BCRF Update: May-June 2017

October 17, 2017
Evan Derse, a BCRF student employee and a senior in mechanical engineering, prepares holes for the Miscanthus transplants.
Evan Derse, a BCRF student employee and a senior in mechanical engineering, prepares holes for the Miscanthus transplants.

A team effort helps prepare the Plant Zoo for visitors

The demonstration plots for the 2017 BioCentury Research Farm (BCRF) Plant Zoo have been planted. Miscanthus was transplanted into a 30-foot by 40-foot plot north of where the plants were located last year. The move was needed to make way for a driveway expansion and a tile repair. BCRF student employees and Emily Heaton's research group assisted with the transplanting. Heaton is an associate professor in agronomy and a BCRF affiliate. Sorghum-sundangrass with biochar, sorghum-sudangrass, field corn and soybean plots were planted by staff from Agricultural Engineering/Agronomy Farm. Switchgrass has finally emerged with some assistance from Heaton; Nic Boersma, a program coordinator in agronomy; and Roger Hintz, an assistant scientist in agronomy.

Nate Lopez, a BCRF student employee and a senior in industrial technology, (left) and Nic Boersma, a program coordinator in agronomy, dig up Miscanthus that will be transplanted.
Nate Lopez, a BCRF student employee and a senior in industrial technology, (left) and Nic Boersma, a program coordinator in agronomy, dig up Miscanthus that will be transplanted.

Iowa State researchers join new carbon economy consortium

From Bioeconomy Institute 

Researchers from Iowa State University are part of a “New Carbon Economy” consortium launched by the Center for Carbon Removal in partnership with several research institutions. The initiative has the goal of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it into valuable products and services. Iowa State researchers participating in the consortium include Robert Brown, director of the Bioeconomy Institute (BEI), Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in Engineering and BCRF affiliate; David Laird, professor of agronomy and BCRF affiliate; and Dermot Hayes, the Pioneer Chair in Agribusiness and Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Presentation on solvent liquefaction pilot plant available online

Lysle Whitmer, senior thermochemical research engineer for BEI, gave an overview of BEI's pilot-scale testing of Chevron's solvent liquefaction process at the 2017 Department of Energy Project Peer Review sessions. The solvent liquefaction pilot plant is located at the BCRF. Whitmer's presentation can be viewed on the Biofuels Digest's website. 

Laird receives soil scientist research award

From Department of Agronomy newsletter 

David Laird, professor of agronomy and BCRF affiliate, has been named the 2017 Soil Science Society Association's Soil Scientist Research award recipient. He will be recognized during the annual meeting in Tampa this October. Over more than 30 years of professional activity, each area of his work has substantially advanced fundamental principles in soil science and has laid a foundation for subsequent efforts of other scientists.

Visitors tour BCRF

The BCRF had the following visitors: Biorenewable Deployment Consortium, DuPont, Furman University, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach farm management specialists, PHYCO2, and Zions Ag Finance.