Variation in Biomass Composition Components among Forage, Biomass, Sorghum-Sudangrass, and Sweet Sorghum Types

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 2012 · Crop Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2011.10.0534· OSTI ID:1047972

Stefaniak, T R; Dahlberg, J A; Bean, B W; Dighe, N; Wolfrum, E J; Rooney, W L

Alternative biomass sources must be developed if the United States is to meet the goal in the U.S. Energy Security Act of 2007 to derive 30% of its petroleum from renewable sources, and several different biomass crops are currently in development. Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is one such crop that will be an important feedstock source for biofuel production. As composition influences productivity, there exists a need to understand the range in composition observed within the crop. The goal of this research was to assess the range in dietary fiber composition observed within different types of biomass sorghums. A total of 152 sorghum samples were divided into the four end-use types of sorghum: biomass, forage, sorghum-sudangrass, and sweet. These samples were analyzed chemically using dietary fiber analysis performed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory using published protocols. Significant variation among the groups was detected for glucan and ash. Positive and highly significant correlations were detected between structural carbohydrates in the biomass and sweet sorghums while many of these correlations were negative or not significant in the forage and sorghum-sudangrass types. In addition, a wide range of variation was present within each group indicating that there is potential to manipulate the composition of the crop.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Biomass Program
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1047972
• Journal Information: Crop Science, Journal Name: Crop Science Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 52; ISSN 0011-183X; ISSN CRPSAY
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
09 BIOMASS FUELS
14 SOLAR ENERGY
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BIOFUELS
BIOMASS
Bioenergy
CARBOHYDRATES
CROPS
FIBERS
FORAGE
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY
PETROLEUM
PRODUCTION
PRODUCTIVITY
SORGHUM
US ENERGY SECURITY ACT