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Title: DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH FIBER CANE VARIETIES FOR BIOFUEL PRODUCTION IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES

Author
item Cobill, Robert
item Tew, Thomas
item Garrison, Donnie
item Richard Jr, Edward

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2005
Publication Date: 7/20/2005
Citation: Cobill, R.M., Tew, T.L., Garrison, D.D., Richard Jr, E.P. 2005. Development of High Fiber Cane Varieties for Biofuel Production in the Southern United States [abstract]. Journal of the American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 25:102. Available: http://www.assct.org/journal/journal.htm

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Interest in the production of biofuels has increased considerably within the last decade due in part to rising energy costs. As this interest has grown, research initiatives are underway to examine the potential for increasing biomass in selected row crops and developing efficient processes for the conversion of biomass to biofuels and electricity and perhaps other saleable products. With sugarcane’s superior ability to convert solar energy into biomass (sugar and fiber), the use of sugarcane as a biomass feedstock is of interest to producers as they search for alternative sources of revenue. Fiber content in combination with sugar yield was evaluated for six varieties: HoCP 00-961, L 79-1003, TucCP 77-42, US 00-16, US 01-10, and US 01-12 in field studies located at the Sugarcane Research Laboratory in Houma, LA and at the Diamond W Ranch near Welsh, LA. The variety LCP 85-384 was included as a commercial standard. The varieties L 79-1003, US 00-16, US 01-10 and US 01-12 produced the highest fiber content, ranging from 18.5 to 26.9%. The variety L 79-1003 was the most uniform in fiber content in plant–cane, first–ratoon, and second–ratoon crops, at 25.7, 26.1 and 25.6%, respectively. Although this variety had the highest fiber content in each crop, it typically was one of the lowest sucrose yielding varieties, 4.4 to 7.6%, along with US 00-16, US 01-10 and US 01-12. The variety that appears to have the greatest potential for biofuel production among the varieties evaluated was HoCP 00-961. Although this variety did not have the highest fiber percentage its moderate to high fiber yield, 15.4 to 18.6%, in combination with a moderate production of sucrose, 8.3 to 12.6%, suggest that the total yield of both ethanol and electricity would be greater with this variety.