Biofuel Cropping System Experiment
The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) intensive experimental sites at the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) and Arlington Agricultural Research Station constitute 8 different biofuel cropping systems, each replicated in five blocks as diagrammed in the figures below (click on the maps for printable versions). All plots are approx. 40 × 30 m (130 × 98ft). The 2 grain based cropping systems include rotations of continuous corn and corn-soybean-canola. The remainder are cellulosic biomass crops: switchgrass (Panicum virgatum variety Cave-in-rock), giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus), hypbrid poplar trees (Populus x euramericana), a 5-species native grass mix, an early successional community, and native prairie. Each perennial production system is evaluated with and without fertilization. Click here for species names of the mixed grass treatment (G7) and the native prairie treatment (G10).
Project goals are directed towards looking at the performance of novel bioenergy crop production systems, assessing crop yield and quality, impacts on microbial-plant interactions, biogeochemical responses, water needs, greenhouse gas fluxes, nutrient leaching to groundwater, biodiversity responses and socioeconomic impacts. Ultimate goals are to model the production efficiencies of different bioenergy crops. Click on images for printable maps.
KBS Scale-Up Sites
The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Consortium (GLBRC) Marshall Farm Scale-up fields were established in 2009 to provide a larger context for addressing biodiversity and biogeochemistry questions associated with biofuel production. Fields are managed as native prairie (5 grass and 14 forb species), switchgrass, or continuous corn, similar to three of the GLBRC main site treatments. All fields were in the USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) prior to conversion to biofuel crops (since 1987). Three similar fields have been established at Lux Arbor, on land that has not been in the CRP program. Circles on the maps denote the location of CO2 flux towers, which measure the flow of CO2 into and out of the crop canopy and soil, and thereby allows a complete carbon budget to be constructed. This provides information on rates of carbon sequestration and loss from these different systems. Switchgrass was planted at a seeding rate of 10 lbs/acre. Click on the image for a printable map. Click here for species names planted on the Prairie treatment.
Click here for field naming conventions.
Extensive Sites
The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center’s (GLBRC) Extensive Sites are farm-scale fields located on working farms. Fields of corn, switchgrass, and restored prairie are represented at each of 10 locations in both Michigan and Wisconsin, for a total of 30 sites across 11-13 counties in each state. Field sizes ranges from 5-150 ha (13-375 acres) and were at least 5 years old when first sampled in 2008. The sites are used mainly to assess biodiversity responses of specific insect, bird, and microbial populations to biofuel crop type. Annual net primary productivity and plant species composition are also measured for each field.
Click on the image for a printable map.
Switchgrass Nitrogen/Harvest Experiment
The Switchgrass Nitrogen/Harvest Experiment is a long-term study located at the KBS GLBRC Intensive Site. The experiment is laid in Randomized Split-Plot design with 8 × 2 factorial arrangements of fertilizer levels and harvest strategies, respectively. Nitrogen applications range from 0 to 196 kg N / ha with two harvest strategies as one and two cuts per year. Plots are 4.5 × 6.0 m (15 × 20’) arranged in each of 4 replicate blocks. The experiment was established in 2008 and the goal is to study the effect of nitrogen levels and harvest strategies on plant productivity, greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen availability to plants. The first fertilizer application was made after one year of establishment. Click on the image for a printable map.
Woody Biomass Initiative
Old hay fields, pastures and abandoned agricultural land have been identified as targets for conversion to short-rotation woody biomass crops (SWRC) to supply feedstock for multiple woody-biomass-based energy projects in northern Michigan and Wisconsin. Widespread conversion of open lands to SRWC is likely to have significant environmental impacts, including: greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, changes to soil C stocks, and changes to hydrologic fluxes of NO3-. The goal of the Woody Biomass Initiative project is to better understand potential feedstock production, soil GHG emissions and NO3- leaching resulting from maintaining open lands in herbaceous cover vs. converting them to SWRC. Two sites were selected representing marginal hay fields characteristic of the region, one in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and one in northern Wisconsin. At each site we have located 12, 40 × 40 meter plots randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 1) conversion to willow bioenergy plantation, 2) conversion to hybrid-poplar bioenergy plantation, or 3) maintained in herbaceous vegetation. Within each plot we are measuring biomass production, soil emissions of CO2, N2O and CH4, and leaching losses of NO3-. Click below to download the experimental layout or on the map at the right to download the map as a printable version.
Switchgrass Variety Experiment
The switchgrass variety experiment is a long term study established in 2009 at the KBS GLBRC Intensive Experimental Site. Five upland and lowland varieties are planted in complete randomized block design. Plots are 4.5 × 12 m (15 × 40’) arranged in each of 4 replicate blocks. Upland varieties are Southlow, Cave-in-Rock, Trailblazer, Blackwell and Dakota and lowland are Alamo, Kanlow, NE28 and two experimental varieties.The varieties are being tested for such traits as establishment potential, plant productivity and plant quality. Click on the image for a printable map.
Productivity Trial
A long term study was established in 2009 to determine the plant productivities and plant quality traits of eighteen different potential ethanol and biodiesel feedstocks. The experiment is laid at the KBS GLBRC Intensive Experimental Site in complete randomized block design. Treatments plots are 4.5 × 12 m (15 × 40’) arranged in each of 4 replicate blocks. Click on image for a printable map.