Geographic Potential and Environmental Sustainability of Bioenergy Production In Oklahoma

2014 DOT-RITA Center Award

Principal Investigators and affiliations:
PI:  Dr. Gopal Kakani (Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University)
Co-PI:  Dr. Jason Warren (Oklahoma State University)
Co-PI:  Dr. Tyson Ochsner (Oklahoma State University)
Co-PI:  Dr. Franscis Epplin (Oklahoma State University)

Funded: $131,000

Start Date: 1/1/2014

End Date: 12/31/2015

 

Expected Outcomes

The overall goal of this project is to develop the practices and technologies necessary to ensure efficient, sustainable, and profitable production of cellulosic biomass. This project addresses the needs and concerns of diverse stakeholders both within the cellulosic biorefinery industry and within the public at large.
The data collected will help in developing regional projections for biomass production, environmental sustainability maps, economics of production, and life cycle analysis. Results will provide information to production scientists, county and area extension specialists, farmers and landowners about which establishment, maintenance plus management, and harvesting. Provide regional biorefineries with the breakeven farm gate price for a ton of switchgrass, sorghum, and mixed grass species. This research will provide both qualitative and quantitative information on the most sustainable perennial feedstock production system to producers across Oklahoma and their environmental sustainability. The data generated will also benefit the current development of crop models for these feedstocks.