Perenniality drives multifunctional forage–biomass filter strips’ ability to improve water quality

Vegetative filter strip characteristics such as perenniality drive hydrology and subsequent ecosystem services. However, the extent potential for forage–biomass crops to improve water quality, provide fodder, optimize nutrient cycling in multifunctional systems is unknown. We evaluated (a) how species, perenniality, plant community composition are linked quality; (b) multiuse of strips. Whole plots were species [eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides), Kernza [or intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium)], silphium (Silphium integrifolium), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum)], with split-plots receiving 0 or 5.6 Mg ha−1 broiler litter. Rainfall simulations conducted at 5 cm h−1 (until 30 min continuous runoff) summer fall 2019 2021 dual forage biomass harvests occurring 2019–2021. had lowest regrowth after relative native grasses, suggesting they would not be ideal forage–bioenergy crops. Among all soil–plant–water variables, canonical correlations indicate poultry litter (.97), soil phosphorus saturation (.77) most influential variables quality. Water quality score, FWQ, which inversely related runoff was (0.03) greatest (P ≥ .05) eastern (1.77 3.33, respectively), but different from (0.98) (0.31). Therefore, resulted best scores highest yields, also showing promise reducing sediment loads following applications systems.