Wylie Bruce K. author Gu Yingxin author 2012 FY 2013 Biofuels are an important component in the development of alternative energy supplies, which is needed to achieve national energy independence and security in the United States. The most common biofuel product today in the United States is corn-based ethanol; however, its development is limited because of concerns about global food shortages, livestock and food price increases, and water demand increases for irrigation and ethanol production. Corn-based ethanol also potentially contributes to soil erosion, and pesticides and fertilizers affect water quality. Studies indicate that future potential production of cellulosic ethanol is likely to be much greater than grain- or starch-based ethanol. As a result, economics and policy incentives could, in the near future, encourage expansion of cellulosic biofuels production from grasses, forest woody biomass, and agricultural and municipal wastes. If production expands, cultivation of cellulosic feedstock crops, such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and miscanthus (Miscanthus species), is expected to increase dramatically. The main objective of this study is to identify grasslands in the Great Plains that are potentially suitable for cellulosic feedstock (such as switchgrass) production. Producing ethanol from noncropland holdings (such as grassland) will minimize the effects of biofuel developments on global food supplies. Our pilot study area is the Greater Platte River Basin, which includes a broad range of plant productivity from semiarid grasslands in the west to the fertile corn belt in the east. The Greater Platte River Basin was the subject of related U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) integrated research projects. area basin biofuels biomass cellulosic biofuel cellulosic feedstock crop component corn crops cultivation demand development economics erosion Fact Sheets fertilizer food food supply forest global grain grassland Great Plains Greater Platte River basin irrigation livestock mapping pesticide plains plant Platte River policy production productivity research river river basin security semiarid soil soil erosion U.S.Geological Survey Series United States USGS water water quality exported from refbase (http://eros.usgs.gov/refbase/show.php?record=25659), last updated on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:45:08 -0600 text http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/fs20123126 http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/fs20123126 Wylie+Gu2012 EROS @ cdeering @ 560 technical report report 2 http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/fs20123126 2012-3126