Biomass yield and carbohydrate composition in sugarcane and energy cane grown on mineral soils

Authors: Zhao, Duli; Momotaz, Aliya; LABORDE, CHRIS - Us Sugar Corporation; IREY, MIKE - Us Sugar Corporation

Submitted to: Sugar Tech
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/28/2020
Publication Date: 3/17/2020
Citation: Zhao, D., Momotaz, A., LaBorde, C., Irey, M. 2020. Biomass yield and carbohydrate composition in sugarcane and energy cane grown on mineral soils. Sugar Tech. 22(4):630–640. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-020-00807-0.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-020-00807-0

Interpretive Summary: We conducted this field study to identify sugar composition and concentrations of fresh stalk juice in sugarcane and energy cane growing on sand soils during ripening and to determine differences between the two canes in non-structural and structural carbohydrate partitioning and concentrations in dry biomass for the mature plant-cane, first-ratoon, and second-ratoon crops in Florida. We used two sugarcane cultivars and two energy cane genotypes to determine biomass yield and composition in sugarcane and energy cane, when plants reached maturity in December. Averaged across the three crops and two experimental sites and compared with sugarcane, energy cane had higher dry biomass yield, lower nonstructural carbohydrate (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) concentrations, and higher structural carbohydrate (cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin) concentrations. Although there were no differences between the two canes in total carbohydrate concentration (839 to 842 g kg-1), energy cane had 80% higher cellulose, 63% higher hemicelluloses, and 76% higher lignin; 69, 64, and 56% lower sucrose, glucose, and fructose concentration, respectively. These results can be useful for potential use canes for both sucrose and cellulosic ethanol production on marginal sand soils in the future.

Technical Abstract: A better understanding of sugarcane and energy cane (Saccharum spp.) biomass yields and carbohydrate composition can improve the knowledge of crop production sustainability. The objectives of this study were to identify sugar composition and concentrations of stalk juice in sugarcane and energy cane growing on sand soils during ripening and to determine differences between the two canes in non-structural and structural carbohydrate partitioning and concentrations in dry biomass for the mature plant-cane, first-ratoon, and second-ratoon crops. A field study was conducted at two sites on sand soils in south Florida, USA using two sugarcane cultivars (CP78-1628 and CP80-1743) and two energy cane genotypes (US78-1013 and US84-1066) to determine biomass yield and composition in sugarcane and energy cane. Above ground dry biomass, biomass carbon composition and concentrations were measured when plants reached maturity in December. Averaged across the three crops and two sites, energy cane had significantly higher dry biomass yield, lower nonstructural carbohydrate (reducing sugars and sucrose) concentrations, and higher concentrations of cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin than sugarcane. Although there were no differences between sugarcane and energy cane in total carbohydrate concentration (839 to 842 g kg-1), energy cane had 80% higher cellulose, 63% higher hemicelluloses, and 76% higher lignin; 69, 64, and 56% lower sucrose, glucose, and fructose concentration, respectively, than sugarcane when averaged across the three crops and two sites. These results can be useful for potential use canes for both sucrose and cellulosic ethanol production on marginal sand soils in the future.