Cal researchers get 12-18 ton per acre switchgrass yields

In California, researchers at the UC Desert Research and Extension Center in El Centro said that, following a three year trial, switchgrass test plot yields increased to an average of 12 tons per acre, with a high of 14 tons per acre in a Five Points trial in the third year trial.

The second year of trials had yielded a high of 18 tons per acre at the Five Points site.

At the price and conversion rates offered by prospective cellulosic ethanol buyers, this would equate to a range of $480-$1080 per acre for farmers and a feedstock cost of $0.48-$1.08 for fuel producers. The team is also studying jatropha in the Imperial Valley due to its minimum water tolerance, based on $40-$60/ton crop payments and 100 gallon per acre yields.

More on the story.

More Coverage on this Topic

• US Court of Appeals expedites California Low Carbon case, lifts stay
• University of Florida selected for $125 million research partnership with India
• Regus Advisors to advise AIGI’s $2m venture, Algae2BioFuel
• Codexis pressures Shell for extension of research partnership
• North Star Biofuels proposes 65,000 gallon facility in California
• Sugarbeet ethanol group awaits California decision on $5M grant
• To Strive, To Seek, to Find, and max out yields
• Pacific Ethanol revenues, operating income up sharply in Q4 2011

Tags: California, switchgrass

Category: Research