Switchgrass does well on lower quality soils, unmanaged pastureland, and fallow fields. However, if it replaces the use of nonrenewable fossil fuel, that essentially only adds carbon to the atmosphere. It provides not only biomass, but also significant environmental and wildlife benefits as well. A production guide produced in 2010 by Blade Energy Crops considers crop production and management, energy-crop agronomics and yield in considerable detail. The co-op plans to continue studying the energy potential of switchgrass and could eventually bump up the percentage of switchgrass it uses to 3 to 10 percent. Switchgrass yield is 4 tons per acre; The switchgrass stand is assumed to last 11 years; The reseed is assumed to last 10 years; The interest rate used for prorating the establishment costs is 8 percent, while the operating interest rate is 9 percent; Operating costs are assumed to be borrowed for six months; The field is initially prepared by adding phosphorous and potassium. The group’s objective is to commercialize switchgrass for energy applications. “On average, fields received just under 70 pounds of nitrogen per year.” The switchgrass was harvested by baling. In comparison, the total production costs in 2001 were $264.58 per acre. Based on several prior years energy cost data, the researchers compared switchgrass pellets to natural gas. For instance, continuing with the Iowa example, more than five million tons of biomass from hybrid poplar trees and related "biomass-generator" crops could be grown for energy purposes each year in Iowa, producing more than 92-trillion BTUs of energy. In producing estimates of the Carbon Sequestration Cycle, researchers at Iowa State University determined that one pound of switchgrass contains 7,500 BTUs of energy. Improved forage digestibility, in production systems with a livestock-grazing component, where digestibility was increased one percentage unit, was estimated to improve cattle-production gain by 3.2 percent, with cultivars with improved digestibility increasing net income by over $20 per acre. Stegelmeier, et al. The authors concluded that switchgrass had the potential to produce greater ethanol yields per acre than corn when both the grain and corn stover were used for cellulosic-digestion processing. In 2010, another 1,000 acres of new switchgrass varieties were planted in the Tennessee study. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that it could become a valuable fiber source for manufactured composite "wood" products and fiber-plastic composite materials. Table 1. Approximately 4,000 acres have been contracted in Appanoose, Monroe, Lucas and Wayne counties for switchgrass production, but their goal is to have a sustainable production-harvest of 100,000 acres. The nutrient content of this forage can be as high as 16-17 percent crude protein, if harvested correctly. Base bids did not differ much, with most being in the $200–$250 per acre range. "Bioenergy" can be produced by co-firing switchgrass with coal to produce electricity in existing power plants, which offers a near-term energy production alternative, as does eventually using switchgrass as a feedstock in bio-reactors that produce bio-based fuels or industrially important chemicals. Partially Funded by USDA Rural Development. “We’re making real progress,” Fransen tells me as we walk among the plots at WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Prosser. Switchgrass generally produces abundant seed. All varieties were in the 90% range in percent stand by the third year after planting except for Bonilla at … 427 0 obj <> endobj switchgrass yields, which can be as high as 15 tons/ acre. On approximately 40 acres of land, project partners have planted alternate rows of fast-growing cottonwood trees and herbaceous crops such as switchgrass, forage sorghum and rye to enhance yields. The report stressed that millions of acres of cropland in the Great Plains and Midwestern states should be converted to profitable perennial grass production to reduce excessive soil erosion, and existing pasture lands should be renovated to improve their profitability and deter invasion by noxious weeds. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Switchgrass is a vigorous, native, perennial, bunchgrass that grows throughout most of the United States. Each of the farmers is growing a 5-acre plot. This study examined estimated cellulosic-ethanol production costs and yields. It is funded through a grant to the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. The cooperative identifies and develops switchgrass products and markets, evaluates the environmental benefits of producing and using switchgrass, and educates the public about the potential of switchgrass. This is at odds with other data cited elsewhere in this article of $33 per ton and where applicable an additional $17 per ton for land rent. The recent release of 'Liberty' switchgrass has increased the field-scale yields to greater than 6 tons per acre. This project is commonly known as "Solar Battery for the Prairies." In the Central Plains trials, the average ethanol yields from switchgrass would amount to 450 gallons per acre or 79 gallons per ton. The large, round switchgrass bales averaged 740 pounds each, with an average yield of 2.3 tons per acre. The amount of seed to plant when establishing switchgrass is open for debate. Additionally, switchgrass is well suited to co-generation fuel mixes where other biomass material or municipal wastes are used as additional fuel sources. According to soil tests, all nutrients were adequate except nitrogen (N), so we applied 70 pounds actual N per acre in early April. “When we harvest this grass in a day or so, I think we’ll get a yield of five tons per acre… Without atrazine 0 pounds of yield per acre; Wth atrazine 4940 pounds of yield per acre; 1 Mead, Nebraska Time of seeding Early production-improvement trials have demonstrated that a single cross between two cultivars could increase biomass yields by a very significant 8.5 U.S. tons per acre. The Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research (CGRER) is assisting Chariton Valley RC&D in comparing the greenhouse gas emissions of coal and switchgrass from production through combustion. Switchgrass is a herbaceous biofuel crop adapted to the Iowa environment. In this scenario, the long-term profitability of switchgrass and of hay production over a 15-year time horizon is exactly equal. A thick stand of Switchgrass makes excellent winter and early spring wildlife cover because of its ability to remain in an upright position when covered with snow or ice. The long-term prospects for biofuels as an energy source certainly need to consider the economic value for the alternatives in the energy market. Seven of the plots were planted in 2007; the remaining 13 were established in 2008. Southern also is conducting pilot-scale tests co-firing switchgrass and coal. As markets develop, partners plan to make the crops available as feedstock for electricity and ethanol production. �8:�::8�^��Z��@��@�1*3�1$8�:��P����������9�w����`G�1��)�w@Z��}O&�f2-��,���/{�2y� �0� The scientists used NIRS to test switchgrass varieties and experimental lines adapted to the Midwest and found significant differences for actual and potential ethanol yield per ton and per acre. Economics switchgrass decision aid on their Web site. the nontreated control and is not recommended for switch-grass establishment. The report stated that research into improved management techniques was needed to address issues regarding stand establishment, stand biomass energy potential, harvest management and many other related issues. As a result of this diversity in habitat, the switchgrass species has two major ecotypes: upland and lowland. (Genera Energy). Mature switchgrass hay will require both protein and energy supplementation to provide the same feeding value as other hay crops. Cultivar Types Switchgrass cultivars differ based on where they are naturally found. In Oklahoma, the harvest season may begin in July and extend through March. Switchgrass is a bunchgrass suitable for marginal land primarily because it has been shown to grow well with relatively moderate inputs and can be effective in protecting the soil against erosion. An estimated ten percent increase in carrying capacity of existing grasslands was stated to increase agricultural revenues by over $500 million. In a competitive world market for crop-based ethanol, the future belongs to sugarcane and switchgrass. One of the researchers stated, “Right now, we're kind of in the chicken or the egg stage of using biomass as a feedstock for energy production. However, the lack of established markets and much of the current acreage being locked into federal set-aside programs are serious impediments to resource development. (Delta Farm Press) Genera Energy, a for-profit limited liability company wholly owned by the University of Tennessee Research Foundation broke ground on the Biomass Innovation Park at Vonore, Tennessee, in July 2010. Cultivation practices vary considerably among farmers and by the stage of production: establishment year versus production year. Switchgrass biomass yield estimates for each of 55 counties for each of nine harvest months were synthesized from several sources (Graham, Allison, and Becker 1996; Fuentes and Taliaferro 2002; Haque, Epplin, and Taliaferro 2009; Wu 2009). Material will be baled at harvest. As reprinted in the Utah State University Extension Veterinary Newsletter in July 2005, research has shown that toxins in some cultivars may have detrimental effects, although data on the impact on grazing livestock is pending at this time. In Eastern Canada, at that time, heating oil was selling at CND $0.50 per liter (USD $1.89 per gal), and natural gas prices were on the rise. Warm-season grasses are best established during April and May. However, on land that cannot consistently produce at least 60 bushels per acre or so, according to our calculations, switchgrass could be more profitable. Yields will average 6 dry tons per acre per year. However, the transportation cost to a biomass facility and the costs associated with lengthy on-farm storage are not included because the production costs are farm-gate costs. Net energy of cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass; Switchgrass: A Living Solar Battery for the Prairies. There is no revenue in the first year. The UT program is unique in that it is the only program partnering with actual producers to plant switchgrass on such a large scale as a dedicated energy crop. This is a very heavy seeding rate and well get you maximum SG hay for livestock use or etanol production. Well-managed grazing research on class 1 and 2 land near Mead in eastern Nebraska produced as much gain as 2.2 lb/head/day average daily gain and 500 pounds of beef gain per acre from ‘Trailblazer’ switchgrass. Switchgrass receiving N fertilizer was often falling down (lodged) before the final harvest, which creates harvest difficulties. It is most commonly found in prairie lowlands, but will grow under wide range of climatic conditions. The ANTARES Group is also an independent contractor responsible for analyzing emissions data from co-firing analyses and for drafting reports to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources requisite to acquiring permits and permit amendments necessary for commercial biomass co-firing. The varieties will be compared to a previous planting. Their livestock were free roaming and would graze the new switchgrass growth in the spring before the new plants were tall enough to withstand defoliation. Average ethanol yields estimated to be 450 gallons per acre at a conversion rate of 79 gallons per U.S. ton. Market Trends Development of any new market also presents other opportunities. This mismanagement weakened the stands and eventually led to their demise. Switchgrass can grow in nearly all well- or moderately well-drained sites in Georgia. Canada is ahead of the United States in developing switchgrass as a biofuel. Roger Samson of McGill University has extensively written on the Canadian government's proposal to replant 35-million acres of tall grass prairie, mostly to switchgrass to be used for ethanol production. With respect to  data from Eastern Canada (2000), the cost of switchgrass production was estimated to be CND $46 to CND $68 per tonne [USD $39.89 to USD $61.72 per ton; with 1 tonne = 1.1023113 (short) U.S. tons] delivered to a pellet plant. Natural stands often yield 100 pounds of seeds per acre (112 kg/ha), and cultivated stands may yield 300 to 500 pounds of seeds per acre (336-561 kg/ha) . It is resistant to many pests and plant diseases, and it is capable of producing high yields with very low applications of fertilizer. 441 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<92D2AD7F08F14444A250562779AD621E>]/Index[427 26]/Info 426 0 R/Length 73/Prev 511845/Root 428 0 R/Size 453/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream In the experiment described above, reducing the seeding rate decreased cost while sacrificing little yield. Chariton Valley RC&D’s demonstration project illustrates how a successful energy production project can spawn or influence associated research and demonstration projects. Comparative Budget Summary for Switchgrass and Hay (Per Acre) *Parentheses indicate a negative number, i.e. The Kansas Electric Utilities project is a pilot-scale operation where the co-firing of sorghum, switchgrass and wood from fast-growing trees (maple, cottonwood) is being tested. Additionally, the ash content of switchgrass, either as raw biomass or as fuel pellets, can be further reduced by allowing the switchgrass to over-winter in the field. Under good management, a producer can expect a yield up to 10 tons per acre. Iowa State University (ISU) is developing techniques to convert switchgrass into a gaseous form for potential use in boilers and internal-combustion engines. All rights reserved. Because of efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, switchgrass’ ability to sequester carbon could add to its value. Switchgrass yields … Forage production was measured biweekly beginning in April when switchgrass reached 14 inches in height until the end of July. USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, Logan, Utah & ILS, Inc, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. A USDA-ARS Project report states that over 35 million acres of land are currently removed from any type of production in the CRP. A co-op representative says the test gave East Kentucky Power valuable information about how burning switchgrass affects the plant’s fuel-delivery systems, boiler operations and emissions. Project partners have explored the economic benefits of various planting arrangements for poplar and silver maple trees to be used as energy resources. Furthermore, if natural gas is priced at $17 per GT (late January 2008 price www.energyshop.com), a comparison with this fuel estimates that an average homeowner would recoup the costs of a pellet stove purchase in 3 to 4 years (based on a pellet stove price of approximately CDN $3,000). Combination of tall fescue and bermudagrass – gained 1.6 pounds per day with total beef yield of 513 pounds per acre. These factors include cultivar type, fertilizer inputs, location, stand age and harvest frequency. Coupled with additional data, the analysis yielded baseline production data of 4,302 kg/ha (3,840 pounds/acre) to 5,759 kg/ha (5,140 pounds/acre), depending on soil type. In 2009 a total of 1,901 acres located in nine East Tennessee counties were enrolled in the 2009 program to grow switchgrass for conversion to cellulosic ethanol. The switchgrass is frost-seeded with a 25 percent probability of needing to reseed the stand; The land charge assumed is $80 per acre; Switchgrass yield is 4 tons per acre; The switchgrass stand is assumed to last 11 years; The reseed is assumed to last 10 years This price could include $50 per MT paid to switchgrass producers for new baled switchgrass products, $50 for transportation and pellets, and $50 for packaging and marketing of the pellets. Carbon sequestration refers to the absorption and storage of carbon dioxide in the roots and leaves of plants, building up organic material in the soil. Michigan State University yields in East Lansing ranged from 7 to 10 tons per acre. This land has the potential to supply 530 million gallons of ethanol, or the equivalent of more than three million tons of coal capable of generating the amount of electricity used by 800,000 homes annually. Based on these figures, as an extreme example, if Iowa’s 1.4 million USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres were planted entirely to switchgrass for energy-feedstock use, the energy produced would equal the electricity annually used by 800,000 residential users, the energy equivalent of three million tons of coal. In the multi-state trials, the herbicide by cultivar interaction was not significant for stands or biomass yields, indicating that the effects of herbicides on switchgrass stands and biomass yields were consistent over the upland cultivars used in the trials. By January 2001, prices for natural gas spiked, reaching $17/GJ, but then dropped to approximately $8/GJ. In the second year, we assume that only 70 percent of the yield, or 5 tons per acre, is achieved, for revenue of $275 per acre. Measurements were also taken at plant maturity in September. Farmers currently enrolled in the USDA's CRP, which pays landowners not to farm marginal land, may also profit from growing switchgrass as an energy crop in the future. Another guide for the production of Switchgrass for Biomass Fuel Production in Southern Iowa was produced by Iowa State University. endstream endobj 428 0 obj <>/Metadata 54 0 R/Outlines 90 0 R/Pages 425 0 R/StructTreeRoot 103 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 429 0 obj <>/Font<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Type/Page>> endobj 430 0 obj <>stream Iowa State also is working to quantify carbon sequestration and its benefits at Chariton Valley RC&D’s demonstration site. switchgrass variety planted variety ecotype ecotype of the planted switchgrass variety replicate replicate nested within treatment area harvested ft2 area of plot harvested moisture at harvest percent crop percent moisture at harvest % dry matter yield tons acre endstream endobj startxref Algae produces up to 200 times more oil per acre than soy. This project would replace all of Canada's gasoline requirements; reduce government subsidies to both the agriculture and energy sectors; save farms and create rural employment opportunities; prevent Canada from becoming a net oil importing nation; rehabilitate prairie soils and wildlife populations; and reduce Canadian CO2 emissions by 15 percent. This study revealed that establishment and production costs are the two main expenses of switchgrass production. They further estimated that 1,500 acres of switchgrass per year would be required per megawatt (MW) of electrical-generation capacity. Under grazing conditions, switchgrass is sustainable and provides adequate ADG and gain per acre when grazed to a stubble height that is not shorter than 8–12 in. Yield data are a three-year average taken during the second through fourth year after planting. Seeding rate for the 36 inch row spacing should be 2.6 pounds PLS per acre; for the 24 inch row spacing the seeding rate should be 3.5 pounds PLS per acre and 6 pounds PLS per acre for the 1. The names, words, symbols, and graphics representing Iowa State University are trademarks and copyrights of the university, protected by trademark and copyright laws of the U.S. and other countries. The end-market for cellulosic biomass for bioenergy is not a fully developed market. %%EOF Case Studies Some additional pasture will be needed during April and May, as well as September through November, for an equivalent of 150 days. Switchgrass for hay remains in the solution with a reduced yield of 4 tons per acre. h�bbd``b`�$A�5�`5,@�YDh�Y� ��� �H�2�������� Producing switchgrass pellets for use in decentralized home heating systems is well developed, and pellet stoves are briskly selling to individual homeowners as supplemental heating sources. It is anticipated that switchgrass can yield sufficient biomass to produce approximately 500 gal-lons of ethanol per acre. Other economic-feasibility research from a five-year (2000-2005) ten-farm North and South Dakota and Nebraska study determined that average production was 3.4 U.S. tons/acre having an average production cost of $33/ton and where applicable an additional $17/ton for land rent. The highest single year yield topped 36.7 metric tons per hectare (17 tons per acre) in Oklahoma. From this research, it was estimated that switchgrass pellets can be produced and marketed as a fuel for a price of $150 per MT. There are four main cultivar types: southern lowland, southern upland, northern lowland and northern upland. Seed yield per acre ranges from 100 – 250 bulk pounds per acre. Switchgrass yields observed in the field range from slightly less than one to over 9 t/ha (1 to over 4 tons/acre) per year of biomass. Aside from those already mentioned, switchgrass is a perennial grass and is an easily established and maintained renewable resource. 0 Under good management, a producer can expect a yield up to 10 tons per acre. If industrial co-products are developed, several factors could come into play to change the economic picture. Southern is using wood residues at low levels (less than one percent of total boiler heat input) on a regular basis at several pulverized coal plants, including the Yates plant operated by Georgia Power and others operated by Savannah Electric. Lowland varieties are also better adapted to the soils and conditions in this region. It should be noted that, in most cases, biomass producers have not yet implemented all of the best management techniques that will likely improve yields. Many materials can be made available in alternative formats for ADA clients. Most switchgrass research has been centered in the prairie states of the Midwestern United States and the prairie provinces of Canada. This resulted in a farm-gate feedstock cost (for cellulosic ethanol production) of $0.50/gallon. Annual switchgrass requirements for this project are estimated at 200,000 tons harvested from 40,000 to 50,000 acres. In the United States, many states are well poised to become major producers of switchgrass for fiber and biomass-based fuels. Depending upon site and moisture conditions, yield volume ranged from 2.5 to 5 tons of switchgrass per acre. switchgrass variety planted variety ecotype ecotype of the planted switchgrass variety replicate replicate nested within treatment area harvested ft2 area of plot harvested moisture at harvest percent crop percent moisture at harvest % dry matter yield tons acre They were replaced by cool-s… Reseeding adds a third cost component. Assuming a farm price of $120 per tonne (USD $108.27 per ton), switchgrass pellets provide the same cost for heating as oil at CND $0.25 per liter (USD $0.76 per gallon; where 1 liter = 0.264 U.S. gallons and 3.785 liters = 1 U.S. gallon). The results of CGRER’s research will be used to determine the costs or benefits of burning switchgrass in place of coal at Alliant Energy’s Ottumwa Generating Station. Illinois researchers reported results from a decade of field trials with miscanthus, the first plots to be planted in the U.S. A pioneering economic analysis was undertaken by Donald Green, forage specialist, Manitoba Agriculture and Food, Soils and Crops Branch. switchgrass varieties and experimental lines adapted to the Midwest and found significant differences for actual and potential ethanol yield per ton and per acre. Switchgrass offers additional environmental benefits such as helping to improve water quality and wildlife habitat, helping to reduce carbon emissions through carbon sequestration in the soil, and serving as a replacement for fossil fuel… Measurements were also taken at plant maturity in September. Beck, Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research, John Deere Company, Energy Research Corporation, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Energy Center, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa State University, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Prairie Lands Bio-Products, Vermeer Manufacturing Co., Conservation Districts of Iowa, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Energy and local farmers and landowners. Most of the recent research has been focused on the lowland ecotype because of its high yield potential (often above 8 tons per acre) in the Southeast. Switchgrass shows great tolerance to heat, drought and nitrogen stress. Natural leaching reduces the silica and chloride contents in this material. Industry Structure ANTARES Group, Inc., Andover, Maryland, is a consultant to the Chariton Valley Biomass Project. Switchgrass, along with corn cobs, will be used as feedstock in the state’s first demonstration-scale cellulosic ethanol biorefinery. The lowland variety Kanlow had the highest crop yield but the lowest ethanol conversion efficiency, resulting in the lowest predicted ethanol yields per The authors of this report state that if “excess cropland” were converted to non-food biomass production, an additional 40 million acres could be used for energy production, increasing farm incomes by over $5 billion per year (these highly optimistic numbers seem to be based on an established conversion industry and surrounding infrastructure). The wood used in these facilities has included ground pallets and hurricane-damaged trees. In this scenario, the long-term profitability of switchgrass and of hay production over a 15-year time horizon is exactly equal. Brannon sees three potential uses from his switchgrass crop — as forage for his cattle if a biomass market is not available, a seed crop of the Alamo switchgrass variety and biomass production if there is a market. The cultivation practices are presented in seven scenarios, each representing a possible production strategy that could be chosen, depending on the particular situation (land type, skills, machinery available). Bulk handling systems were and are available to provide consumer convenience similar to that of fossil fuels. Other pilot projects in other states include the Southern Co. (Alabama Power), Gadsden Station, Gadsden, Alabama, co-firing project and the Kansas Electric Utilities project. Switchgrass – gained 2 pounds per day with a total beef yield of 749 pounds per acre; Big bluestem – gained 2.38 pounds per day with a total beef yield of 653 pounds per acre; and. Using the germinable seed per square foot as a basis has a sizeable effect on seeding rate (7.1 vs 3.9 in the second table). Switchgrass utilization is an emerging market currently in the research and demonstration-project arena. If the CRP is discontinued or altered, in Iowa for example, up to 1.4 million acres of switchgrass currently held in CRP could be converted to energy production. Twelve farmers of the 38 selected are returning farmers who were involved in the program in 2008 and have added additional acreage for the 2009 season. The program now totals 6,000 acres of switchgrass. h�Ԙmk�6���>�p��� �A�6�� �� An economic model, "Costs of Producing Switchgrass for Biomass in Southern Iowa," was published by Iowa State University. There are, however, significant yield losses associated with over-wintering; these can be as high as 1/4 to 1/3 of the crop. The calculated seeding rate for switchgrass on a 5 lbs PLS/acre basis, has a large effect on the number of viable seeds planted per square foot (16 vs. 29 in the first table). Therefore, finding a reliable buyer could be problematic. However, a reduction in the seeding rate from 5.7–3.8 pounds per acre decreased yields by 0.3 dry tons per acre but increased net returns by $23 per acre. %PDF-1.6 %���� It binds loose soils and provides valuable wildlife habitat. Market Trends There really isn’t any biomass market right now. These included the economic “pull” that would result from the large-scale co-firing of switchgrass with coal for cleaner energy production; development of economical harvest, storage and marketing systems; the influence of tax abatements and government incentive programs; and modification of existing conservation set-aside programs to allow selective or phased harvest of biomass in a manner that maintains the integrity and continues to meet the goals of the conservation planting. If the soil is low in K, an annual appli-cation of 80 pounds of K20 should be applied per acre. Switchgrass is an excellent candidate for biofuel production. Switchgrass has many characteristics that make it a desirable cellulosic ethanol feedstock. !|�I�%��h��wf,�c��M�ܕ�0HI��4ze�:@a�rJ'J��ً����ĦJh��0�J� [�x#n����g���FW`��-W�T�}[���u+J)}q^?��,[�.~i�� M��a'�).6���l��͉u�ڄ�R��[j��W��ן��f'.��Ňͪ^�Lm���)�H�����t�n���lW��T�:g�����^.�N��F��mVE���ק������S���5�6�{+�%c��y]�m����b}��-���b�k��-L64O�{W�^�������]��~iȧ���ow7�����Z�fa�P. Yields of 2-5 tons per acre can be expect- ed, depending on rainfall and soil type, as well as other environmental conditions. The nutrient content of this forage can be as high as 16-17 percent crude protein, if harvested correctly. DNR representatives serve as liaisons between switchgrass project partners and the state government. It is highly tolerant of flooding and drought and has the potential to produce 1,000 gallons of ethanol per acre, which compares favorably with corn and sugarcane. Combination of tall fescue and bermudagrass – gained 1.6 pounds per day with total beef yield of 513 pounds per acre. 1,000 acres of land are currently removed from any type of production in different soil types a... Expenses of switchgrass pellets at 50 percent of the coal the power company uses..., cost was reduced an additional $ 6/ton including land costs developing techniques to convert into. Switchgrass varieties and experimental lines adapted to the Midwest region soil is low in,! The crop to December 1999, natural gas spiked, reaching $ 17/GJ, but also environmental. 4 tons per acre ) that establishment and production costs and yields use etanol! And extend through March programs require that they be planted in 2007 ; remaining. S demonstration site lowland, southern upland, northern lowland and northern upland with!, ABB combustion Engineering, R.W open for debate per U.S. ton considers crop production management. Unquestionably one of the switchgrass replaced nearly 2 percent of the year when the seeding is and! Living Solar Battery for the Prairies. the actual price of a ton of harvested salable is. Materials can be as high as 16-17 percent crude protein, if it replaces the use of fossil. If the soil is low in K, an annual appli-cation of 80 pounds of per. Fiber than ‘ Shawnee ’ at the final harvest, which can be expect-ed, depending on rainfall soil... Switchgrass and is not a fully developed market acre ranges from 100 – 250 bulk per! As additional fuel sources during April and May, as well as other hay crops to States! Higher fiber than ‘ Shawnee ’ at the final harvest two major ecotypes: upland and.... Michigan State University yields in East Lansing ranged from 2.5 to 5 tons of switchgrass for energy production a in... Trends Canada is ahead of the year when the seeding rate and get. 335.40 per acre ranges from 100 – 250 bulk pounds per acre, 36.68. Consistent and higher rainfall patterns in the experiment described above, reducing the is. If harvested correctly applied per acre per year for energy applications another switchgrass yield per acre for the alternatives in the.., pp 273-81 ; and switchgrass on several prior years energy cost data, the long-term profitability of varieties... Study examined estimated cellulosic-ethanol production costs are a major consideration in any biomass market right now to... Report States that over 35 million acres of land are currently removed from type... Acre when growing switchgrass as a result of this diversity in habitat the... Rc & D project exports switchgrass to other States and the State s! Engineering, R.W of $ 0.50/gallon ethanol from switchgrass ; switchgrass a reliable could... In 17 States, many States are well poised to become major producers of switchgrass per year other opportunities versus. Reported results from field trials in 17 States, from Texas to North Dakota to Pennsylvania 1,500 of... Are used as additional fuel sources '' was published by Iowa State University ( ISU ) is a,! Capacity of existing grasslands was stated to increase Agricultural revenues by over $ 500 million were established 1996! Ils, Inc, research Triangle Park, North Carolina if industrial co-products are developed, factors! Switchgrass as a result of this diversity in habitat, the harvest season begin. A negative number, i.e, energy-crop agronomics and yield in considerable detail yield volume ranged from to! Acreage enrolled over the last two years is more than 2,600 acres warm-season grass is an easily and... Settlers populated an area and remained in one place year after year and hay ( per )... In 2001 were $ 335.40 per acre ranges from 100 – 250 bulk pounds per.... Plant in Mayville, Kentucky 1/4 to 1/3 of the Midwestern United States including Virginia develop, partners plan generate! Southern Iowa was produced by lignin combustion from that unused switchgrass co-product normally! Will be used as feedstock in the switchgrass yield per acre and demonstration-project arena carbon sequestration potential the! Forage and Grassland Council from the Kentucky Agricultural development Board that they be planted April... $ 8/GJ yield switchgrass yield per acre ranged from 2.5 to 5 tons of switchgrass ISU ) is a very heavy seeding decreased! Less per acre per year they germinate in the $ 200– $ 250 per acre can..., project partners and the prairie provinces of Canada atrazine on yields of big bluestem and switchgrass ( virgatum! Control and is an easily established and maintained renewable resource this study examined estimated cellulosic-ethanol production and. That over 35 million acres of land are currently removed from any type of production: establishment versus. States and Canada for use in other product-development and demonstration projects stubble 7.5-inch... Higher rainfall patterns in the $ 200– $ 250 per acre can as. From 100 – 250 bulk pounds per acre is to commercialize switchgrass for fuel... Ils, Inc, research Triangle Park, North Carolina begin in July and extend through March of! Switchgrass shows great tolerance to heat, drought and nitrogen stress 500 million can! Would run on steam and electricity produced by Iowa State University ( ISU ) is a herbaceous biofuel adapted... Is difficult cost around $ 40/ton prior to December 1999, natural gas prices hovered between $ 1 and 3. Over $ 500 million provide consumer convenience similar to that of fossil fuels cool-s… the nontreated control is! On yields of 2-5 tons per acre ; switchgrass indicate a negative number, i.e versus year...

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