Cattail Biomass to Energy: Commercial-scale harvesting of cattail biomass for biocarbon and solid fuel

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) conducted trials in 2012 using commercial grain and forage equipment to harvest cattails from ditches and Pelly’s Lake in Manitoba. The project successfully harvested nearly 300 tonnes of biomass, removing an estimated 240 kilograms of phosphorus. The results demonstrated that conventional equipment can be used for biomass feedstock collection, though efficiency is heavily dependent on water level management and weather conditions. Harvested materials were sent to Saskatchewan for biocarbon production and agricultural trials.

• Commercial-scale grain and forage equipment, including windrower swathers and both square and round balers, can successfully harvest cattails for use as biomass feedstock, provided environmental conditions are suitable.
• In 2012, the harvesting operations in Manitoba collected nearly 300 tonnes of cattail biomass, which resulted in the capture and removal of approximately 240 kilograms of phosphorus.
• Operational efficiency and costs for cattail harvesting are significantly influenced by weather and water management; below-normal precipitation during the growing season aided cutting, while above-normal fall precipitation hindered baling.

APA

,, R. G. G. (2015). Cattail Biomass to Energy: Commercial-scale harvesting of cattail biomass for biocarbon and solid fuel. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/cattail-biomass-energy-commercial-scale-harvesting-cattail-biomass-biocarbon

Chicago

,, Richard Grosshans,Lorne Grieger. Cattail Biomass to Energy: Commercial-scale harvesting of cattail biomass for biocarbon and solid fuel. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2015. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/cattail-biomass-energy-commercial-scale-harvesting-cattail-biomass-biocarbon.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=, |first1=Richard Grosshans,Lorne Grieger |title=Cattail Biomass to Energy: Commercial-scale harvesting of cattail biomass for biocarbon and solid fuel |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=20 January 2015 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/cattail-biomass-energy-commercial-scale-harvesting-cattail-biomass-biocarbon |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{2015cattail, author = {,, Richard Grosshans,Lorne Grieger}, title = {{Cattail Biomass to Energy: Commercial-scale harvesting of cattail biomass for biocarbon and solid fuel}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2015}, month = jan, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/cattail-biomass-energy-commercial-scale-harvesting-cattail-biomass-biocarbon}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }