Jerry Cherney, Peter Woodbury, Steve DeGloria, and Debbie Cherney. Cornell Univ., Dep. of Crop & Soil Sci., 503 Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, 14853
Rural America has a tremendous capacity for energy production. New York State is currently focused on corn ethanol production, with at least three facilities planned and two expected to be on-line in 2007. Competition for corn grain and an abundance of dried distillers grains will likely impact dairy cattle feeding strategies and will increase the need for more forage and increase the importance of high forage quality in diets. Our objective was to evaluate the potential for grass biomass production on marginal lands, and to develop agronomic management strategies to improve the energy characteristics of this feedstock. The estimated potential underutilized crop area in New York State is approximately 1.5 million acres, based on data from satellite imagery and the census of agriculture. Potential yield estimates of 1.25 ton/acre for unimproved grassland, and 2.5 ton/acre for managed switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) were selected as economic cutoff values for production of these crops. Based on these economic cutoffs reed canarygrass could be established on 96% of currently unused acreage, while switchgrass could be economically established on 80% of this acreage. Without any fertilization or other inputs approximately 81% of this unused land could be economically harvested once a year for biomass. Based on soil-specific predicted crop yields approximately 6 million tons of reed canarygrass could be produced on these lands in New York State. Eight fields of mixed cool-season grasses with some legumes and weeds were cut in August 2004 and 2005 and harvested two to four weeks after cutting using commercial hay equipment to evaluate ash reduction strategies. The range in ash content of these primarily grass mixtures was 2.7-5.2%. Energy value of grass ranged from 7600-8300 BTU. Potassium content ranged from 0.40-0.82%. Sulfur ranged from 0.05-0.12% and chloride ranged from 0.01 to 0.09%.
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