A new recipe for biofuel: Genetic diversity can lead to more productive growth
Tuesday, February 23, 2016 - 13:30
in Earth & Climate
Before farmers settled the Midwestern United States and planted crops, the extensive root systems of prairie grasses—including the tall, strong-stemmed switchgrass species—enriched the soil, creating millions of acres of prime farmland. Today, scientists are exploring how grasses, and switchgrass in particular, can enrich the nation's biofuel supply, which is currently dominated by corn, a crop relatively easy to convert to biofuel but also in demand for food, livestock feed and industrial products.