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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #214380
Title: Improvement of perennial forage species as feedstock for bio-energy

Author
item Anderson, William - Bill
item Casler, Michael
item BALDWIN, BRIAN - MISSISSIPPI STATE

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2008
Publication Date: 8/2/2008
Citation: Anderson, W.F., Casler, M.D., Baldwin, B.S. 2008. Improvement of perennial forage species as feedstock for bio-energy. In: Vermerris, W., editor. Genetic Improvement of Bioenergy Crops. New York, NY: Springer. p. 309-346.

Interpretive Summary: not required

Technical Abstract: Both native and non-native forage grasses other than switchgrass are less commonly considered as potential lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks for bioenergy in the United States. The forage grasses consist of temperate cool-season (most commonly C3) grasses as well as the tropical or sub-tropical and warm-season (C4) grasses. They have potential as feedstocks from the fact that they have generally been researched and used as a pasture or hay crop and are currently grown over millions of acres of fertile as well as Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land throughout the United States. In general, research has only recently begun concerning the potential as a renewable energy resource on the majority of these species. This chapter does not attempt to address all of the 10,000 species of grasses, of which 47% are C4, but is limited to those considered to have the greatest potential of contributing to the billions of tons of biomass needed for replacement of fossil fuels over the coming years.