Cover Crops May Lead To Biofuel Options For Northwest Farmers

Researchers at Washington State University say cover crops could benefit farmers when it comes to renewable fuels.  Cover crops, such as triticale and hairy vetch, not only protect the soil, but can be turned into biofuel.  WSU notes using a method called hydrothermal liquefaction, researchers converted these cover crops into renewable fuel, without negatively impacting soil health or the farmer’s bottom line. 

Currently, any crop used for biofuel has its own specialized process for how biomass is converted into fuel. That makes it difficult to establish a market when, for example, corn undergoes an entirely different process than soybeans. Hydrothermal liquefaction allows processors to mix different types of biomass to produce biofuel.
WSU graduate student Miki Santosa said the results are promising, especially for growers looking to make the most of their land year-round.

"We don’t want to harm the economics for farmers or hurt the soil"

“The idea is to unlock new cover crop supplies,” said Miki Santosa, a graduate student in WSU’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering and corresponding author on the paper. “We don’t want to harm the economics for farmers or hurt the soil, so we looked closely at pain points farmers experience when cover crops are used.

“The ultimate goal is to provide refineries and processors with more biomass and renewable feedstocks,” said Santosa, who plans to graduate with a PhD in 2026. “Working with farmers and the agriculture industry to find suitable crops is vital to reaching that goal.”

One of the biggest concerns for growers is ensuring cover crops don’t impact their cash crops by decreasing soil nutrients, pulling moisture from the soil, or reducing the growth window for the more financially important crop. The research team also studied if removing the biomass from fields reduced the benefits normally derived from cover crops.

More Study Is Needed, But Results Are Encouraging

"We found that removing the biomass, especially from triticale, which grew very abundantly, didn’t hurt the soil,” said Chad Kruger, director of WSU’s Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources and a co-author on the paper.

More study is required, but he noted the research team is excited that farmers may one day be able to grow an additional crop that will help both their land and their bottom line, while increasing the amount of biofuel produced.

“Cover crops have always been grown to help the soil, but now farmers may actually be able to get paid for them as well,” Kruger said. “Add that to the benefits of biofuels, and it’s a positive for everyone.”

Click Here to learn more about WSU's cover crops research

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