Bioenergy Research and Education at MU Research Centers [abstract]

Abstract

The MU College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (CAFNR) research centers have began research studies and educational demonstrations to showcase their vast differences in topography and agricultural diversity. In central and northern Missouri the Bradford Research Center (BREC) and the Greenly Research Center have studies underway that examines soil nutrient and soil properties changes from various cropping systems. These include, comparing the removal of corn grain only and grain plus stover to warm season grasses such as switchgrass, big bluestem and Miscanthus. The Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center (HARC) has examined 80 different genetic selections of cottonwood for biomass yield and is examining the energy production potential of warm season grasses in agroforestry type settings. Sweet sorghum is being examined by researchers at the Delta Center and BREC as an annual biofuel crop on poorer soils that normally would not support high corn yields. A by-product of corn ethanol production, dried distillers grains, is being examined for further use in livestock production. Construction plans are underway at the Graves-Chapple Center in Northwest Missouri and BREC for their new conference buildings as alternative energy and energy conservation demonstration and education facilities. At several other research centers demonstration gardens of biofuel crops are on display for field days and at each FFA Field Day in 2008 there was at least one presentation dedicated to biofuels and alternative energy sources.