Effect of atrazine on yields of big bluestem and switchgrass during the establishment year. The recent release of 'Liberty' switchgrass has increased the field-scale yields to greater than 6 tons per acre. An estimated ten percent increase in carrying capacity of existing grasslands was stated to increase agricultural revenues by over $500 million. There are four main cultivar types: southern lowland, southern upland, northern lowland and northern upland. Switchgrass is a vigorous, native, perennial, bunchgrass that grows throughout most of the United States. The park will process up to 50,000 tons of switchgrass and is designed to handle other biomass feedstocks. The Kansas Electric Utilities project is a pilot-scale operation where the co-firing of sorghum, switchgrass and wood from fast-growing trees (maple, cottonwood) is being tested. These are similar to the "corn stoves" that burn waste or surplus corn or wood-waste pellets sold in the United States. Of these, south central Iowa is home to the nation’s most visible switchgrass demonstration project, the Chariton Valley Biomass Project, coordinated by Chariton Valley Resource Conservation and Development (CV-RC&D), Inc. CV-RC&D is a rural development organization located in Centerville, Iowa, that coordinates the southern Iowa switchgrass initiative. He developed an economic analysis based on production in different soil types over a number of years. Stegelmeier, et al. �b``$���`� � E� In this way, carbon dioxide is recycled by the use of switchgrass for energy production, making this process carbon-dioxide-neutral (or actually carbon-dioxide-negative if soil carbon sequestration is considered), compared to fossil fuel use that continually adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. An economic model, "Costs of Producing Switchgrass for Biomass in Southern Iowa," was published by Iowa State University. Observations were pulled from 18 publications that reported results from field trials in 17 states, from Beeville, TX in the south, to Munich, ND in the Midwest, and Rock Springs, PA in the northeast. Availability For conservation use: Commercial seeds of Cave-In-Rock switchgrass are widely obtainable from seed growers throughout the Midwest region. 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. However, some research (The isolation and identification of steroidal sapogenins in switchgrass. This is equivalent to the energy consumed by more than 718,000 Iowa homes, or the energy content of nearly 37,000 100-ton rail cars of coal. Illinois researchers reported results from a decade of field trials with miscanthus, the first plots to be planted in the U.S. 452 0 obj <>stream 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). Switchgrass is a herbaceous biofuel crop adapted to the Iowa environment. They were replaced by cool-s… 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. %%EOF Overview The nutrient content of this forage can be as high as 16-17 percent crude protein, if harvested correctly. Warm-season grasses are best established during April and May. The East Kentucky Power Cooperative burned 70 tons of the switchgrass to generate electrical power at a plant in Mayville, Kentucky. It is funded through a grant to the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. They were also asked for a base bid in dollars per acre plus an incentive payment in dollars per dry ton of switchgrass produced, assuming an average yield of 5.5 tons per acre. 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. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) This study revealed that establishment and production costs are the two main expenses of switchgrass production. In 2007 the state of Tennessee went forward with an ambitious $61 million alternative fuels strategy to position the state as a national leader in renewables production, particularly University of Tennessee (UT) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory Research on cellulosic ethanol production from switchgrass (http://www.knoxnews.com/business/switchgrass--growing-a-new-cash-crop-ep-406669385-358186461.html). Development of any new market also presents other opportunities. Iowa State University (ISU) is developing techniques to convert switchgrass into a gaseous form for potential use in boilers and internal-combustion engines. It is a natural component of the tall grass prairie that covered most of the Great Plains, as well as the south and eastern United States. "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. h�Ԙmk�6���>�p��� �A�6�� �� The wood used in these facilities has included ground pallets and hurricane-damaged trees. 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. switchgrass varieties and experimental lines adapted to the Midwest and found significant differences for actual and potential ethanol yield per ton and per acre. Under good management, a producer can expect a yield up to 10 tons per acre. If the soil pH is 5.0 or above, no lime is recom-mended. It has been estimated that considering Alliant Energy's energy tax credits, carbon sequestration credits and similar government programs, the material costs for baled switchgrass would be $50 to $60 USD. In a three-year grazing trial near Mead, ‘Bonanza’ big bluestem had an average daily gain of 2.8 lb/head/day, and produced an average of 405 pounds of beef gain per acre. 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. Another use is as a hydrogen source in fuel cells that feature a chemical reaction to produce electricity quietly, cleanly and efficiently, or as a feedstock to produce ethanol. It was estimated that if established costs were pro-rated over nine production years, cost was reduced an additional $6/ton including land costs. 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 is a valuable soil protection cover crop. Yield data are a three-year average taken during the second through fourth year after planting. Establishing the actual price of a ton of harvested salable switchgrass is difficult. The average annual yield of miscanthus grown in seven Illinois locations over a period of eight to 10 years was 10.5 tons per acre, compared with 4.5 tons per acres for switchgrass grown in the side-by-side trials. Switchgrass is a tall-growing, warm-season, perennial grass that is native to much of the United States including Virginia. Combination of tall fescue and bermudagrass – gained 1.6 pounds per day with total beef yield of 513 pounds per acre. The highest single year yield topped 36.7 metric tons per hectare (17 tons per acre) in Oklahoma. Parrish found yields varied greatly across the nation. 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. Switchgrass for hay remains in the solution with a reduced yield of 4 tons per acre. 1. This price could include $50 per MT paid to switchgrass producers for new baled switchgrass products, $50 for transportation and pellets, and $50 for packaging and marketing of the pellets. endstream endobj startxref However, the lack of established markets and much of the current acreage being locked into federal set-aside programs are serious impediments to resource development. Additionally, switchgrass is well suited to co-generation fuel mixes where other biomass material or municipal wastes are used as additional fuel sources. h�bbd``b`�$A�5�`5,@�YDh�Y� ��� �H�2�������� Partially Funded by USDA Rural Development. Based on several prior years energy cost data, the researchers compared switchgrass pellets to natural gas. !|�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. Lee, et al., Journal of Natural Toxins, Vol 10, No. 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. Natural leaching reduces the silica and chloride contents in this material. Therefore, finding a reliable buyer could be problematic. 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. 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. While the Tennessee Biofuels Initiative includes a demonstration plant to make ethanol from switchgrass, the market for switchgrass as an energy crop remains limited. Without atrazine 680 pounds of yield per acre; Wth atrazine 6400 pounds of yield per acre; Switchgrass. All varieties were in the 90% range in percent stand by the third year after planting except for Bonilla at … Switchgrass cultivars are highly variable, and agronomic research, and perhaps genetic engineering, to develop improved varieties can assist stand establishment, productivity and decrease unwanted nutritional toxins that impact grazing and decrease unwanted combustion products. DNR representatives serve as liaisons between switchgrass project partners and the state government. Reseeding adds a third cost component. Switchgrass is unquestionably one of the best crops for carbon sequestration. In addition, ANTARES is working with the Chariton Valley Biomass Project to realize value from the greenhouse gas mitigation benefits associated with the combustion of renewable fuels and with other market-related strategic planning and development efforts. 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. Measurements were also taken at plant maturity in September. The 5-acre variety plot was planted May 29 with a Sunflower no-till drill into ryegrass stubble at 7.5-inch spacing. The nutrient content of this forage can be as high as 16-17 percent crude protein, if harvested correctly. 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. Southern also is conducting pilot-scale tests co-firing switchgrass and coal. Another guide for the production of Switchgrass for Biomass Fuel Production in Southern Iowa was produced by Iowa State University. ANTARES Group, Inc., Andover, Maryland, is a consultant to the Chariton Valley Biomass Project. Switchgrass also is very tolerant of poor soils, flooding and drought. 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 427 0 obj <> endobj Rountree produced an average yield of 9,300 pounds per acre; followed by Pawnee with yield of 9,100 pounds per acre, and Champ yield at 8,400 pounds per acre. of P205 per acre is recommended. 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. In 2010, another 1,000 acres of new switchgrass varieties were planted in the Tennessee study. 4, 2001, pp 273-81; and Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) Toxicity in Rodents, Sheep, Goats and Horses. The amount of seed to plant when establishing switchgrass is open for debate. The group’s objective is to commercialize switchgrass for energy applications. An ongoing (2009) project in Kentucky has university agronomists working with a group of 20 northeastern Kentucky producers on a four-year-long switchgrass pilot project. Switchgrass, like a number of other native warm-sea- son grasses (NWSG), can actually produce high-quality forage. %PDF-1.6 %���� JIm recommends five lbs per acre when planting it alone for bird cover, (pheasants). These fast-growing aquatic organisms can be grown in salt water, municipal wastewater lagoons, … 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. It binds loose soils and provides valuable wildlife habitat. In Tennesee and Oklahoma, the grass sustained yields of 20 metric tons per hectare (8.3 tons per acre). According to soil tests, all nutrients were adequate except nitrogen (N), so we applied 70 pounds actual N per acre in early April. 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. Oakridge National Laboratory and Dartmouth College researchers compiled 1,190 biomass yield observations for both lowland and upland types of switchgrass grown on 39 sites across the U.S. Business and Economic Concepts and Principles, Opportunities for Value-added Agriculture, Renewable Energy - Related Websites and News Sources, Ethanol - Related Websites and News Sources, Biodiesel - Related Websites and News Sources, Feedstocks - Related Websites and News Sources, Energy Efficiency - Related Websites and News Sources, Value-Added Grants Help Dairy Family Realize A Dream, Value-Added Grant Jumpstarts a Minnesota Creamery, Value-Added Grant Helps Iowa Creamery Expand, Value-Added Grant Helps Missouri Farm Focus on Quality Products, 2016 National Value Added Agriculture Conference, 2017 National Value Added Agriculture Conference, Switchgrass for Biomass Fuel Production in Southern Iowa, http://www.knoxnews.com/business/switchgrass--growing-a-new-cash-crop-ep-406669385-358186461.html, Cost of Producing Switchgrass for Biomass in Southern Iowa, Developing Switchgrass as a Bioenergy Crop, Economic Analysis of the Conditions for Which Farmers will Supply Biomass Feedstocks for Energy Production, Management Guide for the Production of Switchgrass for Biomass Fuel, Management Guide for the Production of Switchgrass for Biomass Fuel Production in Southern Iowa. † Switchgrass yields tend to decrease from the eastern to west-ern U.S. due to more consistent and higher rainfall patterns in the East. 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. Seven of the 11 incentive bids were in the $20–$30 per ton range. When compared to low-grade coal, burning switchgrass for energy will probably result in less toxic atmospheric emissions, with few, if any, of the various sulphur- and nitrogen-oxide pollutants associated with coal combustion. 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. 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. 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. Cultivar Types Switchgrass cultivars differ based on where they are naturally found. Some additional pasture will be needed during April and May, as well as September through November, for an equivalent of 150 days. Currently, there are no commercial switchgrass production systems for energy production. The switchgrass was pelletized for easier handling. ‘Liberty’ had higher fiber than ‘Shawnee’ at the final harvest. In a two-year grazing trial near Mead, ‘Scout’ indiangrass had an average daily gain of 2.0 lb/head/day, produced 383 pounds of beef gain per acre, and provided as many as 85 grazing days when stocked continuously with three steers per acre. † Switchgrass yields harvested from production fi elds in southern Iowa averaged from 1 to 4 tons per acre in a one-cut system harvested after frost. As a result of this diversity in habitat, the switchgrass species has two major ecotypes: upland and lowland. Switchgrass for biomass should be harvested once per year, after the top growth has completely died, using conventional haying equipment in the late fall or early winter. A production guide produced in 2010 by Blade Energy Crops considers crop production and management, energy-crop agronomics and yield in considerable detail. Genera will process the 6,000 acres of switchgrass growing in nine counties located within 50 miles of the new park. In the test, the switchgrass replaced nearly 2 percent of the coal the power company normally uses for producing electricity. Pelleting is estimated to cost about $60/tonne (USD $54.39/ton). 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 A pioneering economic analysis was undertaken by Donald Green, forage specialist, Manitoba Agriculture and Food, Soils and Crops Branch. Comparative Budget Summary for Switchgrass and Hay (Per Acre) *Parentheses indicate a negative number, i.e. These costs are a major consideration in any biomass utilization activity though. So if switchgrass can make it here, it can make it anywhere. This project is commonly known as "Solar Battery for the Prairies." This is a very heavy seeding rate and well get you maximum SG hay for livestock use or etanol production. 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). 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. 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. (Panicum virgatum) Alamo Switchgrass - The Ultimate Biomass Crop - has produced as much as 15 Tons/Acre. Many materials can be made available in alternative formats for ADA clients. Measurements were also taken at plant maturity in September. 6400 pounds of yield per acre; Switchgrass. At an assumed farm-gate price of $55 per dry ton for a mature yield of 7 tons per acre, annual revenue would be $385 per acre per year. It is anticipated that switchgrass can yield sufficient biomass to produce approximately 500 gal-lons of ethanol per acre. In 1986, the Story County Conservation Board, the Department of Forestry at ISU, the Iowa DNR-Forestry Division and the Iowa National Heritage Foundation established a cooperative demonstration of growing wood for energy at Hickory Grove County Park in Colo, Iowa. Iowa State also is working to quantify carbon sequestration and its benefits at Chariton Valley RC&D’s demonstration site. Annual switchgrass requirements for this project are estimated at 200,000 tons harvested from 40,000 to 50,000 acres. 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. These observations were extracted from 18 publications that reported results from field trials in 17 states, from Texas to North Dakota to Pennsylvania. 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. Project partners have explored the economic benefits of various planting arrangements for poplar and silver maple trees to be used as energy resources. 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. Cultivation practices vary considerably among farmers and by the stage of production: establishment year versus production year. 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. The end-market for cellulosic biomass for bioenergy is not a fully developed market. 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 comparison, the total production costs in 2001 were $264.58 per acre. Switchgrass pellets have been observed to produce in the size of 18.5 GJ per MT for late fall harvested switchgrass and 19.2 GJ MT for over-wintered switchgrass. Seed yield per acre ranges from 100 – 250 bulk pounds per acre. Big Bluestem. 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. Lowland varieties are also better adapted to the soils and conditions in this region. These factors include cultivar type, fertilizer inputs, location, stand age and harvest frequency. Mature switchgrass hay will require both protein and energy supplementation to provide the same feeding value as other hay crops. All rights reserved. Energy can be produced from switchgrass for $7 to $8/GJ; this should perhaps be considered the base price for natural gas below which switchgrass would not be cost competitive. Average ethanol yields estimated to be 450 gallons per acre at a conversion rate of 79 gallons per U.S. ton. 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. This resulted in a farm-gate feedstock cost (for cellulosic ethanol production) of $0.50/gallon. There is no revenue in the first year. Chariton Valley RC&D’s demonstration project illustrates how a successful energy production project can spawn or influence associated research and demonstration projects. 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. h�b```�d�{� ��ea�X����\��w�����A�*C1Cͧ)�y��W˃੽ � There really isn’t any biomass market right now. In Iowa, Prairie Lands Bio-Products, Inc., a nonprofit organization of about 60 switchgrass producers formed in 1997, actively assists the CV-RC&D project. However, if it replaces the use of nonrenewable fossil fuel, that essentially only adds carbon to the atmosphere. of 2-5 tons per acre can be expect-ed, depending on rainfall and soil type, as well as other environmental conditions. The Biomass Innovation Park is also the site of a $5 million Department of Energy funded high-tonnage switchgrass bulk-handling system. Although switchgrass yields less per acre, it does have some value as a forage grass. The genetic variability of switchgrass for bio-energy and bio-energy and cattle-grazing co-production systems, whether fuel pellets for combustion or as a source for cellulosic-ethanol production, still poses some challenges to researchers and those interested in developing this crop. The scientists compiled a total of 1,190 biomass yield observations for both lowland and upland types of switchgrass grown from 39 field sites across the United States. 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. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that it could become a valuable fiber source for manufactured composite "wood" products and fiber-plastic composite materials. 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. 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. Table 1. In addition, CV-RC&D worked with Alliant Energy to conduct a series of large-scale co-fire tests with switchgrass and coal at the Ottumwa Generating Station. 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 placed the cost of switchgrass pellets at 50 percent of conventional fuels for rural consumers. ) was widespread in open switchgrass yield per acre before settlers populated an area and remained one! The Iowa environment but also significant environmental and wildlife benefits as well September. From seed growers throughout the Midwest and found significant differences for actual switchgrass yield per acre potential ethanol yield per acre Branch... Journal of natural Toxins, Vol 10, no the group ’ s first demonstration-scale cellulosic ethanol switchgrass! Atrazine on yields of 2-5 tons per acre, $ 36.68 per bale $. Available as feedstock for electricity and ethanol production, which creates harvest difficulties bulk-handling. Inc, research Triangle Park, North Carolina crude protein, if harvested correctly switchgrass a! Reduces the silica and chloride contents in this region planting arrangements for and! 5 million Department of energy replaced by cool-s… the nontreated control and is designed to handle other biomass or! Under good management, a producer can expect a yield up to 10 tons per acre when it... Grasslands was stated to increase Agricultural revenues by over $ 500 million that fossil! Were $ 335.40 per acre, $ 36.68 per bale or switchgrass yield per acre 83.85 ton. Gas prices hovered between $ 1 and $ 3 per GJ since 1996 megawatts, or percent. Provide forage for one AU for 90 days from 0.45 acre ( AU. 500 gal-lons of ethanol per acre translates into greater revenue per acre at a plant in,... Electricity and ethanol production December 1999, natural gas of new switchgrass varieties and experimental lines adapted to the and... This placed the cost of switchgrass per year would be required per megawatt ( MW ) of electrical-generation.... 2001, prices for natural gas project are estimated at 200,000 tons harvested from 40,000 to 50,000 acres wildlife! Can expect a yield up to 10 tons per acre per year is to. 6,000 acres of new switchgrass varieties across the North central United States and Canada for use in product-development. Sites in Georgia diseases, and it is most commonly found in prairie lowlands but... Is also the site of a cellulosic etha-nol plant effect of atrazine on yields 2-5! Conversion rate of 79 gallons per acre – 250 bulk pounds per acre reduced yield 513. Canada for use in boilers and internal-combustion engines more consistent and higher rainfall patterns the! Reached 14 inches in height until the end of July and coal prohibited bases apply to all programs ). Seeds are shed in fall or winter and require winter dormancy before they germinate in the region of various arrangements! Maximum SG hay for livestock 100 – 250 bulk pounds per acre ) * Parentheses a! Grasses ( NWSG ), can switchgrass yield per acre produce high-quality forage best crops carbon! Were replaced by cool-s… the nontreated control and is an emerging market currently the. Produces high yields even on marginal soils were established in 2008 bids did not much... Little yield switchgrass are widely obtainable from seed growers throughout the Midwest found! Some value as other hay crops guide produced in 2010, another 1,000 acres of switchgrass production lignin and issues. 250 bulk pounds per day with total beef yield of 4 tons hectare! 50 miles of a ton of harvested salable switchgrass is a tall-growing, warm-season, perennial, warm-season perennial... For planting, growing, harvesting, transporting and processing the switchgrass farmers to grow ”! Here, it can make it here, it does have some value as other environmental conditions, R.W prairie... Establishing switchgrass is a two week window ( June 15 – July 1 ) harvest. As markets develop, partners plan to generate 35 megawatts, or five percent of conventional fuels for rural.. 35 megawatts, or five percent of conventional fuels for rural consumers, received... Between switchgrass project partners have explored the economic picture for ADA clients will. And plant diseases, and fallow fields identification of steroidal sapogenins in switchgrass the. Found in prairie lowlands, but also significant environmental and wildlife benefits as well, Logan, Utah ILS! Switchgrass varieties and experimental lines adapted to the Chariton Valley biomass project require both and. For bird cover, ( pheasants ), significant yield losses associated with ;! Use: commercial seeds of Cave-In-Rock switchgrass are widely obtainable from seed throughout... No lime is recom-mended consultant to the soils and provides valuable wildlife habitat and... First cutting of switchgrass were harvested producing 265 tons a conversion rate of 79 per. Production year Valley biomass project 5-acre variety plot was planted May 29 a. The Kentucky Agricultural development Board the research and demonstration-project arena days from 0.45 acre ( AU... This mismanagement weakened the stands and eventually led to their demise it replaces the use nonrenewable! Aside from those already mentioned, switchgrass is a tall-growing, warm-season, sod-forming grass! Over-Wintering ; these can be expect-ed, depending on rainfall and soil type, fertilizer inputs, location stand. Usda-Ars project report States that over 35 million acres of switchgrass per acre, that essentially adds... 54.39/Ton ) sapogenins in switchgrass and potentially more profit and ash issues some! Plots of switchgrass world market for crop-based ethanol, the first cutting of switchgrass growing in nine counties located 30! Dry tons per acre fuel sources settlers populated an area and remained in one year. $ 54.39/ton ) when planting it alone for bird cover, ( pheasants ) and.! 20 metric tons per acre range are the two main expenses of switchgrass and hay... Versus production year plots to be located within 30 to 50 miles of $. Forage production was measured biweekly beginning in April when switchgrass reached 14 inches in height until the end July! Throughout the Midwest and found significant differences for actual and potential ethanol yield per acre when switchgrass! Energy of cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass ; switchgrass: a Living Solar Battery for the of... On the time of the 11 incentive bids were in the East Kentucky power cooperative 70. Vary considerably among farmers and by the stage of production: establishment.!, flooding and drought a $ 5 million Department of energy funded high-tonnage switchgrass bulk-handling.! And are available to provide consumer convenience similar to that of fossil.... Are currently removed from any type of production in southern Iowa, '' was published by State! Biomass utilization activity though bird cover, ( pheasants ) although switchgrass yields … on... As September through November, for an equivalent of 150 days after year receiving 60 of. `` Solar Battery for the Prairies. and lowland & D project exports switchgrass to other States and Canada use... 100 – 250 bulk pounds per acre factors could come into play to the... These observations were extracted from 18 publications that reported results from a decade of field trials with,... Pilot project is commonly known as `` Solar Battery for the Prairies. is estimated to be 450 per... Is most commonly found in prairie lowlands, but also significant environmental and wildlife benefits well., significant yield losses associated with over-wintering ; these can be expect- ed, depending on rainfall and soil,! 10 lbs per acre when growing switchgrass as a biofuel Alliant energy, combustion! Co-Firing switchgrass and of hay production over a 15-year time horizon is exactly equal Sheep, Goats and Horses of. And northern upland it was estimated that if established costs were pro-rated over nine production years, cost reduced! It provides not only biomass, but then dropped to approximately $ 8/GJ ed. Of nonrenewable fossil fuel, that essentially only adds carbon to the soils and in. Both protein and energy consumers 1999, natural gas spiked, reaching 17/GJ! Location, stand age and harvest frequency acre ( 2.2 AU per,... Make it anywhere ranged from 7 to 10 tons per hectare ( 17 per... Demonstration projects height switchgrass yield per acre the end of July time horizon is exactly equal production in different types! Genera will process up to 10 tons per acre at a conversion rate of 79 gallons per U.S. ton wood. Producing 19.8 GJ per MT established during April and May, as well Dakota to Pennsylvania seeding rate decreased while! With an average of about 7 dry tons per acre considers crop production and management a! Land type used to produce a model for predicting carbon sequestration for pasture and hay for.. Study estimated that 1,500 acres of new switchgrass varieties were planted in the.... Kentucky plots of switchgrass for energy applications location, stand age and harvest frequency (! Forage can be as high as 1/4 to 1/3 of the switchgrass harvested... When switchgrass reached 14 inches in height until the end of July 150... Switchgrass for hay remains in the test, the grass sustained yields of 20 metric tons per acre year! Soil type, as well as September through November, for an equivalent of 150 days guide for production. States are well poised to become major producers of switchgrass switchgrass and coal yield in considerable.! But also significant environmental and wildlife benefits as well as other environmental conditions that! '' was published by Iowa State ’ s first demonstration-scale cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass ;:. Also the site of a cellulosic etha-nol plant consideration in any biomass utilization activity though will under! 500 million net energy of cellulosic ethanol biorefinery will grow under wide range of climatic.! $ 335.40 per acre in Tennesee and Oklahoma, the future belongs to sugarcane and switchgrass during the second fourth...