On the University of Illinois South Farms, 320 acres are devoted to the largest biofuels research farm in the U.S., growing crops that could be used to produce renewable energy. Last year the farm planted miscanthus, switchgrass, corn, and restored prairie as bioenergy crops. The goal is to compare insect and disease challenges, environmental benefits, economic opportunities and potential energy per acre of each.
Tim Mies, who directs the Energy Farm, said that research at Illinois has already shown that the giant miscanthus grass can produce over double the biomass per acre as corn. "It does this apparently without the need for any nitrogen fertilizer, very few other inputs and it adds significant amounts of organic matter to the soil. So, miscanthus might be a third crop for Illinois, and one particularly suited to marginal land," Mies said.
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Tim Mies, who directs the Energy Farm, said that research at Illinois has already shown that the giant miscanthus grass can produce over double the biomass per acre as corn. "It does this apparently without the need for any nitrogen fertilizer, very few other inputs and it adds significant amounts of organic matter to the soil. So, miscanthus might be a third crop for Illinois, and one particularly suited to marginal land," Mies said.
full article here
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