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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #347283
Title: Biomass, energy, and industrial uses of forages

Author
item Sanderson, Matt
item Adler, Paul
item Martin, Neal

Submitted to: John Wiley Journal
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/30/2020
Publication Date: 6/5/2020
Citation: Sanderson, M.A., Adler, P.R., Martin, N.P. 2020. Biomass, energy, and industrial uses of forages,pp.789-799.In K.J. Moore, M. Collins, C.J. Nelson and D.D.Redfearn.(eds.).Forages, Volume II:The Science of Grassland Agriculture.7th Edition.John Wiley & Sons Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119436669.ch43.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119436669.ch43

Interpretive Summary: No Interpretive Summary is required for this Book/Book Chapter. JLB.

Technical Abstract: Forages are sustainable feedstocks for energy and industrial products. Several forage species can be grown as bioenergy crops in a wide range of environments as long-term stands, in rotations with cash crops, or on marginal and environmentally sensitive lands. Traditional forage management practices can be applied to biomass feedstock production; however, emerging innovative technologies (e.g., harvest methods, conversion techniques, new plant cultivars) will likely require equivalent management innovations. Currently, cellulosic biofuels cost more to produce than starch-derived biofuels and fossil fuels. The need for pretreatment and current high costs of enzymes contributes to the higher costs. Cellulosic biofuel costs are very sensitive to feedstock costs emphasizing the need for highly efficient crop production and harvest methods. Biomass yield, harvest and transport costs, conversion efficiency, and cost of fossil fuel used to produce the biofuel determine the economics of bioenergy production and vary across the United States. Developing new co-products and valuing environmental benefits of bioenergy crops could open new avenues in the bioeconomy and parity among biofuels and fossil fuels