What is Switchgrass?

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a summer perennial grass that is native to North America. It is a natural component of the tall-grass prairie which covered most of the Great Plains, as well as the south and eastern United States. 

• Switchgrass is a native prairie plant that grows about 10 feet tall.

• The plant is a perennial.

• It greatly reduces soil erosion.

• The dense mat of roots stores up to 80% of the carbon contained in the plant.

It is resistant to many pests and plant diseases, and it is capable of producing high yields with very low applications of fertilizer.  This means that the need for agricultural chemicals to grow switchgrass is low to non-existent.

Switchgrass also is very tolerant of poor soils, flooding and drought.

All Eyes on Energy: Frequently Asked Questions About the Chariton Valley Biomass Project - Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University - The Chariton Valley Biomass Project description with links to related Web sites. This includes links to two ISU Extension (pdf) publications: Management Guide for the Production of Switchgrass for Biomass Fuel in Southern Iowa and Switchgrass Seeding Recommendations for the Production of Biomass Fuel in Southern Iowa.

Benefits to Grassland Birds - Research paper abstract for work documenting positive impact of biofuel fields for conservation and declining bird species protection.

Briefing Paper on Switchgrass Production in the Eastern United States - Auburn University - This paper was a feature in the Office of Renewable Energy, Information Network, Feedstock Series.