ABSTRACT
JACOB M. JUNGERS, JOSEPH E. FARGIONE, CRAIG C. SHEAFFER, DONALD L. WYSE, AND CLARENCE LEHMAN
5.1 INTRODUCTION
Perennial biomass is an alternative to conventional starch-based biofuel feedstocks such as corn. It may improve land-use efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote biodiversity, and support other components of sustainability [1]–[3]. Research comparing ecosystem services of various native and non-native perennial bioenergy crops in the Upper Midwest indicates that bioenergy systems with more plant species support greater avian diversity [4], abundance and diversity of beneficial arthropods [5], carbon storage and complexity of belowground food webs [6]. In many regions of North America, diverse grasslands have not produced as much gross biomass as dedicated energy crops grown in monoculture such as switchgrass [7]. This has initiated questions regarding the economic viability of diverse grassland bioenergy, yet few studies have quantified bioenergy yields from diverse perennial plantings over multiple years. Only
recently have studies compared the bioenergy potential of mixed-species grasslands harvested with production-scale techniques in various regions of the Upper Midwest [8].
