Tuesday, November 6, 2007 - 11:15 AM
162-7
Using Marginal Land for Biofuel Cropping Systems.
A key component for bio-based industries will be the production of sufficient high quality biomass from renewable resources to produce biofuels that will replace large percentages of petroleum-based transportation fuels. Utilization of marginally productive agricultural lands or sites not preferable for food crop production is a viable strategy to meet national goals for biofuel crop production and minimize competition with land use for the production of food and fiber crops. Research conducted at Michigan State University examined the spatial variability in corn grain ethanol yield across various soil and landscape features. Preliminary results indicate that soil and landscape position affect corn grain ethanol yield. Additionally, marginal soils including a former regulatory brownfield site and extreme Northern latitudes were evaluated for utility for biofuel crop produciton. Crops evaluated include corn, switchgrass, canola, soybean, and sunflower.
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