Grasses
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Bioenergy > Biofuels > Feedstocks > Grasses
Grasses can be used to produce cellulosic ethanol, through conversion of the biomass fibers to bioethanol.
Some quick-growing grasses, such as Miscanthus and elephant grass, may be farmed as a feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production.
It has been suggested that grasses growing on farmland margins, such as switchgrass or grass mixtures in the Midwest region of the United States, also be harvested. This may allow for land to be devoted to growing native grasses, which also provide habitat for native wildlife species.
However, the harvesting of grasses (especially native prairie grasses) may eliminate or disturb habitat for wildlife, or may interfere with biological or ecological processes, such as nesting times for birds. Also, devoting farmland margins to biofuel feedstock production may undermine goals for land to be set aside for conservation of habitat, in areas such as those recognized under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).
See also:
| Grasses | edit | |
| Elephant grass | Miscanthus | Switchgrass Grasslands | Native grasses (Prairie grasses) | ||
| Bioenergy feedstocks | edit | |
|
Biodiesel feedstocks: Ethanol feedstocks: | ||
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