Biomass Yield, Phenology, and Survival of Diverse Switchgrass Cultivars and Experimental Strains in Western North Dakota

Berdahl, J. D.; Frank, Arlen W.; Krupinsky, J. M.; Carr, Patrick M.; Hanson, Jon D.; Johnson, Helen

doi:10.2134/agronj2005.0549

Cited by 73 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…It is expected that further improvements in both genetics (hybrid cultivars, molecular markers) and agronomics (production system management practices and inputs) will be achieved for dedicated energy crops such as switchgrass, which will further improve biomass yields, conversion efficiency, and NEV (35). As an indicator of the improvement potential, switchgrass biomass yields in recent yield trials in Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota (36)(37)(38) were 50% greater than achieved in this study. The Green Revolution greatly enhanced the capacity of agriculture to increase food supplies throughout the world by the use of improved genetics and management inputs (39).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Net energy of cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass

Schmer

Vogel

Mitchell

et al. 2008

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

945

752

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Perennial herbaceous plants such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) are being evaluated as cellulosic bioenergy crops. Two major concerns have been the net energy efficiency and economic feasibility of switchgrass and similar crops. All previous energy analyses have been based on data from research plots (<5 m 2 ) and estimated inputs. We managed switchgrass as a biomass energy crop in field trials of 3-9 ha (1 ha ‫؍‬ 10,000 m 2 ) on marginal cropland on 10 farms across a wide precipitation and temperature gradient in the midcontinental U.S. to determine net energy and economic costs based on known farm inputs and harvested yields. In this report, we summarize the agricultural energy input costs, biomass yield, estimated ethanol output, greenhouse gas emissions, and net energy results. Annual biomass yields of established fields averaged 5.2 -11.1 Mg⅐ha ؊1 with a resulting average estimated net energy yield (NEY) of 60 GJ⅐ha ؊1 ⅐y ؊1 . Switchgrass produced 540% more renewable than nonrenewable energy consumed. Switchgrass monocultures managed for high yield produced 93% more biomass yield and an equivalent estimated NEY than previous estimates from human-made prairies that received low agricultural inputs. Estimated average greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from cellulosic ethanol derived from switchgrass were 94% lower than estimated GHG from gasoline. This is a baseline study that represents the genetic material and agronomic technology available for switchgrass production in 2000 and 2001, when the fields were planted. Improved genetics and agronomics may further enhance energy sustainability and biofuel yield of switchgrass.agriculture ͉ bioenergy ͉ biomass ͉ biomass energy ͉ greenhouse gas A renewable biofuel economy is projected as a pathway to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and enhance rural economies (1). Ethanol is the most common biofuel in the U.S. and is projected to increase in the short term because of the voluntary elimination of methyl tertiary butyl ether in conventional gasoline and in the long term because of U.S. government mandates (2, 3). Maize or corn (Zea mays) grain and other cereals such as sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) are the primary feedstock for U.S. ethanol production, but competing feed and food demands on grain supplies and prices will eventually limit expansion of grain-ethanol capacity. An additional feedstock source for producing ethanol is the lignocellulosic components of plant biomass, from which ethanol can be produced via saccrification and fermentation (4). Dedicated perennial energy crops such as switchgrass, crop residues, and forestry biomass are major cellulosic ethanol sources that could potentially displace 30% of our current petroleum consumption (5).Net energy production has been used to evaluate the energy efficiency of ethanol derived from both grain and cellulosic biomass (6). Typically, studies have used net energy values (NEV), net energy ratios, and net energy yield (NEY) and have compared biofuel output to petroleum requ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Net energy of cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass

Schmer

Vogel

Mitchell

et al. 2008

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

945

752

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“…Multi-location cultivar evaluations have helped to define adaptation zones of existing cultivars, identifying the importance of photoperiod, cold tolerance, and heat tolerance in limiting the breadth of adaptation of most switchgrass cultivars Casler et al 2004;Cassida et al 2005a, b;Fike et al 2006a, b). These studies have also illustrated the remarkably broad adaptation range of cultivars such as Cave-in-Rock, which has superior biomass production far north and east of its origin (Madakadze et al 1998;Casler and Boe 2003) but reduced performance in northern dryland environments (Jefferson et al 2002;Berdahl et al 2005). Despite the broad adaptation of Cavein-Rock, most switchgrass cultivars should not be exported more than one hardiness zone north or south of their origin, due to the significant potential for reduced adaptation Vogel 2004a).…”

Section: St Century Transition In Switchgrass Feedstock Research: Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

Switchgrass as a biofuels feedstock in the USA

Sanderson¹,

Adler²,

Boateng³

et al. 2006

Can. J. Plant Sci.

267

203

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G. 2006. Switchgrass as a biofuels feedstock in the USA. Can. J. Plant Sci. 86: 1315-1325. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been identified as a model herbaceous energy crop for the USA. In this review, we selectively highlight current USDA-ARS research on switchgrass for biomass energy. Intensive research on switchgrass as a biomass feedstock in the 1990s greatly improved our understanding of the adaptation of switchgrass cultivars, production practices, and environmental benefits. Several constraints still remain in terms of economic production of switchgrass for biomass feedstock including reliable establishment practices to ensure productive stands in the seeding year, efficient use of fertilizers, and more efficient methods to convert lignocellulose to biofuels. Overcoming the biological constraints will require genetic enhancement, molecular biology, and plant breeding efforts to improve switchgrass cultivars. New genomic resources will aid in developing molecular markers, and should allow for marker-assisted selection of improved germplasm. Research is also needed on profitable management practices for switchgrass production appropriate to specific agro-ecoregions and breakthroughs in conversion methodology. Current higher costs of biofuels compared to fossil fuels may be offset by accurately valuing environmental benefits associated with perennial grasses such as reduced runoff and erosion and associated reduced losses of soil nutrients and organic matter, increased incorporation of soil carbon and reduced use of agricultural chemicals. Use of warm-season perennial grasses in bioenergy cropping systems may also mitigate increases in atmospheric CO 2 . A critical need is teams of scientists, extension staff, and producer-cooperators in key agro-ecoregions to develop profitable management practices for the production of biomass feedstocks appropriate to those agro-ecoregions.

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“…In contrast, the switchgrass field studied by McLaughlin and Adam Kszos [37] survived at least ten harvests with the yields higher than those in all other studies considered in this paper [18][19][20][21][37][38][39].…”

Section: Harvest Delaysmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Larger switchgrass stands have been investigated for at least 10 years in one case [37], but seldom above 5 years [38]. The field studies in [18][19][20][21]37] Figure 3. Double crops of switchgrass on large fields in Virginia, Blacksburg, Site A and B; Virginia, Orange, Site A and B; Tennessee, Knox; and Tennessee, Jack.…”

Section: Switchgrass Yieldsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Probabilistic Analysis of the Switchgrass Ethanol Cycle

Patzek

2010

Sustainability

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The switchgrass-driven process for producing ethanol has received much popular attention. However, a realistic analysis of this process indicates three serious limitations: (a) If switchgrass planted on 140 million hectares (the entire area of active U.S. cropland) were used as feedstock and energy source for ethanol production, the net ethanol yield would replace on average about 20% of today's gasoline consumption in the U.S. (b) Because nonrenewable resources are required to produce ethanol from switchgrass, the incremental gas emissions would be on average 55 million tons of equivalent carbon dioxide per year to replace just 10% of U.S. automotive gasoline. (c) In terms of delivering electrical or mechanical power, ethanol from 1 hectare (10,000 m 2 ) of switchgrass is equivalent, on average, to 30 m 2 of low-efficiency photovoltaic cells. This analysis suggests that investing toward more efficient and durable solar cells, and batteries, may be more promising than investing in a process to convert switchgrass to ethanol.

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Biomass Yield, Phenology, and Survival of Diverse Switchgrass Cultivars and Experimental Strains in Western North Dakota

Abstract: yield of 9.0 Mg ha Ϫ1 , and sustained yields this great on dryland sites have not been documented in the study Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been identified as a potenarea.

Cited by 73 publications

References 20 publications

Net energy of cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass

Net energy of cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass

Switchgrass as a biofuels feedstock in the USA

A Probabilistic Analysis of the Switchgrass Ethanol Cycle

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