Cup plant promising for ethanol use

[JohnWxy]

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20100328/NEWS/3280310/1001/news

A native perennial might hold the promise of being not only a new source crop for cellulosic ethanol, but also a way to help capture and store carbon.

South Dakota State University plant breeders are helping investigate uses of the cup plant as part of a $324,336 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Arvid Boe, an SDSU professor and plant breeder, is trying to figure out whether the cup plant, whose tall stalks are topped with big yellow flowers, could be grown in low, moist prairie unsuitable for row crops

~~
~~

Its extensive root system also could be used as an emerging market to store carbon, should Congress pass comprehensive climate legislation. Farmers and ranchers could plant the native species, then get paid not to plow up the prairie for crop use.

(more)