ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - University of Minnesota biofuels
researchers are teaming up with master gardeners in the school's
extension service.
They're seeking to find out whether biofuel production can
reduce water and nutrient runoff from farm fields, cut down on
erosion and turn a profit for farmers who grow it. They'll explore
that possibility under a five-year, $25 million multistate grant
from the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
The nationwide research will focus on using perennial grasses as
a feedstock for biofuels. The Minnesota research will test biochar
-- a nutrient-rich leftover from using heat to convert the biomass
into fuel -- as a soil amendment. The master gardeners will test
biochar's ability to increase productivity in vegetable and flower
gardens, and determine its viability as a commercial product for
home gardeners.