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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #201042
Title: Annual Weeds, Alternative Crops for Alternative Fuel

Author
item Price, Andrew
item Arriaga, Francisco
item Balkcom, Kipling
item Bergtold, Jason
item Kornecki, Ted
item Raper, Randy

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/23/2006
Publication Date: 10/23/2006
Citation: Price, A.J., Arriaga, F.J., Balkcom, K.S., Bergtold, J.S., Kornecki, T.S., Raper, R.L. 2006. Annual Weeds, Alternative Crops for Alternative Fuel [abstract]. Auburn University Symposium “Energy Solutions for Alabama Natural Resources”, Auburn, AL. 2006 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: All cropland acreage in Alabama is infested with one or more species of annual weeds. Weeds are estimated to cost producers in the state approximately 8% of their potential yield, even with the current weed control technology available. Weed management continues to be the most expensive row crop production component per acre for all row crops, either in herbicide and/or seed technology fees. Complicating weed management is the increase in herbicide-resistant weed species, such as glyphosate-resistant horseweed and Palmer amaranth. An alternative production system selecting for native winter and/or summer annual weeds may provide biomass comparable to commonly grown cash crops and offers a potential production solution in areas with resistant weeds such as horseweed and Palmer amaranth. Growing annual weeds for biomass may have limited input needs. No information exists on native annual weed biomass potential that could be converted into biofuel. Objectives of this research are: 1) determine biomass levels for individual weed species and mixtures, 2) evaluate selective weed management, 3) determine weed stand establishment, 4) rotational cropping strategies, and 5) net returns and cropping advantages of utilizing annual weeds as a cash crop, biofuel alternative.