Biomass productivity? It’s the slope, stupid: new study

Biofuels Digest
June 18, 2010 Jim Lane

In Minnesota, researchers at the University of Minnesota, publishing in the 2010 March-April issue of the Agronomy Journal, have demonstrates that hill slope processes influence biomass productivity. The study focused on seven varying landscape positions to represent a range of topographical features common to the region with varying soil moisture and erosion characteristics. Within each landscape position, a series of woody and herbaceous annual and perennial crops were planted. Crops included alfalfa, corn, willow, cottonwood, poplar, and switchgrass.

Corn grain and stover yield was lowest in flat and depositional areas that retain water for longer periods of time and highest on well drained summit positions. Corn grain yield was not significantly influenced by any of the soil or terrain attributes tested, but corn stover yield was positively influenced by nitrogen, soil darkness profile, and terrain slope.

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