TN Agricultural Experiment Station

The project administers a biennial program of 4-5 multi-institutional multiyear grants (3 years, $250K each) and 2-4 short-term seed grants (2 years, $50K-$75K each). The focus is on developing switchgrass as a bioenergy crop. Research could include: 1) economics and policy analysis on feedstock availability and cost analysis/effects of state and federal decisions on evolution of the bioeconomy; 2) plant sciences and molecular genetics, especially increased photosynthetic efficiency and biomass production, down regulation of lignin synthesis, 3) alteration of cellulosic superstructure to reduce recalcitrance, in-situ gene insertion to trigger degradation and optimize pre-treatments, and selection of improved tree species for energy production; 4) the environmental impact of intensive bioenergy crop management; 5) biomass production of selected switchgrass varieties on different sites; 6) energy reduction of pre-processing through optimal equipment design; 7) assessment of warm-season grass ecosystems on wildlife populations; and 8) the effects of agronomic practices on chemical and structural characteristics of bioenergy crops and agricultural residue.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Program Information: Advanced Research Biobased Research

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  Office of Research, Development, and Technology
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC    20590
• Project Managers:

  Johnson, Shawn

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  Knoxville, TN  United States 
• Start Date: 20120510
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• Source Data: RiP Project 31349

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Agricultural products; Biomass fuels; Crops; Grasses; Renewable energy sources
• Uncontrolled Terms: Bioenergy
• Geographic Terms: Tennessee
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Highways; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01467553
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Department of Transportation
• Files: RiP, USDOT
• Created Date: Jan 3 2013 3:35PM