K-State Scientists Searching for Best Plants to Fuel Cars of the Future

infozine.com (Kansas City)
Monday, July 20, 2009 :: Staff infoZine

In a field tucked into the northern side of this college town, just across from the Kansas State University football complex, some unusually tall plants are growing. They are part of the university’s research into promising biofuel feedstocks that may ultimately power vehicles of the future.

Manhattan, KS - infoZine - “We are studying sorghums and perennial grasses because we think these will be used in the non-irrigated acres in Kansas to produce biomass,” said K-State professor of agronomy, Scott Staggenborg. “On our irrigated acres, corn will remain the crop of choice (as a biofuel feedstock), but on our dryland acres – especially in extremely dry environments, perennial grasses may be the crop of choice. Plus, since sorghum has the ability to perform better than corn when it is hot and dry, it gives us options.”

State Research and Extension, is working with a team of graduate students and other scientists in studying two types of forage sorghum and other potential feedstocks. They include a dual-purpose forage sorghum and photoperiod sensitive forage sorghum.

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