Main subject area: Perennial oilseed; root interactions; agronomy
Silphium integrifolium, a perennial relative of sunflower, is a promising novel crop with potential for both human-consumable oilseed production and biogas feedstock (Hwang et al., 2024). Its perennial growth habit creates opportunities for dual-use management, allowing seed and biomass to be harvested within the same growing season. In addition, Silphium is believed to develop a deep root system that may enhance key environmental indicators, including soil carbon sequestration, water infiltration, biodiversity, and reduced nitrate leaching (Kantar et al., 2016).
Despite this potential, limited research has evaluated the feasibility and consequences of dual-use management on aboveground productivity, seed yield, and belowground growth dynamics. This master’s project will quantify the effects of defoliation-based management on biomass regrowth, grain production, and root development to assess trade-offs between yield and ecosystem service provision. Results will inform the viability of Silphium as a multifunctional perennial oilseed and bioenergy crop.
Anytime
Blichers Alle 20, Tjele, 8830-DK
45 or 60 ECTS: Experimental theses in which the student is responsible for collection and analysis of his/her own original data.
Additional information
The research will be conducted on the ongoing PerennialSystemTrial at Foulumgaard at AU Viborg. The master project leverages a high throughput root quantification using a Machine Learning algorithm and. Supervision will be conducted by Eusun Han. The student will also work together with different researchers and technical staff.
Relevant articles
Hwang, H., Liu, S.X., Moser, J.K., Singh, M., Van Tassel, D.L. 2024. Composition and oxidative stability of silflower (Silphium integrifolium) seed oil and its potential as a new source of squalene. Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society. doi.org/10.1002/aocs.12814.
Kantar, M., Tyl,C., Dorn, K., Zhang, X., Jungers, J., Kaser, J., Schendel, R., Eckberg, J., Runck, B., Bunzel, M., Jordan, N., Stupar, R., Marks, M., Anderson, J., Johnson, G., Sheaffer, C., Schoenfuss, T., Ismail, B., Heimpel, G.,Wyse, D. 2016. Perennial Grain and Oilseed Crops. Annual Review Plant Biology. 67:703-729. doi.org/10.1146/annurev-arplant-043015-112311
