FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture scientists are exploring the potential of biofuel crops as alternatives for diversifying Arkansas agriculture.
Research showcased during a field day July 29 at the Rohwer Research Station in Desha County, focuses on the production needs and yield potentials of sweet sorghum, switchgrass and cottonwood trees. The Rohwer station is a unit of the Division of Agriculture's Southeast Research and Extension Center at Monticello. The field day also featured research efforts in the production, pest control and other needs of rice, cotton, soybeans and corn.
Three varieties of sweet sorghum are being evaluated for their performance in Arkansas Delta soils, said Nilda Burgos, professor of crop, soil and environmental sciences.
"We evaluated the effects of planting date and herbicide treatments on establishment of stands and on yield performance of Dale, M81-E and Topper varieties," Burgos said. "Of these three, Topper had the most biomass at maturity, especially when planted in June."
Chuck West, professor of crop, soil and environmental sciences, and Hal Liechty, associate professor of hydrology and ecology at the division's Arkansas Forest Resources Center, are conducting a joint study on the use of cottonwood trees and switchgrass as cellulosic biofuel crops in marginal soils. They are establishing "agroforestry" research plots with varying combinations of cottonwoods and switchgrass at three locations in eastern Arkansas, including the Rohwer Research Station.
West said switchgrass has small seeds that must be planted shallow and it can be difficult to establish a stand in some soils because the seedlings are not strong enough to break through soils that form hard crusts. He noted that the crusty soil in the plots at Rohwer would have to be cracked, but that switchgrass plots at Pine Tree Research Station, north of Forrest City, were established easily.
"By the end of this trial," West said, "we should be able to tell you all of the things that will conspire against you to make it not work."
West added that it would take one and a half years before switchgrass would produce a crop, but that once established, it formed hardy clusters with a large base and could grow 9 feet tall.
Other topics covered during the field day included:
- A new conventional cotton variety developed by the Division of Agriculture and the new GlyTol cotton developed by Bayer. Both varieties are expected to be available for cotton producers in 2011.
- The value of seed treatments, weed control and variety selection for rice.
- Questions related to the Liberty Link production system and the latest findings in insect management for soybeans.
- The effects of planting date, fungicide use, and weed control options on corn.
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