Switchgrass Makes Better Ethanol Than Corn

statemachine writes to mention that the USDA and farmers took part in a 5-year study of switchgrass, a grass native to North America. The study found that switchgrass ethanol can deliver around 540 percent of the energy used to produce it, as opposed to corn ethanol which can only yield around 24 percent. "But even a native prairie grass needs a helping hand from scientists and farmers to deliver the yields necessary to help ethanol become a viable alternative to petroleum-derived gasoline, Vogel argues. 'To really maximize their yield potential, you need to provide nitrogen fertilization,' he says, as well as improved breeding techniques and genetic strains. 'Low input systems are just not going to be able to get the energy per acre needed to provide feed, fuel and fiber.'"

Comments

Very similar to wheatgrass

[Khyber]

But only because an ounce of wheatgrass juice has more vitamins and minerals than a full pound of veggies. I'm sure there are other plants out there that could possibly be even more efficient in ethanol production, just as there are plants out there that are better in their nutritional value.

Re:That's almost as cool

[OECD]

Modded down for declaiming the 'n-word' AND slavery?! I bow to you, sir.

Re:That's almost as cool

[colmore]

Hey now, this here descendant of Angles and Saxons wants nothing to do with that post.