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Switchgrass research shows opportunity

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Monday, Jan 14, 2008 - 12:26:16 am CST

A University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher just turned up the wattage on the already bright future of cellulosic ethanol.

Researcher Ken Vogel and colleagues showed that switchgrass produced 540 percent more energy than needed to grow, harvest and process it into ethanol.

Nebraskans should take home state pride in the contribution from Vogel and their university.

State officials should follow up on the research by implementing new ways to promote the coming era of cellulosic ethanol in Nebraska.

The five-year study published by the National Academy of Sciences is the largest yet on the biofuel potential of switchgrass, a native prairie grass that can grow as tall as 10 feet.

The big advantage of switchgrass is that it can be grown on marginal land. Many fear the current high corn prices, fueled in large part by ethanol production, will tempt farmers to plant corn on marginal land and further boost demand for water for irrigation.

The study involved fields of 15 to 20 acres, rather than small test plots. In Nebraska, the fields were near Atkinson, Crofton, Lawrence and Douglas. Others were in North and South Dakota.

All the fields in the study were poor quality, highly erodible land that would have qualified for the Conservation Reserve Program. Yet the yield of biomass with no-till planting methods and minimal use of fertilizer was 93 percent more than in previous studies.

Vogel and his colleagues also pointed out that cultivation of switchgrass and methods of cellulosic ethanol will improve in the future.

The type of switchgrass used in the study was developed for use in pastures. New varieties with higher yields are being developed specifically for biofuel production. Experimental strains produced yields 50 percent higher than the varieties used in the study.

UNL’s pioneering research on switchgrass stretches back to the 1930s when researchers wanted to domesticate it for use in pastures.

The release of Vogel’s findings was exquisitely timed. Congress last month approved an energy bill that calls for a huge increase in production of ethanol by 2022. Congress said about two-thirds of that should come from sources other than corn.

As we said in a previous editorial, the heyday of corn ethanol is edging into the rearview mirror. State officials need to focus on the future and support research and incentives for additional research on switchgrass and methods of cellulosic production of ethanol. That’s where the action is. Thanks to Vogel, Nebraska is right in the middle of it. But this is no time to rest on laurels.


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Big Chief wrote on January 14, 2008 8:13 am:
" Scientific research like this is going to make the United States self sufficient in energy. Keep up the good work! "

 Great wrote on January 14, 2008 8:48 am:
" YES!!! Finally recognition for switch grass - a renewable, efficient native plant that can actually contribute to the production of ethanol, our economic base, is meant to grow in Nebraska soils with minimal impact on our water - it makes so much more sense than corn for fuel production. Congrats to the UNL researchers and to LJS for their position! "

 Not so fast wrote on January 14, 2008 9:24 am:
" People...don't get too excited yet. This process still has years to go. Switchgrass growth is great. But we still don't have the enzymes to actually convert switchgrass to ethanol. We are probably 5 years off from real progress in the ethanol/switchgrass saga. Sweet sorghum grass has much more potential than switch grass and is already being used in Brazil. This is an area where we also need to focus a lot of research on. "

 Hope for Ethanol! wrote on January 14, 2008 9:52 am:
" This is exciting news. Corn-based ethanol has many problems, especially considering its impact on live stock feeding. But this switchgrass research is excellent news! "

 CC wrote on January 14, 2008 10:42 am:
" Fabulous! A plant that will grow in drier regions of Nebraska not ideal for food crops with minimal water balance impact! I saw the full article on Reuters and was very impressed. This is getting world-wide attention. Good Job Ken and crew. "

 James wrote on January 14, 2008 11:46 am:
" But there is no money to be made by big business with switchgrass, hence it won't take off as an alternative. "

 Des wrote on January 14, 2008 11:51 am:
" Ethanol news I can be happy about. Too bad ethanol still needs to be subsidized to the hilt. "

 Let's SWITCH wrote on January 14, 2008 12:55 pm:
" This is a much more palatable and economically feasible idea than corn-based ethanol. I propose we dump the corn-based ethanol production plans immediately before we make a quagmire we can't get out of even worse. By switching to switchgrass, we utilize the concept but take on the improvement! Go Senators GO!


On the same philosophy of efficiency and environment, Nebraskans should begin to embrace the growing of Industrial Hemp---which has thousands of uses and economic potential, and causes very little harm to the Nebraska landscape---it doesn't need expensive irrigation or chemical applications, because it grows like the native weed that it is! If hemp was good enough to make WWII army uniforms, then it is good enough to use today for clothing, soap, oil, rope, paper, et al. I'd like to see a bill introduced which would provide the go-ahead for Hemp farming, with tax incentives for environmental stewardship as the ultimate reward!
"

 Ted wrote on January 14, 2008 6:29 pm:
" I think 'Not so fast' may bave a point. Can we turn switchgrass into ethonal on a large scale yet. Corn to alchohol has a time honored tradition in the midwest, but celluose is a bit tougher.

In Regards to Hemp I think we should be planting it it has a mryiad of uses, but it is not native. It's a plant from Asia. that was importet all over the world to make rope and fibers for clothing etc. "

 Tim wrote on January 15, 2008 9:56 am:
" I can't wait to see the large beautiful fields of prairie grass! Hopefully this technology advances quickly. Cheers to finding better ways of supply our energy needs! "

 1L wrote on January 15, 2008 6:52 pm:
" 10 years - perhaps 5 years at the earliest - just to see if it's possible - and the Lincoln Journal Star Editorial Board can't wait for another chance to bash corn. way to go guys! way to keep an "open" mind. PATHETIC!!! "

 joe wrote on January 19, 2008 5:30 pm:
" Unfortunately, the CORN lobby will continue to press for federal handouts, while Switchgrass will continue to blow in the wind. "

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