Context: The use of lignocellulosic materials like forest leftovers, agricultural waste and energy grasses such as Napier grass has potential to generate bioenergy. 

About the Napier grass

• It is a productive and versatile forage grass native to Africa and southeast Asia. 

• Napier grass is found in various parts of India, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.

• It is also known as elephant grass.

• It is used as a feed for livestock and in bioenergy applications. 

• It can be harvested 5-6 times annually and can withstand drought conditions.  

• It is dormant during the winter months. 

• It can be cultivated on degraded lands, thus mitigating the encroachment of arable land traditionally dedicated to food production.

• It has lignocellulosic biomass, with carbohydrate composition containing 35-39% cellulose, 19-23% xylan and 15-19% lignin on a dry mass basis. 

• It has energy output-to-input ratio of approximately 25:1.

• India’s annual production of Napier is higher as compared to other energy grasses like miscanthus and switchgrass. 

• Napier grass when undergoes hydrolysis, it breaks down into monomeric sugars that can be utilised as substrates for microbial activity.