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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #253729
Title: Harvest date effects on biomass yield and quality of new energycane (Saccharum hybrids) genotypes in the Southeastern USA

Author
item Knoll, Joseph - Joe
item Anderson, William - Bill
item BALDWIN, BRIAN - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2010
Publication Date: 10/1/2010
Citation: Knoll, J.E., Anderson, W.F., Baldwin, B. 2010. Harvest date effects on biomass yield and quality of new energycane (Saccharum hybrids) genotypes in the Southeastern USA. American Society of Agronomy Abstracts. CDRom.

Interpretive Summary: not required

Technical Abstract: Energycane (Saccharum hyb.) is a promising source of bioenergy for the Southeast, as it can be used to produce sugar, lignocellulosic feedstock, or both. Management strategies which maximize energy output and biomass quality need to be developed, and new cultivars need to be evaluated in various environments. Nine energycane entries (Ho 01-07, Ho 06-9001, Ho 06-9002, Ho 96-988, L 99-233, Ho 02-144, Ho 02-147, Ho 00-961, and US 72-114) were planted at Tifton, GA in early fall, 2007 in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Through fall and winter in 2008 and 2009, °Brix, % moisture, and % nitrogen of the energycane biomass was sampled at monthly intervals to determine the effects of delayed harvest on these traits. Total biomass yield was also harvested. In both seasons °Brix tended to increase around the time of first frost, and then declined thereafter. L99-233 and Ho 96-988 had the highest Brix, peaking around 20% in both years, but these entries also had the lowest biomass; these are ‘Type I’ canes, grown primarily for sugar. Moisture tended not to change drastically until very late in the winter, though varietal differences were significant. Nitrogen content tended to decrease from October to November, but changed little after that. The different entries showed similar responses to harvest time across years, while total yield showed stronger entry by year interaction. The highest yield was achieved in the second season by Ho 06-9002 (48.9 Mg DM/ha). Efficiency of conversion of the biomass to cellulosic ethanol will also be evaluated and theoretical ethanol yields will be calculated based on the data.