Resources

Conservation Practices

Switchgrass is a warm-season grass that is native to the Midwest prairie region. Switchgrass is known for robust above ground growth and having a deep and elaborate root system. This root system helps in making the soils more porous, capturing nutrients, replenishing water tables, and binding carbon from the air back into the soil. It is also this vigorous below ground growth of the root system that takes more time for above ground biomass than quickly growing annuals, like sorghum for example. Care of the planting the first two years of establishment becomes critical. Mowing in the first two years of establishment will be conducted as needed and fields scouted for weed pressure.

The Climate Smart Switchgrass Cropping System (CSSCS) follows the NRCS 327 (conservation cover and/or the 512 (forage and biomass) standards and specifications for establishing switchgrass; and, as much as possible, no-till site preparation and seeding methods are used to minimize soil disturbance. Select cultivars of switchgrass are used and planted at rates to help ensure a successful stand.

Learn more on the Conservation Cover Conservation Practice Standard website.

Economic and Environmental Benefits

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Landscape Design for Bioenergy [6MB PDF] project examined the economic and environmental impact of energy crop systems in the agricultural landscape:

Case study No. 16: Biomass production can improve water quality by reducing soil erosion, nitrogen and phosphorus losses to waterbodies in the modeled watersheds. Projected reductions in nutrient and sediment losses were as high as 60 to 70% (riparian buffer), 20 to 30% for nitrogen (stover harvest with cover crop) and 20 to 40% for phosphorus (riparian buffer and stover harvest with cover crop).

Case study No. 3: Modeling by Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists indicated that biodiversity in Iowa would increase by 8% if all low ROI acres were converted to grassland. Riparian areas often are low ROI, which supports introduction of bioenergy riparian buffers.

Argonne National Laboratory has continued on with efforts to show how perennial crop systems can improve the resiliency and sustainability of agricultural landscapes.

Nutrient Loading in the Chesapeake Bay and Local Water Bodies

Switchgrass reduces nutrient loading to the Chesapeake Bay, local streams and rivers while softening the impacts of fossil fuel use. The grass is fast-growing, requires little if any fertilizer, has deep root systems that absorb nutrients and reduce erosion. It can be harvested without replanting for up to ten years.

Learn more from the  Chesapeake Bay Program and Virginia DCR Soil & Water Conservation Program.