Potential ethanol production from sugar beet and fodder beet. [Beta vulgaris]
Fodder beet and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris l.) cultivars were evaluated in field trials in six locations to assess the potential ethanol fuel production from beet crops in the USA. This research was stimulated by the potential world petroleum fuel shortages in the 1970s and a need to assay the merit of sugar and starch crops for potential alcohol fuel production. Fodder beet cultivars had greater root weight and less sucrose content than sugar beet. Fodder beets contained more glucose and fructose than sugar beet but these sugars amounted to < 1% of the total sugar content. Average potential ethanol production for all locations was 5.34 and 6.38 kL ha/sup -1/ in 1980 and 1981, respectively, for fodder beet, compared to 5.36 and 6.68 kL ha/sup -1/ for sugar beet cultivars. Salinas, CA, with a long growing season, had a potential alcohol yield from beets of 8.64 kL ha/sup -1/, while potential ethanol yields at Fargo, ND, where the growing season is short, were < 5.00 kL ha/sup -1/. Adapted sugar beet hybrids show better promise than fodder beet as a fuel crop in the USA, since sugar beet produces an equal or greater quantity of fermentable sugar, has less bulk to transport, more extractable sugar per unit mass, and resistance to prevalent sugar beet diseases.
- Research Organization:
- North Dakota State Univ., Fargo
- OSTI ID:
- 6102161
- Journal Information:
- Crop Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Crop Sci.; (United States) Vol. 27:5; ISSN CRPSA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ALCOHOL FUELS
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
BEETS
BIOCONVERSION
BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
BIOSYNTHESIS
CALIFORNIA
CARBOHYDRATES
DISACCHARIDES
DISEASE RESISTANCE
ETHANOL
ETHANOL FUELS
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FERMENTATION
FOOD
FRUCTOSE
FUELS
GLUCOSE
HEXOSES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KETONES
MONOSACCHARIDES
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH DAKOTA
OLIGOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANT BREEDING
PLANTS
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
SACCHARIDES
SACCHAROSE
SUGAR BEETS
SYNTHESIS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
USA
VEGETABLES
YIELDS