Feasibility and Environmental Impact of Switchgrass Grown for Biofuel on Marginal Quality Lands

2011 DOT-RITA Seed Award

 

Principal Investigators and affiliations:
PI: Dr. Yaling Qian (Colorado State University, Horticulture)
Co-PI: Dr. Joe Brummer (Colorado State University)

Funded: $75,000

Start Date: 7/1/2011

End Date: 12/31/2013

 

Objectives:

The long-term goal of the project is to promote environmentally sustainable biofuel feedstock production on marginal quality land under rain-fed vs. irrigated conditions.

The project period objectives for this proposal are to:

 

1. determine the impacts of different soil salinity levels on switchgrass germination, establishment, and yield
2. continue to determine the relative production potential of different switchgrass varieties under rain-fed and irrigated conditions on marginally saline soil
3. assess carbon sequestration and management inputs of switchgrass grown on marginal quality land
4. generate information on best management practices using ecosystem simulation models.