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Switchgrass

Switchgrass , also called Tall Panic Grass, is a warm-season plant and is one of the dominant species of the central North America North America

North America is a continent [i] in the Earth [i]'s northern hemisphere [i] and almost fully in the western hemisphere [i] ... 

 tallgrass prairie Tallgrass prairie

The tallgrass prairie is an ecosystem [i] native to central North America [i] with fire as its primary p ... 

. Switchgrass can be found in remnant prairies, along roadsides, pastures, and as an ornamental in gardens. Other common names for this grass include Wobsqua grass, lowland switchgrass, blackbent, tall prairiegrass, wild redtop, and thatchgrass. This hardy, perennial grass Grass

Grass generally describes a monocotyledon [i]ous green plant [i] in the family Poaceae [i], botanically ... 

 begins growth in late spring. It can grow up to 1.8-2.2 m in height, but is typically shorter than Big Bluestem Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem is a bunch grass [i] that is native to much of the prairie [i] and Great Plains [i] r ... 

 Grass or Indiangrass .

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Encyclopedia

Switchgrass , also called Tall Panic Grass, is a warm-season plant and is one of the dominant species of the central North America North America

North America is a continent [i] in the Earth [i]'s northern hemisphere [i] and almost fully in the western hemisphere [i]... 

 tallgrass prairie Tallgrass prairie

The tallgrass prairie is an ecosystem [i] native to central North America [i] with fire as its primary p ... 

. Switchgrass can be found in remnant prairies, along roadsides, pastures, and as an ornamental in gardens. Other common names for this grass include Wobsqua grass, lowland switchgrass, blackbent, tall prairiegrass, wild redtop, and thatchgrass.

This hardy, perennial grass Grass

Grass generally describes a monocotyledon [i]ous green plant [i] in the family Poaceae [i], botanically ... 

 begins growth in late spring. It can grow up to 1.8-2.2 m in height, but is typically shorter than Big Bluestem Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem is a bunch grass [i] that is native to much of the prairie [i] and Great Plains [i] r ... 

 Grass or Indiangrass . The leaves Leaf

In botany [i], a leaf is an above-ground plant [i] organ [i] specialized for photosynthesis [i]. ... 

 are 30-90 cm long with a prominent midrib.

Its flower Flower

A flower,rflorem<flos), also known as a bloom or blossom, is the reprod ... 

s have a well-developed panicle Panicle

A panicle is a compound raceme [i], a loose, much-branched indeterminate inflorescence [i] with pedicellate [i] ... 

 often up to 60 cm in length and bears a good crop of fruit Fruit

The term fruit has different meanings depending on context.... 

s, which are 3 to 6 mm long and up to 1.5 mm wide. The fruits are developed from a single-flowered spikelet Raceme

A raceme is a type of inflorescence [i] that is unbranched and indeterminate [i] an ... 

. Both glumes are present and well developed. When ripe, the seeds sometimes take on a pink or dull-purple tinge, and turn golden brown with the foliage of the plant in the fall.

Switchgrass is a short rhizomatous Rhizome

A rhizome is, in botany [i], a usually underground, horizontal stem [i] of a plant [i] that o ... 

 plant that tends to resemble a bunch grass. As an ornamental grass, it is easily grown in average to wet soils and in full sun to part shade. It is very drought resistant. Establishment is recommended in the spring, at the same time as maize is planted.

Switchgrass is grazed by different types of animals. Many farmers grow switchgrass, either as forage Forage

*Forage is the herbaceous [i] plant material eaten by grazing animals.
... 

 for livestock, in wildlife areas, or as a ground cover, to control erosion Erosion

Erosion is the displacement of solids by the agents of wind, water or ice, by downward or down-slope mo... 

.

Due to its hardiness and rapid growth, switchgrass is often considered a good candidate for farm Farm

A farm is the basic unit in agriculture [i]. ... 

ing as feedstock or for biofuel Biofuel

Biofuel is any fuel [i] that is derived from biomass [i] recently living organism [i]s or their metabol ... 

 production . It was in this capacity that President George W. Bush George W. Bush

This page is monitored by many people and bots, and joke edits are removed quickly.
... 

 mentioned it in his 2006 State of the Union address 2006 State of the Union address

The 2006 State of the Union Address was delivered by United States President [i] George W. Bush [i] at 9 ... 

. Switchgrass has the potential to produce the biomass required for production of up to 400 liters of ethanol per metric tonne. A high yield like this makes it a very attractive crop to grow as the value by far exceeds any other crop. Yet, some studies claim that switchgrass is not a viable alternative, requiring 45 percent more fossil energy than the fuel produced. David Bransby, professor of energy crops at Auburn University, disagrees. He argues that for every unit of energy input, switchgrass yields four units out. The viability of switchgrass-derived biofuel as an alternative fuel remains contentious.

See also


  • Biodiesel Biodiesel

    Biodiesel refers to a diesel [i]-equivalent, processed fuel derived from biological sources. ... 

     
  • Botany Botany

    Botany is the scientific study [i] of plant [i]life [i]. ... 

     
  • Distiller Distillation

    Distillation is a method of separation [i] of substance [i]s based on differences in ... 

     
  • Energy crop 
  • Ethanol Ethanol

    This article is about the chemical compound.... 

     
  • Molecular biology Molecular biology

    Molecular biology is the study of biology [i] at a molecular [i] level. ... 

     
  • Brachypodium distachyon Brachypodium distachyon

    [i] [[species]... 

     



References


"Switchgrass: A Living Solar Battery." Roger Samson


- Has excellent closeup photos of spikelets.



Estimated yields from switchgrass
*

.


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