Grasses and Legumes for Cellulosic Bioenergy

Abstract A key factor determining the potential for development of cellulosic bioenergy in the southeastern United States (the South) will be the availability of feedstock, which in turn depends on landowner willingness to direct timber production to biomass rather than existing markets or nonmarket uses. Most timberland in this region is owned by family forest landowners whose forest management objectives are varied. This study evaluates the conditions under which family forest landowners from Lee County, Alabama, would be willing to supply wood biomass energy feedstock for a prospective local biofuel industry. Using standard survey methodology, a questionnaire was mailed to every family forest landowner of 20 or more acres of forestland in Lee County, resulting in 363 valid responses and a response rate of 41%. Results indicate that most family forest landowners are willing to supply both timber and harvest residues for production of biofuels and that such willingness is positively correlated with the number of acres owned, the existence of an effective market, and the opportunity to contribute to local economic development and global climate change. Three-quarters of all respondents indicated willingness to manage their land for biomass production, compared with 43% of respondents who actively manage their land at present.

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Cellulosic biofuel contributions to a sustainable energy future: Choices and outcomes

Science ◽

10.1126/science.aal2324 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 356 (6345) ◽

pp. eaal2324 ◽

Cited By ~ 139

Author(s):

G. Philip Robertson ◽

Stephen K. Hamilton ◽

Bradford L. Barham ◽

Bruce E. Dale ◽

R. Cesar Izaurralde ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Loss ◽

Large Fraction ◽

Environmental Harm ◽

Climate Mitigation ◽

Marginal Lands ◽

Transportation Energy ◽

Cellulosic Biofuel ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Energy Needs ◽

Cellulosic Bioenergy

Cellulosic crops are projected to provide a large fraction of transportation energy needs by mid-century. However, the anticipated land requirements are substantial, which creates a potential for environmental harm if trade-offs are not sufficiently well understood to create appropriately prescriptive policy. Recent empirical findings show that cellulosic bioenergy concerns related to climate mitigation, biodiversity, reactive nitrogen loss, and crop water use can be addressed with appropriate crop, placement, and management choices. In particular, growing native perennial species on marginal lands not currently farmed provides substantial potential for climate mitigation and other benefits.

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Effects of Giant Foxtail (Setaria faberi) and Yellow Foxtail (Setaria pumila) Competition on Establishment and Productivity of Switchgrass

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-d-14-00160.1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 129-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ariel A. D. Larson ◽

Mark J. Renz ◽

David E. Stoltenberg

Keyword(s):

Competitive Ability ◽

Yield Loss ◽

Annual Grass ◽

Weed Species ◽

Setaria Faberi ◽

Giant Foxtail ◽

Plant Densities ◽

Second Year ◽

Cellulosic Bioenergy ◽

The Relationship

Switchgrass is a potential feedstock for cellulosic bioenergy production. Weed competition from annual grass during the establishment year can reduce switchgrass establishment and resulting productivity, but the relationship between early season grass densities and outcomes of competition are not well understood. We measured how a range of giant and yellow foxtail densities in the establishment year influenced switchgrass establishment and resulting productivity in the first production year (second year of the growing season). In two of the three site–yr more than four foxtail plants m−2reduced switchgrass plant densities below documented thresholds of establishment success. A lesser effect of foxtails in the third site–year suggested that higher switchgrass emergence rates reduced foxtail competitive ability during establishment. Effects on yield were consistent over the three site–yr. The yield (10.96 Mg ha−1± 0.77) decreased rapidly as foxtail density increased. One foxtail plant m−2reduced switchgrass yield in the first production year by 25%, and yield loss was 90% or greater at densities > 50 foxtail plants m−2. Although switchgrass can establish in the presence of foxtail competition, these weed species should be controlled to maximize yields in the first production year.

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Hydrological responses of land use change from cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L .) to cellulosic bioenergy crops in the Southern High Plains of Texas, USA

GCB Bioenergy ◽

10.1111/gcbb.12304 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 981-999 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Yong Chen ◽

Srinivasulu Ale ◽

Nithya Rajan ◽

Cristine L. S. Morgan ◽

Jongyoon Park

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Land Use Change ◽

Gossypium Hirsutum ◽

Bioenergy Crops ◽

High Plains ◽

Gossypium Hirsutum L ◽

Southern High Plains ◽

Hydrological Responses ◽

Cellulosic Bioenergy

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Expediting the biofuels agenda via genetic manipulations of cellulosic bioenergy crops

Biofuels Bioproducts and Biorefining ◽

10.1002/bbb.157 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 448-455 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Mariam B. Sticklen

Keyword(s):

Bioenergy Crops ◽

Genetic Manipulations ◽

Cellulosic Bioenergy

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Comparative productivity of alternative cellulosic bioenergy cropping systems in the North Central USA

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment ◽

10.1016/j.agee.2015.10.018 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 216 ◽

pp. 344-355 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Gregg R. Sanford ◽

Lawrence G. Oates ◽

Poonam Jasrotia ◽

Kurt D. Thelen ◽

G.Philip Robertson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cropping Systems ◽

North Central ◽

The North ◽

Cellulosic Bioenergy ◽

Central Usa ◽

Bioenergy Cropping Systems

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Quantifying the peak yields of four cellulosic bioenergy crops in the East-Central Poland.

Agronomy Science ◽

10.24326/as.2020.1.3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 75 (1) ◽

pp. 29-41

Author(s):

ROMAN MOLAS ◽

HALINA BORKOWSKA ◽

DOMINIKA SKIBA ◽

ALEKSANDRA GŁOWACKA

Keyword(s):

Shoot Density ◽

Energy Crops ◽

Bioenergy Crops ◽

Salix Viminalis ◽

Long Term Study ◽

Miscanthus Giganteus ◽

Miscanthus Sacchariflorus ◽

Shoot Number ◽

Cellulosic Bioenergy ◽

Perennial Energy Crops

Through the six successive years (2010–2015), from the 5th to the 10th year of cultivation, research was carried out on yielding and species characteristics of 4 perennial vegetatively propagated energy crops. These were: 2 species of Miscanthus, Sida hermaphrodita, and 2 Salix viminalis clones (1047 and 1054), cultivated side-by-side. The height and shoot number, yield and biomass moisture were evaluated. The highest shoot density of Miscanthus sacchariflorus was found, while the largest yield of Miscanthus × giganteus. Salix viminalis and Miscanthus × giganteus biomass was characterized by the highest content of accumulated moisture (on average 50%). The Sida hermaphrodita plants were appeared as the tallest ones on the six-year average. It is worth mentioning, we have concluded that yield of Miscanthus, and Sida is high and stable in the long-term study. However, in the average yields of these 2 species (Miscanthus × giganteus and Sida hermaphrodita) no statistically significant differences were found. Results can strengthen the improved species diversity in perennial energy crops cultivation.

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