ABSTRACT
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a warm-season (C4), perennial grass that is native to the tall grass ecoregion of North America (Figure 7.1). Historically, switchgrass has been used for summer forage, hay, and ensiling or in conservation plantings. At the end of the twentieth century, switchgrass was designated as a bioenergy crop in the United States with the goal of converting the lignocellulosic portion to a renewable transportation fuel. Switchgrass has high biomass production potential, wide adaptability, and low fossil fuel energy requirements and is compatible with modern agriculture practices making it an ideal herbaceous energy crop. At present, signicant research has been conducted on switchgrass to better understand switchgrass genetics and agronomic management and develop reliable supply chains for a mature bioenergy industry. Although maximizing biomass production is important, a holistic approach needs to be acknowledged to meet numerous ecosystem services for long-term sustainability and protability. In this chapter, we identify best management practices to ensure switchgrass productivity and efcient logistics for an emerging bioenergy industry.
