Project Number: 3655-21000-047-41
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jun 29, 2012
End Date: May 31, 2013

Objective:
An objective of the CENUSA project is to obtain adaptation and biomass yield and quality information on perennial grasses grown for biomass energy in the Midwest, USA. To achieve this objective, uniform field evaluations of advanced experimental strains (candidate cultivars) and previously released cultivars of switchgrass, big bluestem, indiangrass, and prairie cordgrass need to be conducted throughout the CenUSA or Midwest region. One set of trials will be planted in spring 2012 and another set will be planted in spring 2014 when additional candidate cultivars are available. The specific objective of this agreement is to evaluate experimental strains and cultivars of switchgrass, big bluestem, indiangrass, and prairie cordgrass in Upper Michigan for use as biomass energy crops.

Approach:
Experimental strains and previously released cultivars of switchgrass, big bluestem, indiangrass, and prairie cordgrass will be evaluated in replicated small plot sward trials at each location. The procedures used in the research will be similar to those described by Casler et al., 2007 (Crop Science 47:2249-2260). Specific protocols using best management practices and other experimental procedures and plans will be provided by the ARS cooperator. Separate trials will be planted for each species with the exception of prairie cordgrass, which will be included with another species. The trials will have 20 to 30 switchgrass entries, 10 to 20 big bluestem and indiangrass entries and about five prairie cordgrass entries. Year one will be the establishment year. Biomass yields, stands, and quality samples will be obtained in years two, three, and four for each set of trials. The following varieties and experimental populations comprise the seed lots to be evaluated in these field trials. SWITCHGRASS Check cultivars: Cave-in-Rock, Shawnee, Summer, Sunburst, Kanlow (no foundation seed) ARS, Lincoln Cultivars: Kanlow N2, Summer Late Mat. C2, KxS HP1 NETO2 C2, NE 2010 X HYLD-HDMD C1, CIR C4, KxS HP1 NETO2 C1, KxS HP1 High Yield C1, Kanlow N1 Late Mat-High Yield, Kanlow N1 Early Mat-High Yield Noble/UGA Cultivars: Blade EG2101, Blade EG1102, Blade EG210, NFSG10-02, NFSG10-11 Oklahoma State Cultivars: NL 93-2, NL 94 C2-, 1NO94 C2-4, NSL 2009-1 BIG BLUESTEM Check cultivars: Rountree, Goldmine, Bonanza, Kaw, Niagara, Sunnyview, Champ ARS, Lincoln Cultivars: Kaw HYLD-HDMD C5, Pawnee HYLd-HDMD C5, Bamboo C1, MW5A C1, MW5B C1 INDIANGRASS Check cultivars: Warrior, Scout, Chief, Rumsey, Tomahawk, Holt ARS, Lincoln Cultivars: Oto C3 HYLD-HDMD C4, NE 54 HYLD-HDMD C3, SN HZ 4 C1, SN HZ 5 C1, SDIG 2