Cattail Biomass to Energy

The report details pilot-scale trials in Manitoba using commercial agricultural equipment to harvest cattails from highway ditches and wetlands. It finds that while commercial equipment can be used, success is highly dependent on soil moisture and timing. The trials demonstrated that cattails can effectively capture phosphorus, though late-season harvesting reduces the amount of nutrient recovery. Economic analysis indicates that harvesting costs vary by site, with wetland harvesting generally being more productive but posing higher risks of equipment damage and sinking.

• Wetland areas are more productive for biomass yield than highway ditches; at Pelly’s Lake, the harvested yield per hectare was approximately double that of the Highway 1 site.
• Harvesting cattails removes phosphorus (P) from the environment, preventing it from being released back into the water during decomposition. In the Pelly’s Lake trial, 191 kg of P was collected from 54.1 hectares, though potential capture is higher if harvested earlier in the season.
• Soil moisture and precipitation are critical factors for harvesting success; below-normal precipitation in 2012 facilitated equipment entry, while above-normal precipitation in October and November hampered baling operations.

APA

Grosshans, R. E., & Grieger, L. (2013). Cattail Biomass to Energy. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/cattail-biomass-to-energy-commercial-scale-harvesting-solid-fuel.pdf

Chicago

Grosshans, Richard E., and Lorne Grieger. Cattail Biomass to Energy. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2013. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/cattail-biomass-to-energy-commercial-scale-harvesting-solid-fuel.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Grosshans |first1=Richard E. |last2=Grieger |first2=Lorne |title=Cattail Biomass to Energy |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=March 2013 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/cattail-biomass-to-energy-commercial-scale-harvesting-solid-fuel.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{grosshans2013cattail, author = {Grosshans, Richard E. and Grieger, Lorne}, title = {{Cattail Biomass to Energy}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2013}, month = mar, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/cattail-biomass-to-energy-commercial-scale-harvesting-solid-fuel.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }