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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Canal Point, Florida » Sugarcane Field Station » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #341316
Title: Biomass Yield and Carbohydrate Composition in Sugarcane and Energy Cane

Author
item Zhao, Duli
item IREY, MIKE - Us Sugar Corporation
item LABORDE, CHRIS - Us Sugar Corporation
item HU, CHEN-JIAN - Us Sugar Corporation

Submitted to: American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2017
Publication Date: 11/25/2017
Citation: Zhao, D., Irey, M., Laborde, C., Hu, C. 2017. Biomass Yield and Carbohydrate Composition in Sugarcane and Energy Cane. American Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. 37: 49-50.

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: Sugarcane and energy cane are important crops for sugar and bio-ethanol production. A better understanding their carbohydrate composition and concentrations in addition to biomass yields can improve knowledge in biomass processing and utilization. There were two objectives for this study. The first objective was to identify juice sugar composition and concentrations of sugarcane and energy cane growing on sand soils during ripening for the plant-cane, first-ratoon, and second-ratoon crops. The second objective was to determine differences between the two canes in non-structural and structural carbohydrate partitioning and concentrations of dry biomass for the three crops at maturation. A field study was conducted at two locations (the PPI and Townsite farms) on sand soils in south Florida using two sugarcane cultivars and two energy cane genotypes. Stalk juice Brix and water soluble sugars were determined monthly from October through February. Above ground dry biomass (DBM), biomass carbon composition and concentrations were measured when plants reached maturity in the mid December. Averaged across the three crops and two locations, energy cane had significantly higher DBM yield (P < 0.05), lower water soluble carbohydrate (reducing sugars and sucrose) concentrations, and higher concentrations of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin in DBM than sugarcane (P < 0.001). Although there were no differences between sugarcane and energy cane in total carbohydrate concentration (839 to 842 g kg-1 DW), energy cane had 80% higher cellulose, 63% higher hemicelluloses, and 76% higher lignin, but 69, 64, and 56% lower sucrose, glucose, and fructose concentrations, respectively, than sugarcane when averaged across the three crops and two locations. These results can be useful for production of sucrose and bio-ethanol from sugarcane and energy cane on marginal sand soils in the future.