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Effect of Compacting and Ensiling on Stabilization of Sweet Sorghum Bagasse

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Abstract

Sweet sorghum bagasse is the solid fibrous product that remains after sweet sorghum stalks are crushed to remove juice. It can be reapplied to the field to enhance the productivity of subsequent crops as a soil amendment. The majority of sweet sorghum bagasse remains underutilized because more is produced than can be practically applied to fields. Accumulation of bagasse is increasing due to increased sweet sorghum production for the primary product, juice. The by-product, bagasse, has potential for novel uses, but it must be stabilized for conversion outside harvest season. It is not feasible to process bagasse while time and equipment are invested in harvesting the mature crop. This study determined whether compacting and ensiling sweet sorghum bagasse prevented degradation for processing after harvesting, when resources are available in more amount. It was found that ensiling bagasse limited microbial degradation of the material and stabilized the physicochemical properties that will be beneficial for fuel, feed, and other uses.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Lauren McDaniel (USDA-ARS-SRRC, New Orleans, LA, USA) and Jared Lindley (Delta BioRenewables, Germantown, TN, USA) for excellent technical assistance. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to conception and design of the work and data collection. MW and IL analyzed and interpreted the data, and drafted the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Southern Regional Research Center, 1100 Robert E. Lee Blvd., New Orleans, LA, 70124, USA

    Maureen S. Wright, Isabel M. Lima & Renee L. Bigner

  2. Delta BioRenewables LLC, 7430 Smythe Farm Rd., Memphis, TN, 38120, USA

    Randall Powell

Authors
  1. Maureen S. Wright
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  2. Isabel M. Lima
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  3. Randall Powell
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  4. Renee L. Bigner
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Correspondence to Maureen S. Wright.

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Wright, M.S., Lima, I.M., Powell, R. et al. Effect of Compacting and Ensiling on Stabilization of Sweet Sorghum Bagasse. Sugar Tech 20, 357–363 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-017-0586-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12355-017-0586-7

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