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Development of Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) Calibrations for Traits Related to Ethanol Conversion from Genetically Variable Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.)

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Abstract

Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) is one of the highest-yielding feedstocks for bio-based products and biofuel in semi-tropical areas of the USA and the world. Thirty genetically diverse Napier grass accessions were selected from a germplasm nursery in Tifton, GA and analyzed for fiber, ash, nitrogen (N) concentration, and biochemical conversion to ethanol. A near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) calibration was developed from this material to predict ethanol production, xylans, N concentration, and ash by separating leaves and stems and correlating with wet chemistry analyses. The high diversity of material from dwarf material with high leaf and stem digestibility to taller and more productive Napier grass cultivars resulted in high correlations with predicted results for in vitro dry matter digestibility (2 = 0.93), neutral detergent fiber (r2 = 0.83), acid detergent fiber (r2 = 0.95), ethanol (r2 = 0.90), nitrogen (r2 = 0.99), and ash (r2 = 0.98). This information will allow faster evaluation of Napier grass biomass for use by industry or geneticists.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Crop Genetics and Breeding Research Unit, P.O. Box 748, Tifton, GA, USA

    William F. Anderson

  2. National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL, USA

    Bruce S. Dien

  3. Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research, 251 Filley Hall/Food Ind. UNL, East Campus, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA

    Steven D. Masterson & Robert B. Mitchell

Authors
  1. William F. Anderson
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  2. Bruce S. Dien
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  3. Steven D. Masterson
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  4. Robert B. Mitchell
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Correspondence to William F. Anderson.

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Anderson, W.F., Dien, B.S., Masterson, S.D. et al. Development of Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS) Calibrations for Traits Related to Ethanol Conversion from Genetically Variable Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.). Bioenerg. Res. 12, 34–42 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-018-9946-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-018-9946-8

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