Ohio University professor advances biofuels research

In Ohio, Ohio University stated that Sarah Davis, a professor at Ohio University’s George Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service, is advancing biofuels research.

In 2013, Davis planted a sterile hybrid of miscanthus grass on a patch of land at the Ridges area of OHIO’s Athens campus. More than 10 years later, Davis and graduate student Samuel Adu Fosu published a report that clearly stated the viability of miscanthus as a biofuel source.

“One of the things we discovered about this grass species is that it has a very low nitrogen requirement, and it has nitrogen fixers associated with it,” Davis said. “That helps it to meet its nitrogen demand. We grew this over 10 years without any fertilizers.”

With an increase in federal funding, Davis is hopeful that miscanthus and other perennial plants can work to lower greenhouse emissions while diversifying the agriculture landscape. While it may not become a primary alternative energy source, other options exist, the Ohio University said.

“It could be used as a transitional energy source bridging the gap between fossil fuels and the electric generation,” she said. “Agriculture is a key sector that will help increase bioenergy and bioproduct utilization in the future.”

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