Native Warm-Season Grasses Show Limited Response to Phosphorus and Potassium
Data are needed to identify optimum response to potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) amendment and associated mycorrhizal colonization for native warm-season grasses (NWSGs; big bluestem [BB; <i>Andropogon gerardii</i> Vitman] and switchgrass [SG; <i>Panicum virgatum</i> L.]). To...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/669 |
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| author | Eric Bisangwa Jonathan D. Richwine Patrick D. Keyser Amanda J. Ashworth David M. Butler Utsala Shrestha Forbes R. Walker |
| author_facet | Eric Bisangwa Jonathan D. Richwine Patrick D. Keyser Amanda J. Ashworth David M. Butler Utsala Shrestha Forbes R. Walker |
| author_sort | Eric Bisangwa |
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| description | Data are needed to identify optimum response to potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) amendment and associated mycorrhizal colonization for native warm-season grasses (NWSGs; big bluestem [BB; <i>Andropogon gerardii</i> Vitman] and switchgrass [SG; <i>Panicum virgatum</i> L.]). To evaluate these responses, experiments were conducted in Knoxville and Springfield, Tennessee, from 2013 to 2019. In twice-annual harvests, we assessed BB and SG dry matter (DM) yield, crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrients (TDNs), P and K removed by grasses (removal), and soil test P and K in response to P (29 to 88 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) and K (70 to 257 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) elemental rates, and rates of root colonization by mycorrhizal fungi in response to P. Amendments had no effect (<i>p</i> > 0.05) on DM yield, CP, or TDN for either species. Yield, CP, and TDN fluctuated among years (<i>p <</i> 0.001) for both species, but no consistent temporal trends were observed. Although removal exceeded inputs at the control (no input) for P and K, and at 70 kg K ha<sup>−1</sup>, there was not an associated reduction in soil test K and P values. Phosphorus rate affected (<i>p</i> = 0.02) total mycorrhizal colonization, with an average of 62% colonization across both species and 70% at the highest P rates. Given the lack of response for yield, CP, TDN, or associated soil nutrient test levels, NWSGs appear to offer a low-input option for forage production. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-3d8157c4b21846c0bcadf9f62593d77c2025-08-20T03:40:42ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-03-0115366910.3390/agronomy15030669Native Warm-Season Grasses Show Limited Response to Phosphorus and PotassiumEric Bisangwa0Jonathan D. Richwine1Patrick D. Keyser2Amanda J. Ashworth3David M. Butler4Utsala Shrestha5Forbes R. Walker6School of Natural Resources, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USACollege of Agriculture, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 72467, USASchool of Natural Resources, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USAPoultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1260 W. Maple Street, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USADepartment of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USADepartment of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USADepartment of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USAData are needed to identify optimum response to potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) amendment and associated mycorrhizal colonization for native warm-season grasses (NWSGs; big bluestem [BB; <i>Andropogon gerardii</i> Vitman] and switchgrass [SG; <i>Panicum virgatum</i> L.]). To evaluate these responses, experiments were conducted in Knoxville and Springfield, Tennessee, from 2013 to 2019. In twice-annual harvests, we assessed BB and SG dry matter (DM) yield, crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrients (TDNs), P and K removed by grasses (removal), and soil test P and K in response to P (29 to 88 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) and K (70 to 257 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) elemental rates, and rates of root colonization by mycorrhizal fungi in response to P. Amendments had no effect (<i>p</i> > 0.05) on DM yield, CP, or TDN for either species. Yield, CP, and TDN fluctuated among years (<i>p <</i> 0.001) for both species, but no consistent temporal trends were observed. Although removal exceeded inputs at the control (no input) for P and K, and at 70 kg K ha<sup>−1</sup>, there was not an associated reduction in soil test K and P values. Phosphorus rate affected (<i>p</i> = 0.02) total mycorrhizal colonization, with an average of 62% colonization across both species and 70% at the highest P rates. Given the lack of response for yield, CP, TDN, or associated soil nutrient test levels, NWSGs appear to offer a low-input option for forage production.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/669big bluestemcrude proteindry matterforage nutritive valuepotassiummycorrhizae |
| spellingShingle | Eric Bisangwa Jonathan D. Richwine Patrick D. Keyser Amanda J. Ashworth David M. Butler Utsala Shrestha Forbes R. Walker Native Warm-Season Grasses Show Limited Response to Phosphorus and Potassium Agronomy big bluestem crude protein dry matter forage nutritive value potassium mycorrhizae |
| title | Native Warm-Season Grasses Show Limited Response to Phosphorus and Potassium |
| title_full | Native Warm-Season Grasses Show Limited Response to Phosphorus and Potassium |
| title_fullStr | Native Warm-Season Grasses Show Limited Response to Phosphorus and Potassium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Native Warm-Season Grasses Show Limited Response to Phosphorus and Potassium |
| title_short | Native Warm-Season Grasses Show Limited Response to Phosphorus and Potassium |
| title_sort | native warm season grasses show limited response to phosphorus and potassium |
| topic | big bluestem crude protein dry matter forage nutritive value potassium mycorrhizae |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/669 |
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