Wetland energy crops. [Marshes and swamps]

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5286962

Pratt, D C; Andrews, N J

The use of wetlands to produce biomass crops has been the focus of several research programs at the University of Minnesota. There are over 14 million acres of peatlands in the northern lakes states, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Currently only 2.7% of Minnesota peatlands are utilized for crop production. Typha spp. (cattails), Phragmites communis (reed grass), Carex spp. (sedges), Phalaris arundinacea (reed-canary grass), Alnus spp. (alder) and Salix spp. (willow) are some species being considered as possible wetland energy crops. Typha looks particularly promising; it grows naturally in monocultures, is easily propagated from seed or rhizomes, and is very productive. The total biomass of natural Typha stands often exceeds 40 dry tons/hectare; annual yields from stands established from rhizome pieces range from 25-30 tons/hectare while stands established with seed yield 8-12 t/ha the first season and 15-20 t/ha by the second season. Studies of harvesting methods, land use considerations, possible environmental constraints, and the overall economics of wetland energy crop production are currently under way.

• OSTI ID: 5286962
• Report Number(s): CONF-800482-3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BIOMASS
BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
ECONOMICS
ECOSYSTEMS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
GRASS
GREAT LAKES REGION
HARVESTING
LAND USE
MAPS
MARSHES
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
NORTH AMERICA
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SWAMPS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
TREES
USA
WISCONSIN