Producing biofuels with alternative fertilizers: a comparison of two promising species
Globally, human systems need economically feasible, ecologically sound energy sources.Under rising energy costs associated with fossil fuels and concern over global climate change, countries are considering alternative energy sources, including renewable biomass development.Warm season perennial bunchgrasses are some of our best prospects for developing sustainable cropping systems for biomass and lignocellulosic energy production.These grasses are harvested on an annual or intra annual basis.Farmers cannot hope to continuously reap profits and production from a system without returning nutrients to the system to assure continued production.Unfortunately, most conventional nitrogen fertilizer is currently derived from fossil fuel driven Haber‐Bosch process, which is deleterious to the Carbon balance and to the financial benefits gained from producing the grasses.However, bunchgrasses readily respond to manure‐based fertilizers and show promise as filter strips in fields in which manure is applied.There is much interest in whether the North American native Panicum v irgatum or the Asian native M iscanthus × giganteus is the most productive and sustainable potential biomass/lignocellulosic stock species.The comparative productivity of these two species is especially important as land managers decide which grass to plant for optimal economic and ecological return.We anticipate continued global interest in these species as the global community develops and expands the renewable energy sector.
cellulosic ethanol sustainable energy Miscanthus switchgrass manure fertilizer
Mari-Vaughn V.Johnson James R.Kiniry
USDA-ARS;Grassland,Soil,and WAter Research Laboratory;808 East Blackland Road;Temple,Texas 76502
国际会议
呼和浩特
英文
2008-06-29（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）