Track 3-02: Benefits from Ecosystem Services Derived from Grasslands
Description
Energy security and climate change are issues facing many countries today. Finding clean, renewable fuel sources has provided a challenge to look beyond the obvious and search for new ways to use old resources. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a warm season grass native to many parts of the United States. In 2007, the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture started a collaborative project with the UK Cooperative Extension, farmers in northern Kentucky, Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council and East Kentucky Power Cooperative to explore and demonstrate how switchgrass can be grown, harvested and utilized in an economical and environmentally friendly way (Greenwell 2012a,b). This pilot project was funded by the KY Agricultural Development Fund and successfully established 60 ha of switchgrass between 2007-2011 and produced > 500 t of biomass that was combusted for electricity production.
Switchgrass was chosen as the biomass crop of choice for this area for a variety of reasons. It can be grown on marginal soils that are not well suited to row crops. It produces high yields with relatively low inputs and can be harvested with equipment that is common on typical US farms. Because it is a native grass, there is little concern of it becoming invasive and it provides wildlife habitat for local animal species. Additionally, when harvested at a vegetative stage, it produces high quality forage.
Included in
Novel Approaches to Developing On-Farm Biomass Production Systems
Energy security and climate change are issues facing many countries today. Finding clean, renewable fuel sources has provided a challenge to look beyond the obvious and search for new ways to use old resources. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a warm season grass native to many parts of the United States. In 2007, the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture started a collaborative project with the UK Cooperative Extension, farmers in northern Kentucky, Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council and East Kentucky Power Cooperative to explore and demonstrate how switchgrass can be grown, harvested and utilized in an economical and environmentally friendly way (Greenwell 2012a,b). This pilot project was funded by the KY Agricultural Development Fund and successfully established 60 ha of switchgrass between 2007-2011 and produced > 500 t of biomass that was combusted for electricity production.
Switchgrass was chosen as the biomass crop of choice for this area for a variety of reasons. It can be grown on marginal soils that are not well suited to row crops. It produces high yields with relatively low inputs and can be harvested with equipment that is common on typical US farms. Because it is a native grass, there is little concern of it becoming invasive and it provides wildlife habitat for local animal species. Additionally, when harvested at a vegetative stage, it produces high quality forage.
