Abstract
Abstract Much of the land area in southern Iowa is used for perennial pastures that are dominated by cool-season grass species. These species are well adapted to the soils and climate and have become naturalized within the region. Biomass produced from these pastures might potentially be used as a feedstock for cofiring with coal to supplement supplies of dedicated energy crops such as switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.). While much is known about the use of these pasture species for forage production, relatively little information is available on their use as a bioenergy feedstock. This research was conducted to assess the potential of harvesting cool-season pastures for cofiring with coal. Ten representative sites located in south central Iowa were evaluated. Across all sites, 26 plant species were identified, with individual sites having between 5 and 14 species. Biomass yield was determined at several sampling locations within each site. Yields ranged from 0.75 to 8.24 t ha −1 over all sites. Mean yield across all sites was 4.20 t ha −1 . Fuel characteristics of the cool-season species were evaluated for burning qualities. Concentrations of ash, chlorine and sulfur are important for determining suitability in a biofuel. Ash content ranged from 58.5–118.1 g kg −1 DM across all sites. Chlorine ranged from 0.8–7.6 g kg −1 DM and sulfur content ranged from 0.7–3.4 g kg −1 DM. Highest heating value (HHV) ranged from 17.69–19.46 MJ kg −1 . These results indicate that cool-season grassland in southern Iowa can produce biomass of sufficient yield and quality to supplement other sources for cofiring with coal to generate electricity.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.