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Biomass/energy crops grown on phosphatic clay in central Florida

Conference ·
OSTI ID:478719
;  [1];  [2]
  1. UF Agronomy Dept., Gainesville, FL (United States)
  2. UF Everglades REC, Belle Glade, FL (United States); and others
In January 1992 plots of 0.081 ha (0.2 A) were planted on phosphatic clay soil. Cultivars included: US78-1009, and CP72-1210 sugarcane; US56-9, L79-1002, and US72-1153 energycane; 1K-7647 Erianthus; plus N-51 Elephantgrass. Enough planting material of US67-2022 sugarcane was available to plant only 10 m (33 ft.) of row. Planting of US67-2022 was increased each of the next 2 years. Three-year average dry yield of sugarcane was 32.3 Mg ha{sup -1} (14.4 ton A{sup -1}) for US78-1009, 29.6 Mg ha{sup -1} (1 3.2 ton A{sup -1}) for CP72-1210, and 49.1 Mg ha{sup -1} (21.9 ton A{sup -1}) for US67-2022. Two-year average yield for energycane was observed to be 36.5 Mg ha{sup -1} (16.3 ton A{sup -1}) for US56-9, 34.9 Mg ha{sup -1} (15.6 ton A{sup -1}) for L79-1002, and 37.2 Mg ha{sup -1} (16.6 ton A{sup -1}) for US72-1153. The observed Erianthus yield was 17.9 Mg ha{sup -1} (8.0 ton A{sup -1}) for 1K-7647 and for N-51 Elephantgrass was 19.0 Mg ha{sup -1} (8.5 ton A{sup -1}). Yield of both Erianthus and elephantgrass were severely hampered by a poor stand. Other cultivars were also affected but to a lesser degree. Sugar content was highest in the three sugarcane cultivars averaging 13.1 degrees brix. Energycane cultivars had an average of 8.6 degrees brix; elephantgrass and Erianthus were lowest with 5.5 and 5.6{degrees} brix, respectively. Sugar yield was highest in US67-2022 at 12.3 Mg ha{sup -1} (5.5 ton A{sup -1}) and more than 2.5 times higher than the next highest cultivar. Chemical composition of the various cultivars in terms of NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, and in vitro digestible dry matter are also reported.
OSTI ID:
478719
Report Number(s):
CONF-960958--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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