Scientists, companies, and government agencies are working on ways to
decrease greenhouse emissions. In recent years, biofuels from corn emerged
as a fuel source to power motor vehicles, but corn is a problematic biofuel
source material, and is more useful as food.

A Colorado State University (CSU) study finds new promise for biofuels from
switchgrass, a non-edible native grass that grows in many parts of North
America. The scientists used DayCent, an ecosystem modeling tool to simulate
various growing scenarios, and found a climate footprint ranging from -11 to
10 grams of carbon dioxide per mega-joule - the standard way of measuring
greenhouse gas emissions.

John Field, research scientist at CSU, said the team has significant
findings. "What we saw with switchgrass is that you're actually storing
carbon in the soil," he said. "You're building up organic matter and
sequestering carbon." He added that grasses, including switchgrass, are
potentially more productive as crops and can be grown with less of an
environmental footprint than corn because they don't require a lot of
fertilizer or irrigation.

[warnercnr.source.colostate.edu]
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