Biomass potential of selected grass and legume crops
- Dept. of Agronomy, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (US)
Optimum management strategies for herbaceous biomass crops must be investigated concurrently with the development of cost-effective conversion processes. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the agronomic feasibility of several combinations of species and management systems for producing herbaceous biomass on sites ranging from good to marginal cropland in the Midwest region of the United States. Of the perennial grasses and legumes investigated, switchgrass showed the most potential as a biomass species. It requires minimum fertilizer inputs for high yield, is very persistent, and is effective in reducing soil erosion. Sorghum double-cropped with winter annual rye was very productive but required more inputs than switchgrass. Interseeding sorghum into perennial grasses was not a viable option, due to its great dependence on environmental variables. Plant composition varied greatly across species but was not greatly affected by environment or management treatmenst.
- OSTI ID:
- 5769763
- Journal Information:
- Energy Sources; (United States), Vol. 13:3; ISSN 0090-8312
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BIOMASS
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
BIOMASS CONVERSION PLANTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
CROPS
PREFERRED SPECIES
GRAMINEAE
ENERGY CONVERSION
LEGUMINOSAE
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
SORGHUM
CEREALS
CONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LILIOPSIDA
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
MANAGEMENT
PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
090700* - Biomass Fuels- Resources- (1990-)
090800 - Biomass Fuels- Production- (1990-)