Mesquite for Ethanol: Southwest Oklahoma Mesquite Mapping Project.

Mesquite populations over a seven county area of Southwestern Oklahoma wee mapped using 1m resolution aerial photography and image classification software. The purpose of this study was to estimate mesquite population and biomass and to evaluate the potential for economic conversion of mesquite to ethanol. Actual mesquite population and biomass were measures at 50 locations by counting and measuring all the trees in three 5m x 30m transects. Comparisons were made between mapped mesquite and measures mesquite in an effort to estimate mesquite biomass across the entire area. Results indicate that there is sufficient mesquite density in Southwest Oklahoma to support as many as four, 10 million gallon per year cellulosic ethanol refineries.