Iowa State University has published two entries in a series on biomass crops.

The series of publications will provide overviews of biomass crop soil and site adaptation, life cycle and growth, fertility, yield, harvest considerations, and pest and disease management.

The first two entries cover switchgrass and Miscanthus, plant species that are being studied for possible uses as biomass crops.

Lance Gibson, associate professor of agronomy and a lead author of the fact sheets, said in a press release that switchgrass is currently used as a forage crop or as ground cover to control erosion, "but it can also be burned to generate electricity or fermented into biofuel."
"Miscanthus biomass research in the United States is in its early stages, but has received widespread attention in Europe where it is used for combustion in power plants," Gibson said. "We also are looking into its potential for conversion to ethanol."

The publications are available on the internet at http://www.agron.iastate.edu/research/biorenewables.aspx.
Switchgrass and Miscanthus field trials are currently under way at ISU Research and Demonstration Farms.