Performance of Annual and Perennial Biofuel Crops: Yield during the First Two Years

Abstract

Increasing demand for renewable fuel sources has stimulated the need for alternative biomass crops. A study was conducted to determine grain, stover, total biomass, and estimated ethanol yields of annual and perennial crops at two locations in Kansas in 2007 and 2008. Th is study included corn (Zea mays L.) grown continuously and rotated with soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]; fi ve sorghum cultivars, brown midrib (bmr), photoperiod sensitive, sweet, and two dual-purpose forage varieties; and three perennial warm-season grasses, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), and Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus). Corn and sorghum plants were harvested for grain and biomass and sweet sorghum stalks were pressed to extract juices. Perennial grasses were harvested for biomass. Highest grain yields were achieved with corn across both years and locations with yields averaging 10.1 Mg ha -1 . Total biomass yields were greatest for sweet sorghum (32.6 and 28.2 Mg ha -1 in 2007 and 2008, respectively) and photoperiod-sensitive sorghum (26.8 Mg ha -1 in 2007). Sweet sorghum extracted fermentable carbohydrate yields averaged 4.8 Mg ha -1 . Perennial grass biomass yields ranged from 7.7 to 12.8 Mg ha -1 in 2008, the second year aft er establishment. Highest average estimated ethanol yields were achieved with sweet sorghum (9920 L ha -1 ). Th ese results indicate that the highest total biomass and estimated ethanol yields for renewable fuel production can be achieved from sweet sorghum and that perennial grasses were as productive as annual crops at producing biomass in the fi rst 2 yr aft er planting.

Productivity, Nutrient Uptake and Profitability of Sweet Sorghum -Mustard Cropping System under Different Levels of Nitrogen

“…Plants of hybrid 'CSH 22 SS' produced greater estimated ethanol yield, which was the natural corollary of stripped stalk weight. Similar findings were expressed by Propheter et al (2010) and Wortmann et al (2010).…”

Effects of Planting Method on Enhanced Stand Establishment and Subsequent Performance of Forage Native Warm-Season Grasses

“…In terms of number of years after planting, first and second year yields are comparable for BB and SG. Although the values were below the reported averages of 7.7 and 9.2 kg DM ha -1 , respectively, for the two species (Propheter et al, 2010). The noted yield differences may also be due to the fact that fertilizers were not applied in this study unlike that reported by Propheter et al (2010) which received 168 to 180 kg N ha -1 as urea.…”

“…Although the values were below the reported averages of 7.7 and 9.2 kg DM ha -1 , respectively, for the two species (Propheter et al, 2010). The noted yield differences may also be due to the fact that fertilizers were not applied in this study unlike that reported by Propheter et al (2010) which received 168 to 180 kg N ha -1 as urea. However, even without fertilizers, total yields in the current study from transplants were still notably greater than those reported earlier.…”

Biofuels Get in the Fast Lane: Developments in Plant Feedstock Production and Processing

“…About 4000 different traditional varieties across the world [112] constitute an enormously rich collection of germplasm to be assessed for biofuel potential and to be used as a basis for crop improvement [113,114]. Studies with different sorghum varieties are underway in different parts of the world in order to identify superior genotypes and achieve best bioethanol production performance [111,[115][116][117]. Different sweet Sorghum cultivars were tested in northern Greece to determine their productivity in stress conditions of increased salinity and reduced irrigation [115].…”

“…Bioethanol is produced primarily from the sugar juice whereas bagasse as well as green tops and leaf titter constitute a good source of lignocellulosic residue with potential for biomass-based bioethanol production. In this manner, bioethanol production from sugarcane per land area is expected to increase promoting in parallel environmental sustainability [117,123].…”