U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research: Lincoln, NE
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Plains Area Lincoln, Nebraska Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Mitchell, Robert

                                                         - *Rob*item
                                            Vogel, Kennethitem
                                            Sarath, Gautam
  Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
                                    Publication Type: Proceedings
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 8/6/2010
                                    Publication  Date: 8/23/2010
                                    Citation: Mitchell, R., Vogel, K.P., Sarath, G. 2010. Sustainable Production of Switchgrass for Biomass Energy. Meeting Proceedings for International Conference on Biofuel Crop Production and Development, August 23-25, 2010, Zamorano University, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.Interpretive Summary: Switchgrass is a warm-season grass native to the North American tallgrass prairies, and is the model perennial warm-season grass for biomass energy. USDA-ARS in Lincoln, NE has studied switchgrass continuously since 1936. Switchgrass production was evaluated at the field-scale on marginal land on 10 farms in the Great Plains. Switchgrass was produced for an average farm gate cost of $60 per US ton, resulting in an average feedstock cost of $0.64/US gallon ethanol. Switchgrass produced 13 times more energy as ethanol than would be required as energy from petroleum and produced 540% more renewable than non-renewable energy consumed when properly managed. At four Nebraska farms, carbon was sequestered at a rate of 1.3 US tons per acre per year in the top 4 feet of soil. Using higher yielding bioenergy cultivars and improved agronomics will enhance the feasibility of switchgrass biofuel production.
                                Technical Abstract: Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a C4 grass native to the North American tallgrass prairies, which historically extended from Mexico to Canada. It is the model perennial warm-season grass for biomass energy. USDA-ARS in Lincoln, NE has studied switchgrass continuously since 1936. Plot-scale research has been conducted in the Great Plains and Midwest on switchgrass establishment, fertility requirements, and response to harvest date. Switchgrass production parameters such as economics, net energy, carbon sequestration, temporal and spatial biomass variation, and harvest and storage management have been evaluated at the field-scale on marginal land on 10 farms in the Great Plains. Switchgrass was produced for an average farm gate cost of $60 per US ton, resulting in an average feedstock cost of $0.64/US gallon ethanol. Switchgrass produced 13 times more energy as ethanol than would be required as energy from petroleum and produced 540% more renewable than non-renewable energy consumed when properly managed. After five production years on four Nebraska farms, soil organic carbon was sequestered at a rate of 1.3 US tons per acre per year in the top 4 feet of soil. Using higher yielding bioenergy-specific cultivars will increase biomass production with similar inputs. Increasing biomass per unit input with improved agronomics and genetics will enhance the economics and energetics of biofuel production.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov