Development of prairie cordgrass (spartina pectinata link) as a dedicated bioenergy crop

Development of perennial-grass bioenergy crops relies on investigating the genetic resources, understanding the physiology, and optimizing the agronomic practices related to biomass production. As one of the dominant native grass species (Poaceae), prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata Link) showed potential as a dedicated bioenergy crop on marginal land. However, prairie cordgrass biomass-production research has been limited to several local varieties or cultivars. To further investigate its genetic resources, natural prairie cordgrass populations collected from the Midwest to east coast of U.S. were planted and evaluated in an experimental nursery at Urbana, IL. The 4-year field study of 42 prairie cordgrass natural populations revealed extensive variations in biomass yield and phenotypic traits associated with biomass yield among these populations. A survey of molecular variation of 96 natural populations identified significant population structures and potential gene pools within the species. ‘Savoy’ prairie cordgrass, a cultivar developed from a natural Central Illinois prairie cordgrass population, was evaluated for biomass yield and feedstock quality in response to seeding rate, row spacing, and nitrogen fertilization. Based on the results of four years’ evaluation, ‘Savoy’ prairie cordgrass can be successfully established in 76-cm rows spacing with a seeding rate of 162 PLS m-2; after establishment, the recommended N application rate is 6 kg N ha-1 per dry Mg of biomass removed from prairie cordgrass harvested after a killing frost. To compare the growth development of dormant prairie cordgrass and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), two locally adapted prairie cordgrass populations, ‘IL102’ and ‘PCG109’, were subjected to ambient photoperiods in a temperature-controlled greenhouse. The results indicated prairie cordgrass has a more synchronized dormancy-breaking pattern than switchgrass