Crude oil is becoming scarce throughout the world. Due to the heavy reliance on petroleum-based oil in the United States, the conversion from petroleum-based economies to bioenergy sustained economies is of utmost importance. In the United States, corn is considered to be a cheap energy crop and is widely cultivated for ethanol production. In contrast to corn, switchgrass is an easily cultivated plant that can be used for lignocellulosic biomass and ethanol production.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a warm-season perennial grass. As a native to North America, this grass is thought to be significantly dominant in prairies throughout the country. Switchgrass thrives in regions east of the Rocky Mountains, to the southern Great Plains, …show more content…
At this time, the price of gasoline was $0.46 per liter. Increased demand for crude oil led to an immense spike in price, causing corn-based ethanol production to have a much greater profitability. Lignocellulosic ethanol from switchgrass on the previously stated platforms is not profitable. This is due to lignocellulosic ethanol being priced at $0.70 to $1.00 per EEL in the United States. According to previous studies associated with price yield, switchgrass has the potential to be a greater profitable crop compared to price yields of sorghum and corn. The use of biotechnology and further modification of biomass crops is critical in order to reduce the costs of bioenergy production. In doing so, the cost of lignocellulosic-based ethanol will outcompete corn (Yuan, et.al. 2008). Sadly, switchgrass economically as an energy feedstock is not well established in the marketing sector due to the lack of research done on switchgrass to bioenergy production. The United States needs a fuel source that is affordable and avoids negative impacts on our …show more content…
These constraints include increasing demand, improving biomass yields, proficient use of pesticides and fertilizers, effective harvest, transport and storage methods along with productive switchgrass to bioethanol conversion technologies. Surmounting the many biological constraints is necessary in order to improve switchgrass cultivation. This includes further research into genetic enhancement, molecular biology and plant breeding. Scientists, researchers and devoted producers are needed in order to advance the cultivation and management practices for switchgrass to biomass production (Sanderson, et.al. 2006). To relieve our current dependency on crude oil, many are looking to bioethanol production. Corn grain is commonly used to produce bioethanol here in the U.S. However, there is a desperate need for an alternative to corn as the demand for corn could have a drastic impact on the food and feed industries (Keshwani, D and Cheng, J.
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a warm-season perennial grass. As a native to North America, this grass is thought to be significantly dominant in prairies throughout the country. Switchgrass thrives in regions east of the Rocky Mountains, to the southern Great Plains, …show more content…
At this time, the price of gasoline was $0.46 per liter. Increased demand for crude oil led to an immense spike in price, causing corn-based ethanol production to have a much greater profitability. Lignocellulosic ethanol from switchgrass on the previously stated platforms is not profitable. This is due to lignocellulosic ethanol being priced at $0.70 to $1.00 per EEL in the United States. According to previous studies associated with price yield, switchgrass has the potential to be a greater profitable crop compared to price yields of sorghum and corn. The use of biotechnology and further modification of biomass crops is critical in order to reduce the costs of bioenergy production. In doing so, the cost of lignocellulosic-based ethanol will outcompete corn (Yuan, et.al. 2008). Sadly, switchgrass economically as an energy feedstock is not well established in the marketing sector due to the lack of research done on switchgrass to bioenergy production. The United States needs a fuel source that is affordable and avoids negative impacts on our …show more content…
These constraints include increasing demand, improving biomass yields, proficient use of pesticides and fertilizers, effective harvest, transport and storage methods along with productive switchgrass to bioethanol conversion technologies. Surmounting the many biological constraints is necessary in order to improve switchgrass cultivation. This includes further research into genetic enhancement, molecular biology and plant breeding. Scientists, researchers and devoted producers are needed in order to advance the cultivation and management practices for switchgrass to biomass production (Sanderson, et.al. 2006). To relieve our current dependency on crude oil, many are looking to bioethanol production. Corn grain is commonly used to produce bioethanol here in the U.S. However, there is a desperate need for an alternative to corn as the demand for corn could have a drastic impact on the food and feed industries (Keshwani, D and Cheng, J.