The objective of this study was to determine the best performing switchgrass (Panicumvirgatum L.) cultivar with three different seeding dates as a bioenergy source in Republic of Korea. Split-plot in time with three replications was performed and three switchgrass cultivars, Carthage (CT), Cave-in-Rock (CIR), and Forestburg (FB) were used in this experiment from 2009 to 2012. Plots were seeded on April 23, May 4, and May 13, 2009 and were harvested once in November each year. No fertilizer was applied to the field for the first year; however, in second and third years (June 2010 and May 2011, respectively), N, P2O5 and K2O fertilizers were applied in 67,45 and 90 kg ha-1, respectively. Soil pH (5.9) and climate condition including temperature (10.4∼17.5℃) and precipitation (89.4~109.8 mm month-1) were suitable for switchgrass cultivation. Total dry matter yields were higher in CT and CIR compared to FB and were 16.9, 15.9, and 4.5 ton ha-1, for CT, CIR, and FB, respectively (p<0.0001). The samples were analyzed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), and ash. No significant differences in energy content (p = 0.96) and chemical composition among cultivars (p>0.05) were found. Seeding dates did not affect DM yield (ton ha-1), chemical composition and energy content significantly (p>0.05). Significant difference was observed for heights among CT, CIR, and FB (177.59, 169.98, and 94.89 cm, respectively, p = 0.0002). In conclusion, based on soil characteristics and climate condition in Korea compared to other countries, switchgrass can be cultivated successfully. Considering dry matter yield and energy content of these three cultivars of switchgrass CT and CIR adapted better to climate in Middle Eastern of Republic of Korea than Forestburg for bioenergy purpose.

Biomass crops have potential as a source of renewable CO2-neutral energy to ease concerns about fossil fuel consumption. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in high biomass crops such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Switchgrass is a perennial C4 grass that requires low cost for biomass production. In the previous study, we evaluated forty switchgrass germplasms for biomass yield and classified the germplasms into the high-, medium-, and low-yielding groups. In this experiment, we evaluated response of switchgrass accessions to fertilizer applications. A recommended level of fertilizer was applied to the field and responses of morphological and agronomic characteristics affecting biomass productivity (panicle length, clum length, leaf width, thickness, tiller numbers, effective tiller numbers, seed weight, plant weight) were analyzed. Also, the composition of organic compounds (crude protein, crude fat, ash, glucose, xylose) and mineral elements were analyzed for the two selected lines from each biomass yield group by the levels of exchangeable cations in the soil. Positive correlations were found between biomass yield and content of crude protein, crude fat, ash, T-N, glucose, and xylose. However, no relations were found between biomass yield and mineral elements such as Na, P, K, Fe and Zn. Biomass yield was increased by 1.9-fold by the fertilizer application and the traits most significantly affected by fertilizer application were effective tiller number and plant weight. The accessions that showed less than 10% increase in biomass productivity by the fertilizer application were accession 26, 29, 13, and 18. This study was supported by Technology Development Program for New Bioenergy (subject number-20070301030016), Rural Development Adiministration, Republic of Korea.

Biomass crops have potential as a source of renewable CO2-neutral energy to ease concerns about fossil fuel consumption. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in high biomass crops such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Switchgrass is a perennial C4 grass that requires low cost for biomass production. In the previous study, we evaluated forty-six switchgrass germplasms for biomass yield and classified the germplasms into the high-, medium-, and low-yielding groups. In this experiment, we analyze physiological characteristics affecting biomass productivity and composition of organic compounds for the two selected lines from each biomass yield group. Among the characteristics related to carbon assimilation, photosynthetic rate, real CO2 absorption rate(Delta CO2(CO2 reference - CO2 analysis(corrected for dilution))), P.A.R incident on leaf surface, and chlorophyll content were positively related to biomass yield of the selected lines. Positive correlation was found between biomass yield and ash content but no relations were found between biomass yield and content of organic compounds such as lignin, glucose, crude protein, cellulose, holocellulose, hemicellulose, ADF, and NDF. This study was supported by Technology Development Program for New Bioenergy(subject number-20070301030016), Rural Development Adiministration, Republic of Korea.

Switchgrass is a wild-perennial plant in North America, and rich in cellulose, making it attractive as a source for cellulosic ethanol. Especially, ethanol which is made from switchgrass produce more 540% energy better than the others. The objectives of this study were to examine the concentrations of phenolic compounds, monosaccharides and disaccharides which detected in some different part (upper, center, lower) of 34 species of switchgrasses. The total average of phenolic compound concentration was 4017.48 ㎍/g. Whereas it's concentration in the upper part was shown the highest (6669.09㎍/g) and the lower part was the lowest (1916.30㎍/g). The No.23 has the highest concentration of phenolic compounds but No.20 have the lowest concentration. In saccharides analysis, only arabinose and glucose are detected. The total average of monosaccharides and disaccharides concentration was 206284.75 ㎍/g. Whereas its concentration in the upper part was shown the highest (269738.18㎍/g) and the lower part was the lowest (167567.53㎍/g). The No.30 has the highest concentration of saccharides but No.2 have the lowest concentration. The obtained results shows that switchgrass are good sources of bio-ethanol and the upper part is the best among them.