Location
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Start Date
16-4-2011 12:30 PM
End Date
16-4-2011 2:00 PM
Description
Worldwide awareness of global warming and depleting fossil fuel sources has made research into alternative resources, such as plant fuels imperative. Since groundwater irrigation is unsustainable, especially in desert climates, plants that are drought resistant or can utilize otherwise unusable water are more viable sources of future biofuel production. Agave nevadensis, a species belonging to the family Agavaceae are succulent plants native to Las Vegas. This experiment aims to expose A. nevadensis to both wastewater and drought conditions and observe its response. The results can help define Agave as a water-resourceful biofuel both tolerant of drought and capable of utilizing urban water.
Disciplines
Environmental Sciences | Oil, Gas, and Energy | Plant Sciences | Sustainability
Language
English
Exploring the potential of Agave as a biofuel crop on arid land
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Worldwide awareness of global warming and depleting fossil fuel sources has made research into alternative resources, such as plant fuels imperative. Since groundwater irrigation is unsustainable, especially in desert climates, plants that are drought resistant or can utilize otherwise unusable water are more viable sources of future biofuel production. Agave nevadensis, a species belonging to the family Agavaceae are succulent plants native to Las Vegas. This experiment aims to expose A. nevadensis to both wastewater and drought conditions and observe its response. The results can help define Agave as a water-resourceful biofuel both tolerant of drought and capable of utilizing urban water.
Comments
Research supported by Nevada Infrastructure for Climate Change Science, Education, and Outreach NSF Grant # EPS-0814372