Abstract
Interest and focus on development of renewable biofuels has been increasing over the past decade leading to the introduction of a wide cadre of renewable feedstocks. As a result, numerous perennial warm-season grasses have been introduced and management practices evaluated to determine their suitability as biofuel feedstocks. “Merkeron” napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) plots were established in 2010 and harvested during crop years 2011 through 2015 adjacent to an on-going peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), corn (Zea mays L.), and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cropping systems study conducted at the USDA/ARS Multi-crop Irrigation Research Farm in Shellman, GA (84 36 W, 30 44 N) on a Greenville fine sandy loam (fine, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Kandiudults). Napier grass was produced in both non-irrigated and two irrigated levels with different levels of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers. Peanut, corn, and cotton were produced in non-irrigated and full irrigation regimes. Breakeven prices for napier grass ranged from $65 to $84 Mg−1 at variable and total costs. The breakeven napier grass price was estimated such that the net returns were equal between napier grass and peanut, cotton, corn cropping systems. At variable production cost, comparative breakeven napier grass prices for non-irrigated, 50% irrigated, and full irrigated regimes were $77, $117, and $112 Mg−1, respectively. Napier grass did not compete economically against traditional irrigated cropping systems. Depending on traditional crop prices and bioenergy feed stock prices, napier grass could offer economic opportunities in non-irrigated production environments, riparian buffer zone edges, or non-cropped marginal production areas.
Highlights
Interest and focus on development of renewable biofuels has been increasing over the past decade leading to the introduction of a wide cadre of renewable feedstocks
This study provides results from a 5-year study on the yield and variable cost of production per ton for napier grass produced in non-irrigated and irrigated regimes on the Coastal Plain region in South Georgia
On a dry matter basis, breakeven napier grass prices at variable cost ranged from $65 to $69 Mg−1 depending on irrigation regime and fertility treatments and breakeven prices at total cost ranged from $84 to $91 Mg−1
Summary
Interest and focus on development of renewable biofuels has been increasing over the past decade leading to the introduction of a wide cadre of renewable feedstocks. To achieve this goal, increased emphasis was placed on the development of cellulosic biofuels. USDA-ARS, Southeast Watershed Research Laboratory, 2316 Rainwater Road, Tifton, GA 31794, USA biofuel feedstocks [1, 2]. A study conducted in South Florida on mineral soil focused on the breakeven price of ethanol for ranges of biomass yields and processing costs concluding energy cane production could offer an economically feasible bioenergy feedstock [5]. Cost of production for energy cane was adopted from sugarcane budgets as agronomic practices and field operations for sugarcane and energy cane
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