1 Corresponding author: [email protected]; 352-392-9981 ABSTRACT: There are several alternative herbicides with different modes of action for control of invasive plants in natural areas. Of the four classes of herbicides commonly used on invasive plants in natural areas of Florida, the acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors, imazapyr, imazapic, and metsulfuron methyl, are the most likely...

UNLABELLED BACKGROUND Thermophilic fungi have attracted increased interest for their ability to secrete enzymes that deconstruct biomass at high temperatures. However, development of thermophilic fungi as enzyme producers for biomass deconstruction has not been thoroughly investigated. Comparing the enzymatic activities of thermophilic fungal strains that grow on targeted biomass feedstocks ...

To achieve food and energy security, sustainable bioenergy has become an important goal for many countries. The use of marginal lands to produce energy crops is one strategy for achieving this goal, but what is marginal land? Current definitions generally focus on a single criterion, primarily agroeconomic profitability. Herein, we present a framework that incorporates multiple criteria includi...

Arundo donax (hereafter referred to as Arundo), a robust herbaceous plant, has invaded the riparian zones of the Rio Grande River and the rivers of the Texas Hill Country over the last two decades. Arundo was first observed along the Nueces River in central Texas in 1995 by the Nueces River Authority (NRA). It then spread rapidly downstream due to its fast growth rate and availability of stream...

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is being evaluated as a bioenergy crop for the northern Great Plains. Field measurements of CO2, CH4, and N2O flux are needed to estimate the net greenhouse gas (GHG) balance of this biofeedstock. The study objective was to determine effects of recommended Nitrogen (N) fertilization (67 kg ha 1 of N applied) and unfertilized switchgrass on growing season soil-a...

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a warm season perennial grass with great potential as an energy crop in the USA. It is widely adapted to many regions of the country, produces large amounts of biomass, serves as a useful forage grass, and provides ecosystem services that benefit soil and water quality and wildlife. Biological and thermochemical technologies are being developed to convert he...

Biomass accumulation of di€erent grass species can be quanti®ed by leaf area index (LAI) development, the Beer±Lambert light interception function, and a species-speci®c radiation-use eciency (RUE). The object of this ®eld study was to compare RUE values and leaf CO2 exchange rates (CER) for four C4 grasses. Biomass, LAI, and fraction of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) intercepted we...

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L) is perennial, C4 grass with great potential as a biofuel crop. An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms that control mineral uptake, distribution and remobilization will benefit sustainable production. Nutrients are mobilized from aerial portions to below-ground crowns and rhizomes as a natural accompaniment to above-ground senescence post seed-set. Mineral u...

The effects of salt-alkaline mixed stress on switchgrass were investigated by evaluating seed germination and the proline, malondialdehyde (MDA) and soluble sugar contents in three switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) cultivars in order to identify which can be successfully produced on marginal lands affected by salt-alkaline mixed stress. The experimental conditions consisted of four levels of sa...

Effectiveness of grass barriers and vegetative filter strips (FS) for reducing transport of sediment and nutrients in runoff may depend on runoff flow conditions. We assessed the performance of (1) switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) barriers (0.7 m) planted above fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) filter strips under interrill (B-FS) and concentrated flow (CF-B-FS), and (2) fescue alone under ...