordsiemon, Ron -

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 5, 2010
Publication Date: January 10, 2011
Citation: Kiniry, J.R., Johnson, M., Mitchell, R., Vogel, K.P., Kaiser, J., Bruckerhoff, S.B., Cordsiemon, R.L. 2011. Switchgrass leaf area index and light extinction coefficients. Agronomy Journal. 103(1):119-122.

Interpretive Summary: Computer models that predict plant production simulation often depend on accurate simulation or measurement of leaf light interception. With the recent interest in converting large tracts of land to biofuel species cropping, modeling vegetative yield with greater accuracy has become more imperative. We investigated the stability of the light extinction coefficient (k) in Beer’s Law to identify sources of error that might affect simulations of biomass yields for the important biofuel species switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Data used included measurements on Alamo switchgrass for 56 dates over multiple years at Temple, TX and single date measurements on various switchgrass cultivars and Miscanthus (Miscanthus X giganteus) at Lincoln, NE and Elsberry, MO. Variability in k values was not related to fraction of light intercepted , time of day, or incident light level. Only the magnitude of leaf area index (LAI) showed a significant impact on the k value. The mean k value for the pooled Alamo switchgrass data at Temple (k=-0.37) was similar to the previously published k value for Alamo switchgrass (k=-0.33) and similar to Alamo k values in Nebraska (k=-0.31) and Missouri (k=-0.38). Other switchgrass cultivars showed k values similar to Alamo’s in Nebraska (mean k=-0.29), but were higher than Alamo’s in Missouri (mean k=-0.89). However, the LAI values for non-Alamo cultivars at Missouri were lower (mean LAI = 3.9) than they were at Nebraska (mean LAI = 14.3). We conclude that, of the potential sources of variability explored, only LAI affected k, with higher LAI values associated with lower k values. Beer’s Law promises to continue to be a valuable system of simulating fraction of light interception of Alamo switchgrass and other important biofuel grasses.

Technical Abstract: Biomass production simulation modeling for plant species is often dependent upon accurate simulation or measurement of canopy light interception and radiation use efficiency. With the recent interest in converting large tracts of land to biofuel species cropping, modeling vegetative yield with greater accuracy has become more imperative. We investigated the stability of the light extinction coefficient (k) in Beer’s Law to identify sources of error that might affect simulations of biomass yields for the important biofuel species switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) Data used included measurements on Alamo switchgrass for 56 dates over multiple years at Temple, TX and single date measurements on various switchgrass cultivars and Miscanthus (Miscanthus X giganteus) at Lincoln, NE and Elsberry, MO. Variability in k values was not related to fraction of light intercepted (P=0.86), time of day (P=0.48), or incident solar radiation (P=0.09). Only the magnitude of leaf area index (LAI) showed a significant impact on the k value (P=0.0001). The mean k value for the pooled Alamo switchgrass data at Temple (k=-0.37) was similar to the previously published k value for Alamo switchgrass (k=-0.33) and similar to Alamo k values in Nebraska (k=-0.31) and Missouri (k=-0.38). Other switchgrass cultivars showed k values similar to Alamo’s in Nebraska (mean k=-0.29), but were higher than Alamo’s in Missouri (mean k=-0.89). However, the LAI values for non-Alamo cultivars at Missouri were lower (mean LAI = 3.9) than they were at Nebraska (mean LAI = 14.3). We conclude that, of the potential sources of variability explored, only LAI affected k, with higher LAI values associated with lower k values. Beer’s Law promises to continue to be a valuable system of simulating fraction of light interception of Alamo switchgrass and other important biofuel grasses.

   

 
Project Team
Arnold, Jeffrey
Kiniry, James
White, Michael
Harmel, Daren
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Climate Change, Soils, and Emissions (212)
  Water Availability and Water Management (211)
 
 
Last Modified: 06/20/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House