Evaluation of sweet sorghum for fermentable sugar production potential. [Sorghum bicolor]
This study was prompted by the special interest in sugar crops, at a time of high petroleum prices and fuel shortages, as potential renewable resources which could supplement non-renewable fossil resources. Four to six sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) cultivars were evaluated 4 yr for fermentable sugar production potential at eight locations in the continental USA and at one location in Hawaii. Latitudes represented ranged from 21 to 47/sup 0/N with the average number of frost-free days ranging from 120 to more than 350. Data were collected for biomass yield, percent lignin, percent cellulose, stalk sugar yields, and other agronomic characters. Total sugar yield for the continental USA ranged from 4 Mg ha/sup -1/ to 10.7 Mg ha/sup -1/ during 3 yr of the study and up to 12 Mg ha/sup -1/ at the Hawaiian location. Accordingly, theoretical ethanol production in the continental USA ranged from 2129 L ha/sup -1/ to 5696 L ha/sup -1/. Results of the study demonstrated that sweet surghum is far more widely adapted than was anticipated for a plant of tropical origin and certainly has the potential for providing a good source of fermentable carbohydrates across a wide geographic area.
- Research Organization:
- Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins
- OSTI ID:
- 6105371
- Journal Information:
- Crop Sci.; (United States), Vol. 27:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Sweet Sorghum Juice and Bagasse as Feedstocks for the Production of Optically Pure Lactic Acid by Native and Engineered Bacillus coagulans Strains
Genomic dissection of anthracnose resistance response in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]
Related Subjects
ETHANOL
BIOSYNTHESIS
SORGHUM
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
CELLULOSE
FERMENTATION
FRUCTOSE
GLUCOSE
LIGNIN
SACCHAROSE
ALCOHOLS
ALDEHYDES
BIOCONVERSION
CARBOHYDRATES
CEREALS
DISACCHARIDES
GRASS
HEXOSES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
KETONES
MONOSACCHARIDES
OLIGOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLYSACCHARIDES
SACCHARIDES
SYNTHESIS
090222* - Alcohol Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)
140504 - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)