Feedstock Development

Maintain an inventory of existing biomass resources

An inventory of lignocellulosic resources will be maintained. These resources will include selected cultured perennial grasses, native prairies, crop residues, poultry litter, and wood residues. Chemical and proximate analyses of the various feedstocks will be maintained.

Assess feedstock potential of selected plant species

Field experiments, now in progress, will be continued to evaluate several plant species and varieties within species for their potential as dedicated bioenergy crops. Research will address many factors including ease of stand development, sustainable biomass yields, economics of produc¬tion, and feedstock quality. Studies will continue with select species to determine the effects of fertilization (kind, rate, and date) and harvest (frequency, timing, cutting height) variables on biomass yield and chemical compositions. Research will concentrate on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), native range mix¬tures (tall, mixed, and short grass prairie mixtures), and naturalized species including bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), weeping love¬grass (Eragrostis curvula), and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). Samples of candidate feedstocks will be collected for traditional testing of chemical composition.

Breed improved switchgrass and bermudagrass varieties for central and southern U.S.

Long term breeding programs with switchgrass and bermudagrass at Oklahoma State University has resulted in substantial gains in genetic improvement and new cultivar develop¬ment. These programs will be maintained. Switchgrass and bermudagrass are herbaceous species with highest potential for deployment as dedicated bioenergy crops throughout the southern USA. Plant breeding is a process that provides incremental improvement in plant populations by increasing the frequencies of gene conditioning selection traits. As such, current breeding for enhanced performance has been expanded in bermudagrass and switchgrass with the expectation of speeding the production of a succession of incrementally improved commercial varieties.

Sweet sorghum production

Field experiments, now in progress, will be continued to evaluate several varieties grown under a wide-range of environmental conditions in Oklahoma. Research will address many factors including optimum planting date, plant density, optimum harvesting date, and economics of production.