Switchgrass

Rob Mitchell, D. K. Lee, Michael Casler

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Like many perennial C4 grasses, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is highly tolerant to abiotic stresses such as drought, temperature extremes, and salinity. For that reason, it is being recommended for biomass production on marginally productive crop land where it would have minimal land use competition with commercial food crops. This chapter discusses phylogeny, growth, yield and chemical composition of switchgrass. It also discusses weed management, fertilizer recommendations, disease and pest management, harvest management and genetic improvements of the crop. Most breeding efforts have focused on increasing biomass yield, the most significant factor limiting economic sustainability of switchgrass as a cellulosic energy crop. Molecular biology tools and methods have been rapidly incorporated into a framework for switchgrass improvement, especially with recent advances in both cost and efficiency of molecular methods.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationCellulosic Energy Cropping Systems
PublisherWiley-Blackwell
Pages75-89
Number of pages15
Volume9781119991946
ISBN (Electronic)9781118676332
ISBN (Print)9781119991946
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 7 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Biomass
  • Cellulosic energy
  • Genetic improvement
  • Switchgrass

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry

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