Others

Compared to the above four widely studied species, many other species for potential biofuel crops are more regional specific and related to local climatic conditions. In the southern region of the U. S., subtropical and tropical grasses such as bermudagrass and napiergrass have been evaluated as biomass crops [6]. In southwestern Quebec, Canada, a short growing season environment, Madakadze et al. (1998) [23] evaluated 22 warm-season grasses in 5 species (sandreed, switchgrass, big bluestem, Indian grass and cordgrass). They found that the most productive entries were cordgrass and several entries of switchgrass. Switchgrass from high latitude tended to produce less biomass. The sandreed showed little potential for forage or biomass production. This study was conducted using space-planted nursery conditions and these data represent individual plant potential. Thereafter, their studies were only focused on switchgrass under solid sward conditions [23-25].

English name

Scientific name

Photosynthetic

pathway

Yields reported Mg DM/ha/year

Meadow Foxtail

Alopecurus pratensis L.

C3

6-13

Big Bluestem

Andropogon gerardii Vitman

C4

8-15

Giant Reed

Arundo donax L.

C3

3-37

Cypergras, Galingale

Cyperus longus L.

C4

4-19

Cocksfoot grass

Dactylis glomerata L.

C3

8-10

Tall Fescue

Festuca arundinacea Schreb.

C3

8-14

Raygras

Lolium ssp.

C3

9-12

Miscanthus

Miscanthus spp.

C4

5-44

Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum L.

C4

5-23

Napier Grass

Pennisetum purpureum Schum

C4

27

Reed canary grass

Phalaris arundinacea L.

C3

7-13

Timothy

Phleum pratense L.

C3

9-18

Common Reed

Phragmites communis Trin.

C3

9-13

Energy cane

Saccharum officinarum L.

C4

27

Giant Cordgrass/

Spartina cynosuroides L.

C4

9

Salt Reedgrass

5-20

Prairie Cordgrass

Spartina pectinata Bosc.

C4

4-18

Table 2. Perennial grasses grown or tested as energy crops in Europe [12].