Switchgrass as an alternative crop? Not quite yet.
Cellulosic ethanol production is still in its infancy, with research increasing and only a handful of pilot plants in operation. However, biomass and cellulosic ethanol crops will drive the next wave of agricultural commodities and push producers to re-think crop selection. In time, alternative crops, such as switchgrass, could be a realistic option."At this time, it's grown as a cover crop on some CRP land and in some limited amount as a hay crop," says University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor Richard Perrin. "It has received attention as a potential biomass crop for the energy market, but these markets are still in the future."
Switchgrass is a warm-season perennial grass that is native to North America. Perrin says it is competitive with other grass crops in a wide variety of regions, throughout the Great Plains and the Southeast. Because of its native history, it is resistant to many pests and plant diseases and capable of producing high yields with very low applications of fertilizer.
Some fertilization may be necessary to maintain harvestable stands, says Ag Marketing Research Center specialist Dan Burden. The crop is proven to be very tolerant of poor soils, flooding and drought. Switchgrass is also a valuable soil protection cover crop - it binds loose soils and provides valuable wildlife habitat.
However, as a crop, switchgrass requires slightly uncommon management. For optimal output, it is harvested only every other year, rather than annually. Even though it's common in CRP fields, switchgrass harvested for energy generation must be a relative monoculture, meaning derived from primarily a single seed type, rather than part of a mixture of grasses. Once the grass reaches maturity in harvest years, it is swathed and baled, much like other forage crops.
