HM3 Energy, Inc.
Dedicated Crops
Some dedicated energy crops make sense environmentally and economically. For example, poplar trees are farmed sustainably to yield energy harvests every 3 to 6 years. Poplar requires less water and other inputs than crops such as corn. After harvest, the tree re-sprouts from the same rootstalk, a very efficient way to produce biomass.
Recently much research is being done on switchgrass, and giant grass and cane varieties as biomass energy crops. These are perennial grasses that yield typically 2 cuttings per year, and re-grow from the same rootstalk. No tilling is required, and less fertilizer or water is applied than food crops. Especially on marginal lands, energy crops are more economical and a productive use of the ground.
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