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Title: Production of sugarcane and tropical grasses as a renewable energy source. Second annual report, 1978-1979

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5568327· OSTI ID:5568327

Reseach continued on tropical grasses from Saccharum and related genera as sources of intensively-produced, solar-dried biomass. Categories of candidate grasses include short-, intermediate-, and long-rotation species. These categories are based on the time interval required for maximum dry matter production, and on future management requirements of energy crops for intensive co-production with food crop commodities. Year 1 studies at the greenhouse and field-plot levels were continued and broadened during Year 2. This included candidate screening, importation and quarantine of new clones, breeding, controlled nitrogen and water regimes, chemical growth control, tissue expansion and maturation control, seeding rates, harvest frequency, and variable row spacing. Second-year studies were extended to the project's field-scale and mechanized-harvest phases. These include initial economic anayses for the short-rotation phases. These include initial economic analyses for the short-rotation category of candidate species.

Research Organization:
Puerto Rico Univ., Rio Piedras. Agricultural Experiment Station
DOE Contract Number:
ET-78-S-05-5912
OSTI ID:
5568327
Report Number(s):
ORO-5912-T2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English