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Biomass Production and Composition of Perennial Grasses Grown for Bioenergy in a Subtropical Climate Across Florida, USA

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Abstract

Carbohydrate and lignin composition of feedstock materials are major factors in determining their bioenergy potential. This study was conducted to quantify dry biomass yield and the carbohydrate and lignin composition of six potential biofuel grasses (elephantgrass, energycane, sweetcane, giant reed, giant miscanthus, and sugarcane) across three sites in Florida for plant (2009) and first ratoon (2010) crops. Dry biomass yields ranged from about 30 to 50 Mg ha−1 and were generally greatest for elephantgrass, energycane, sweetcane, and sugarcane. Accordingly, total plant carbohydrate yields (20 to 25 Mg ha−1) were comparable among sugarcane, energycane, sweetcane, and elephantgrass, but were generally less for giant reed and even less for giant miscanthus. However, the contribution of total extractable carbohydrates and total fiber carbohydrates to total plant carbohydrate yields differed among species. Sugarcane had the highest concentrations of extractable carbohydrates (219 to 356 mg g−1), followed by energycane, then sweetcane, elephantgrass, and giant reed, with giant miscanthus having the lowest. Energycane and elephantgrass tended to have significantly more fiber glucose, and elephantgrass less xylose, than other species. Variability in total lignin concentrations on a fiber basis was relatively modest (250 to 285 mg g−1) across species, but was generally highest in sweetcane and giant reed. Overall, elephantgrass and energycane were prime regional candidates for cellulosic conversion using fermentation processes due to high yields and favorable fiber characteristics, although energycane tended to have higher extractable carbohydrates.

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Abbreviations

TPC:

Total plant carbohydrate

TEC:

Total extractable carbohydrate

TFC:

Total fiber carbohydrate

TFG:

Total fiber glucose

TFX:

Total fiber xylose

TFA:

Total fiber arabinose

ASL:

Acid-soluble lignin

AIL:

Acid-insoluble lignin

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by a USDA special grant no. 2008-34606-19522, the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, a Florida Farm to Fuel Grant and the Florida Energy Systems Consortium. We are grateful to Andrew Schreffler, Jim Boyer, and Johnathan Holland for laboratory and field support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agronomy Department, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110500, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Jeffrey R. Fedenko, John E. Erickson, Kenneth R. Woodard & Lynn E. Sollenberger

  2. Range Cattle Research & Education Center, University of Florida, 3401 Experiment Station Road, Ona, Gainesville, FL, 33865, USA

    Joao M. B. Vendramini

  3. Everglades Research & Education Center, University of Florida, 3200 East Palm Beach Road, Belle Glade, FL, 33430, USA

    Robert. A. Gilbert & Zane R. Helsel

  4. School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, PO Box 110410, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Gary F. Peter

Authors
  1. Jeffrey R. Fedenko
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  2. John E. Erickson
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  3. Kenneth R. Woodard
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  4. Lynn E. Sollenberger
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  5. Joao M. B. Vendramini
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  6. Robert. A. Gilbert
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  7. Zane R. Helsel
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  8. Gary F. Peter
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Correspondence to John E. Erickson.

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Fedenko, J.R., Erickson, J.E., Woodard, K.R. et al. Biomass Production and Composition of Perennial Grasses Grown for Bioenergy in a Subtropical Climate Across Florida, USA. Bioenerg. Res. 6, 1082–1093 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-013-9342-3

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