Is switchgrass a better energy crop than corn?
Saying switchgrass is a better energy crop than corn makes it sound like they are competing. This is not the case. Corn grown on the right ground with the proper management can be a very profitable crop for the farmer, not to mention the fact that there is an existing industry that utilizes corn as a feedstock for alternative energy. There are arguments both ways on how efficient that industry is in terms of energy used to produce the alternative fuel. Also, there are arguments on both sides about the magnitude and even the presence of environmental benefits achieved by the production of that alternative fuel. Switchgrass can grow on marginal ground that is not ideal for corn to help turn this ground into a productive area. It requires less energy to plant, manage, and harvest over a number of years compared to corn. This may give it a slight advantage when comparing your energy investment to energy return. You must also take into account how the biomass crop is being used. The adoptio
