Switchgrass Biofuels Research with Native Grasses
Switchgrass grown for biofuel production produced five times more energy than needed to grow, harvest and process it into cellulosic ethanol.
Research on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) as a biomass energy crop is conducted at several USDA-ARS facilities across the USA. At the USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit in University Park, Pennsylvania, research on biomass energy focuses on cropping systems, environmental effects, and management practices.
On-farm Research Yields Variety of Information
The on-farm research provides opportunities to do research at relevant landscape scales and also serves as a technology transfer mechanism. Recent research accomplishments include a resource assessment of the botanical composition, biomass yield, and biofuels quality of biomass on conservation lands; demonstrating the potential for using switchgrass bioenergy cropping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture; and developing seasonal harvest guidelines for switchgrass.