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Intercropping Winter Leguminous Cover Crops for Sustainable Energy Cane Production

 

2024-2025 USDA-NIFA Limited Competitive Research Support Award

 

Principal Investigators and Affiliations:

PI: Dr. Fugen Dou, Texas A&M Agrilife Research and Extension Center
Dr. Terry Gentry, Texas A&M University

Graduate Student: Hendra Lasar

Funded: $85,575

Start Date: 10/1/2024

End Date: 6/30/2025

 

Project Goal

The overall goal of our proposal is to develop economically and environmentally sustainable energy cane production in the south-central region of the United States. This project will determine the effect of winter pea biomass residue rate and N application on soil N supply.

 

Objectives

  1. Quantify the effects of intercropping winter leguminous cover crops on N supply and biomass yield in energy cane production. 
  2. Determine the impact of intercropping winter leguminous cover crops on soil C sequestration and soil health.

 

Expected Project Outcomes

Major deliverables from this research include 1) energy cane biomass production potential using residual N only, winter cover crops, winter cover crops augmented with conventional fertilizer, and the use of conventional fertilizer alone; 2) N uptake by crop biomass; 3) potential of winter cover crop singly or in combination with augmented conventional fertilizer to improve soil C sequestration; and 4) changes in soil health.

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