ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how some kind of assessment can be made of the plausibility of producing various types of bioenergy crops—taking into account local resources and constraints of all sorts. It examines some of the standard field and forest crops used as fuels or as feedstock for fuels. The chapter looks at natural forests as a source of wood for fuelwood and other bioenergy uses and examines the use of familiar starch and sugar crops in making alcohol fuels. One of the most important choices is between native and exotic species and between conventional agriculture and more unfamiliar or exotic field crops. Newer varieties of field crops will present good opportunities for the production of cellulose, although land fertility requirements may be high. The requirement for nutrients will constrain the growing of grass as well as the more exotic aquatic crops, while crops such as vegetable oils have built-in economic problems to solve.
