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Gas From Grass
July 2014
Russ Mathison, NCROC Agronomist
Ethanol is being developed as a significant fuel source for the
future. Much of the development and research funding is
coming from the federal government. Why would the federal
government devote resources to developing an alternative fuel
source when the U S has huge oil reserves? The U S does
have plentiful oil, but oil is a non-renewable resource;
someday the oil will be gone whereas ethanol is a renewable
resource. Ethanol is also an oxygenated fuel, meaning it
releases fewer greenhouse gases into the atmosphere after
combustion.
Ethanol can be made by microbial conversion of biomass
materials through fermentation.
Biomass materials that
contain high levels of the sugar or starch that is converted to
sugar are easiest to use for ethanol production. Some common
feedstock sources of sugar are sugarcane and sugarbeets, or
starch, from plants such as corn or wheat. These easily
fermentable biomass materials are often in the human food
chain, however, so they may be expensive to use for ethanol
production. The world’s population is growing and it has been
estimated that fifty years from now, the demand for food
worldwide will double. That means that anything used for
NCROC’s Switchgrass fields prior to
human food will likely need to be used for fuel as well.
harvesting in October, 2013.
Ethanol can also be made from a biomass component called cellulose. Examples of cellulose are paper,
cardboard, wood and other fibrous plant material, such as grass. Cellulosic resources are in general widespread
and abundant, and can be outside the human food chain, making cellulosic ethanol production preferable to
ethanol from sugar or starch. “At the North Central Research and Outreach Center (NCROC), we are
cooperating in a research project that is evaluating the cellulosic ethanol production potential of three warmseason grass species, Switchgrass, Big Bluestem and Indiangrass.” Said NCROC Agronomist Russell Mathison.
“These three species possess several attributes that make them attractive as cellulosic ethanol sources. They can
be grown on marginal farmland, so more productive farmland can be used for human food production.
Switchgrass, Big Bluestem and Indiangrass are perennials; they do not need to be planted every year, so the cost
of biomass production is far less than annuals like corn or sugarbeets. As perennials, they are very helpful in
controlling soil erosion and contribute to soil health by providing organic matter (roots) to the soil
microorganism community,” Mathison added.
All species, plant or animal, contain genetic diversity. Plant breeders have been evaluating the genetic diversity
of Switchgrass, Big Bluestem and Indiangrass and selecting types that have superior cellulosic ethanol
production potential. By making selective matings of these types, it is hoped that new varieties will be
developed and contribute to the potential for increased ethanol production. This variety development effort at
NCROC is part of a broader focus that is evaluating twenty genetic lines of Switchgrass and twelve genetic
lines of both Big Bluestem and Indiangrass at twenty three locations across the Upper Midwest. The evaluation
also includes adaptation to the various environments, specifically winter hardiness. The study will continue
through the 2016 growing season.
For more information about this research project at NCROC, contact Mathison at 218-327-4490, ext 2009.