Alabama A&M UniversityAlabama A&M University Alternative Energy Alternative Energy

Dr. Teresa Merriweather-OrokDr. Teresa Merriweather-Orok

Vice President for Vice President for Institutional Research, Planning and Sponsored ProgramsInstitutional Research, Planning and Sponsored Programs

Alternative Energy Alternative Energy R&D at AAMUR&D at AAMU

Feedstock

Biomass

Thermoelectric GenerationBudak, ILA & ZhengBudak, ILA & Zheng

Solar Energy ConversionZimmerman & MunteleZimmerman & Muntele

Batteries & Fuel Cell Hassan & LalHassan & Lal

School of Agriculture & School of Agriculture & Environmental SciencesEnvironmental Sciences

The Department of Plant and Soil Science offers the BS, MS and PhD degrees. It currently operates through six Centers focusing on:

Forestry and Ecology

Forest Ecosystem Assessment

Environmental Science

Molecular Biology

Plant Science

and Hydrology, Soil Climatology and

Remote Sensing.

Canola research plots at the Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station, Hazelgreen. (Feb 2006)

AAMU has been a participant in the National Winter Canola Variety Trial Since 1997.

New cultivars and breeding lines from across the country are evaluated every year.

Those that performed well in our region are selected for further testing.

Participants in the National Canola Variety Trials. Coordinator - Kansas State University

AAMU has been:

Screening, selecting, testing, and breeding new canola lines and cultivars in collaboration with other universities.

Selection of early maturity and high yielding types to facilitate double cropping with

soybean, cotton and sweet sorghum.

Our work with winter canola:

Improvement of canola resistance to insect pests, shattering and premature germination.

Our work with winter canola:

Weed control, planting dates, fertilization and rotation studies

Production using poultry litter

Crop establishment with polymer seed coating

Our work with winter canola:

Molecular approach to improve resistance to blackleg disease

Our work with winter canola:

(a) OPI0110,000 bp 2,500 bp

250 bp

1,000 bp

(b) OPE0310,000 bp 2,500 bp

1,000 bp

250 bp

(c) OPE16

1,100

1,900 1300

250 bp

1,000 bp

2,500 bp

10,000 bp

Work with Woody Biomass

Collaborative effort between AAMU Center for Forestry and TVA

Investigation of short rotation woody biomass for bio-energy

EPA Grant: Biomass Production by Fast-growing Tree Species

Objective: Alternatives for production of cellulosic biomass

PI: Dr. Tom Green

Currently the project is being led by Dr. Luben Dimov with funding from USDA-CSREES

Work with Woody Biomass

Grants for Canola Support at AAMU

USDA-CSREES: Integrated Canola Development Program

Objectives: Production improvement

Breeding for early maturity

Management of insects and disease

PI & Co-PI: Drs. Udai Bishnoi, Ernst Cebert and Rufina Ward

Support and Collaboration

Grants for Canola Support at AAMU

US-Canola: Bionomics of Major Insect Pests including Clover Stem Borer on Canola in North Alabama

Objectives: To study the impact of insect pests associated with canola

PI & Co-PI: Drs. Rufina Ward, Ernst Cebert and Ken Ward

Support and Collaboration

Grants for canola Support at AAMU

US-Canola: Evaluation of Seed Coating Polymers to Enhance Field Stand Establishment of Canola

Objectives: To improve establishment of canola in varying soils in the southeast region with the use polymer coatings.

Project PI & Co-PI: Drs. Udai Bishnoi and Ernst Cebert

Support and Collaboration

We are members of the:

Southern Extension/Research Activity – Information Exchange Group 11 (SERA-IEG 11).(SERA-IEG 11).

The group is made up of scientists in the southeastern states who are working to establish canola as an alternative crop in the south.

Support and Collaboration

We are collaborating with several institutions:

Auburn University, University of Arkansas

University of Georgia, Griffin

Kansas State University

Virginia State

Virginia Polytechnic Institute

North Dakota State University

Support and Collaboration

We are establishing collaboration with private industries and governmental agency:

Alabama Biodiesel Corporation

W&B Trading Co. LLC

Alabama Correctional Industries

Agriculture Energy Efficiency Program

(a division of the Alabama Department of Economics & Community Affairs, ADECA)

Support and Collaboration

The Energy Crisis of 1973

Source: wikipedia.com

October

1973

Dependence on ForeignFossil FuelsFossil Fuels