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Oklahoma: world's largest switchgrass farm to be planted this spring

3K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  johnstarnes 
#1 ·
Switchgrass acres dedicated to ethanol

The Oklahoma Bioenergy Center has secured 1,000 acres of land in the Oklahoma Panhandle to plant the largest dedicated switchgrass plot in the world.

It will harvest the grass to provide biomass to the proposed Abengoa biorefinery at Hugoton, which will include a commercial cellulosic demonstration plant.

The Bioenergy Center will demonstrate growing and harvesting techniques for switchgrass, which has been touted as an ideal feedstock for cellulosic ethanol because it does not compete with human and animal food sources.

Planting will begin in the next 45 days near Guymon, Okla.
Slowly but surely, we continue to move forward toward cellulosic ethanol. The refinery is under construction. Now the biomass is being planted.
 
#4 ·
I second that. There's not much else that can grow out in the Okla. panhandle anyway. Almost makes me wish I had 500-1000 acres, I could let someone pay me to grow switchgrass.
Since you live there, I am curious...what makes farming other crops difficult there? Us gardeners are always curious about things like that.
 
#11 ·
Actually no...I grow a few hundred plants in pots in a moisture retentive soil mix with mulch to get them through this three year drought, a trick I picked up from some brilliant gardeners I know in desert California.....when your entire soil mass has become dry (our water table has plunged to 8 feet down and trees are dying in droves here and we can only water 1/2 day per week the last 3 years now), it MUCH easier to keep a localized soil mass in a pot damp then trying to keep the entire soil mass of a property wet. But my main point was that with that region being so very arid and switchgrass wanting 2-3 feet of water per acre per growing season, it could take a LOT of water that could be better used I feel to grow food crops for people or livestock. So I personally continue to favor cellulosic ethanol from plant waste vs. cultivated crops.
 
#13 ·
Yea, but biodeisel from algae grows year-round. No planting or harvesting required :)

Yes I share your enthusiasm for a few reasons...it uses brackish vs. potable water, has astonishing yields per acre, would not add nutrient flows to rivers and worsen those very disturbing (growing) "dead zones" in the Gulf where much of our seafood comes from and that wildlife depends on, plus yields proteins consumable by livestock and people. Leftover organic matter should make an excellent soil amendment too.
 
#16 ·
Thanks Ron.. Good news. I stumbled upon the funniest set of videos about biofuels.

While I don't agree with congress mandating higher economy. (that should still be a choice) I do like the support of ethanol and their push to mandate E85 pumps. but I'll take the good with the bad... as long as I can get my E85 since I have maximized the tuning so I get 27mpg on E85 from my normal 30 MPG on straight gas. 10% loss that's a win!! oh and 25 more horsepower!!!!!!!


Check these out. Be cautious adult content.
forgive me if they are not in order. but they are funny. and proof there is support...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDxoQWV7TOU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE19yR7z-ps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb4h5akHCl4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkaIrsEuBHg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SctF1JvNeGk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR_aIJioSI4
 
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