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Making the Switch

MOVE OVER, CORN! SWITCHGRASS, A PLANT NATIVE TO AMERICA’S PRAIRIES, MAY BE A BETTER WAY TO END OUR PETROLEUM ADDICTION.  LEARN WHY ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

COMPARED TO CORN, SWITCHGRASS REQUIRES LESS WATER AND FERTILIZER, PRODUCES HIGHER YIELDS, AND CAN GROW IN SOILS THAT WOULDN’T SUPPORT OTHER CROPS.  PLUS, THE WHOLE PLANT - INSTEAD OF JUST THE KERNELS OF CORN - CAN BE USED TO MAKE BIOFUEL.

KEN VOGEL, A RESEARCHER WITH THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, RECENTLY COMPLETED A FIVE-YEAR STUDY OF SWITCHGRASS FARMS. HE SAYS THE RESULTS SHOW THAT THE PLANT MAKES A LOT MORE FUEL THAN IT TAKES TO GROW IT.

VOGEL: WE WERE ABLE TO CLEARLY SHOW THAT IT IS VERY NET ENERGY EFFICIENT.

WHILE REFINERIES THAT PROCESS SWITCHGRASS AND TURN IT INTO ETHANOL ARE STILL QUITE RARE, VOGEL HOPES HIS STUDY SHOWS THE NEED TO EXPLORE THIS PROMISING ALTERNATIVE.

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Learn more from the University of Nebraska Lincoln.

Read the study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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