Group touts benefits of switchgrass for Delmarva

The Chester River Association hosted an online presentation Thursday to tout the benefits of switchgrass, a sturdy, deep-rooted grass native to much of North America.

Advocates say the complex root structure of switchgrass holds soil in place and absorbs nutrients, making it an ideal crop for buffers to stabilize stream banks and absorb excess fertilizer. They also say switchgrass is very high in carbon, making it a good candidate for biofuel.

The CRA says its goal is to develop a viable switchgrass market and establish switchgrass buffers on farmland, reducing the amount of nutrients and sediments entering the Chester River and Chesapeake Bay.