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Switchgrass for Biomass |
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A diverse group of researchers in
Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas had Department of Energy funds to research
how best to produce switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) for bioenergy.
Although this research effort has come to an end, the following
information was gleaned at Stephenville: |
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Switchgrass is a very productive native
grass that, once established, produces good biomass (14.5 Mg ha-1
yr-1 average at Stephenville, Texas) even in drought years.
Establishment, however, if difficult; infertile soils,weed competition and
drought years are all detrimental. Alamo is a usable commercial variety
for the region.
Switchgrass can be grazed early but quickly becomes
stemy. Excess biomass can be baled in high-rainfall years and sold to
bioenergy plants. Phosphorus fertilizer is not as important for maximum
switchgrass yields as nitrogen and fertilizer rates of 168 kg N
ha-1 yr-1
(approximately 450 lbs of ammonium nitrate (150 lbs N) per acre per year)
produced an average 14.5 Mg biomass ha-1
yr-1 (about 6.5 Englishtons per acre) on
established plots from 1994-1998.
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Switchgrass Research Publications from the Stephenville Center
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- Kiniry, J.R., K.A. Cassida, M.A. Hussey, J.P. Muir, W.R. Ocumpaugh, J.C. Read, R.L. Reed, M.A. Sanderson, B. Vento, and J.R. Williams. Switchgrass simulation at diverse sites in the southern U.S. J. Biomass and Bioenergy. (prelimnary).
- Bow, J.R., J.P. Muir, and D. Weindorf. Interaction of switchgrass stands and overseeded annual winter
legumes fertilized with dairy manure compost. (preliminary).
- Dou, F., F. Hons, W.R. Ocumpaugh, J.C. Read, M.A. Hussey, J.P. Muir. Soil organic carbon pools
under switchgrass grown as a bioenergy crop. (preliminary).
- Cassida, K.A., T.L. Kirkpatrick, R.T. Robbins, J.P. Muir, B.C. Venuto and M. A. Hussey.
Plant parasitic nematodes associated with switchgrass (preliminary).
- Cassida, K.A., J.P. Muir, B.C. Venuto, J.C. Read, M.A. Hussey, and W.R. Ocumpaugh. 2005. Biofuel
component concentration and yield in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum
L.) genotypes across different environments. Agronomy Journal (at
press).
- Cassida, K.A., J.P. Muir, B.C. Venuto, J.C. Read, M.A. Hussey, and W.R. Ocumpaugh. 2005. Yield and
stand characteristics of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) genotypes across different environments. Agronomy Journal (at press).
- Muir, J.P., and W.D. Pitman. 2004. Establishment of Desmanthus spp. in existing grass stands. Native
Plant Journal 5:5-13.
- Stroup, J.A., J.P. Muir, M.J. McFarland, M.A. Sanderson and R.L. Reed. 2002. Comparison of growth and
performance in upland and lowland switchgrass types to water and nitrogen stress. Bioresource Technology 86:65-72.
- Sanderson, M.A., R.M. Jones, M.J. McFarland, J. Stroup, R.L. Reed and J.P. Muir. 2001. Nutrient
movement and removal in a switchgrass biomass-filter strip system treated with dairy manure. Journal of Environmental Quality
30:210-216.
- Muir, J.P., M.A. Sanderson, W.P. Ocumpaugh, R.M. Jones and R.L. Reed. 2001. Biomass production of
‘Alamo’ switchgrass in response to nitrogen, phosphorus and row spacing in
diverse environments. Agronomy Journal
93:896-901.
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Ag Programs » Dr. Jim Muir » Switchgrass for Biomass