 There has been a lot of research done on switchgrass because its natural attributes make it a desirable feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production, Robb said. For one, it is a perennial crop that returns each year after it’s planted. It can also produce large amounts of dry material—close to three times as much as typical crops—with a little bit of help from genetic alterations, Robb said. Thirdly, once switchgrass matures and puts on seed heads, the nutrients translocate back down into the plant’s root system. When it is harvested, there are few nutrients stripped from the soil, making maintenance of the field cost-effective.
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