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Switchgrass Harvest Time Effects on Nutrient Use and Yield: An Economic Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Nathanial Cahill ,
Michael Popp ,
Charles West ,
Alexandre Rocateli ,
Amanda Ashworth ,
Rodney Farris Sr.  and
Bruce Dixon
Nathanial Cahill
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Michael Popp
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Charles West
Affiliation:
Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Alexandre Rocateli
Affiliation:
Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Amanda Ashworth
Affiliation:
Center for Native Grasslands Management, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
Rodney Farris Sr.
Affiliation:
Oklahoma Eastern Research Station, Oklahoma State University, Haskell, Oklahoma
Bruce Dixon
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas
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Abstract

This article analyzes economic tradeoffs among harvest date, fertilizer applied, nutrient removal, and switchgrass yield as they vary with respect to input and output prices. Economic sensitivity analyses suggest that higher biomass prices lead to earlier harvest. Optimal harvest time occurs beyond time of maximum yield because nutrient removal in the biomass is an important economic consideration. Switchgrass price premia that reflect the cost of non-optimal harvest time are driven by standing crop yield loss, nutrient removal, storage loss, and opportunity cost. These price premia could provide a mechanism to compensate producers for alternative harvest times and aid with logistics management.

Keywords

harvest datenutrient useswitchgrassQ15Q16Q42
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics , Volume 46 , Issue 4 , November 2014 , pp. 487 - 507
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 2014

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