Biomass Production and Nutrient Removal of Energy Cane Genotypes in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Energy cane (Saccharum spp.) is an alternative for biomass production to meet demands for high yield and fiber content feedstock for bioenergy production. However, there is limited research data and information available for this crop that was recently introduced in Brazil. The focus of this study was to evaluate the biomass production and mineral composition of energy cane genotypes to understand their productivity and define nutrient management practices according to nutrient removal. The experiment was conducted in northeastern Brazil during plant cane and first ratoon crop cycles and evaluated six energy cane and one sugarcane (cultivar most grown in the region) genotype. Depending on genotype and crop cycle, energy cane dry biomass production ranged from 43 to 63 Mg ha−1 and was greater than that of sugarcane, ranging from 25 to 51 Mg ha−1. Energy cane allocated a greater amount of dry biomass in dry leaves and tops than sugarcane. Overall, 1 Mg of fresh energy cane required 1.5 kg of N, 0.32 kg of P, 5.1 kg of K, 0.6 kg of Mg, 0.5 kg of S, 5.7 g of B, 1.4 g of Cu, 6.3 g of Mn, and 4.7 g of Zn. Macronutrient removal by some energy cane genotypes was higher than that by sugarcane due to greater biomass production. Energy cane has the potential for greater dry biomass production than sugarcane, but it also removes a larger amount of nutrients. The recommendation of an amount of nutrients needed for energy cane production is a key issue for the establishment of this crop as a raw material for bioenergy production in Brazil.

Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment of Biomass Gasification and Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis Integrated to Sugarcane Biorefineries

“…In this perspective, the possibility to examine process alternatives with the use of energy-cane (EC) and eucalyptus wood chips as substitute or complementary to the conventional sugarcane (CS) biomass is very attractive. EC is a variety of cane with higher fiber content and higher potential yields than CS [34][35][36][37][38]. Therefore, the use of EC can be considered in substitution to CS since the focus of the process is the conversion of LCM to advanced liquid fuels.…”

Conversão de energia por genótipos de cana-energia em Alagoas

“…A biomassa seca (BS) foi obtida por meio da secagem do material vegetal em estufa de ventilação forçada à 65 °C até que a massa apresentesse valor constante (Benincasa, 1988;Fernandes, 2003). A produtividade de biomassa foi realizada multiplicando-se a massa (verde ou seca) pela quantidade de perfilhos extrapolados para 1 hectare (Boschiero et. al, 2019).…”

“…O crescimento e desenvolvimento dessa cultura dependem da interação de variáveis meteorológicas, que incluem principalmente a precipitação pluvial, radiação solar, temperatura e umidade do ar (Inman-Bamber & Smith, 2005). Porém, a ecofisiologia da cana-energia ainda é pouco estudada, de modo que pesquisas adicionais, para aumentar o conhecimento dessa cultura, ainda são necessárias (Boschiero et. al., 2019).…”

Optimal NH4+/NO3− ratios enhance the shade tolerance of soybean seedlings under low light conditions

“…Ammonium and nitrate enhance plant resistance to various environmental stresses, such as saline stress, drought, alkalinity, low light stress, and also mitigate high concentrations of CO 2 (Esteban et al, 2016; Boschiero et al, 2019). Nitrogen is a vital macronutrient for all plants.…”