A trial of the sustainability of switchgrass and reed canary grass as UK biofuel crops

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Applications for heat and electricity)

Basic and strategic applied research

BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
DTI

Standard

DEFRA

01 August 2000

30 April 2005

57 months

£461,402

No relevance to Underpinning Sectors

London

DEFRA Bioenergy

Project Contact, DTI

Objectives not supplied

The purpose of the project is to identify, by measuring their yield, varieties of switchgrass and red canary-grass for biomass production in those areas of the UK where they could be reasonably expected to grow and produce a commercially viable yield. The performance of these two species will be compared to Miscanthus, which has been more extensively researched during recent years. Performance evaluation will identify the best varieties for scaled-up planting as well as the locations for this work. The project will also document the cost to establish and produce the biomass and will provide information on the amount of work required to maintain the crops. The project is divided into two phases. Phase 1 will measure the yield of switchgrass, reed canary-grass and Miscanthus at different sites throughout Britain representing locations where opportunities to achieve reasonable yields of species and varieties to be evaluated. After the second year's harvest, the yield results will be used to identify locations for planting field scare trails of switchgrass and reed canary-grass. In phase 2, the field scale trial will be established in both phases 1 and 2, regular monitoring of the crops of problems from weeds, pests and diseases will be carried out. Plots would be available for additional measurements where appropriate. Data collected under previous and on-going EU-funded projects on Miscanthus, switchgrass and reed canary-grass will be incorporated into the project. The study will extend knowledge on where these crops can best be grown in the UK providing important new information for both planners and farmers.

22/12/11