Production and Bioethanol Potentials of Seven Dryland-Developed Grain Sorghum Cultivars in the Relatively Moist Mid-Atlantic Region

ABSTRACT

Global demand for bio-based energy is on the rise and so is research on bioenergy feedstock productivity. In this study, seven cultivars of grain sorghums (‘301/41,’ ‘304/5,’ ‘319/8,’ ‘319/22,’ ‘341/10,’ ‘341/120,’ and ‘366/58’) which developed in the drylands of Texas-US were evaluated in the Mid-Atlantic, a relatively wet region. The objective of the study was to evaluate crop response to phosphorus, productivity in the Mid-Atlantic, and its potential for bioethanol production. Seed yield, starch, and element content, stover biomass, forage quality, and whole-plant bioethanol yield were determined. Phosphorus had no effect, and only cultivars were compared. Cultivar showed differences in seed and stover yield, seed quality attributes, and potential bioethanol yield. Cultivar ‘366/58’ produced the greatest seed yield averaged at 4934 kg ha ⁻¹ yr ⁻¹ while ‘301/41’ and ‘341/10’ produced the least averaged at 2,743 and 2,968 kg ha ⁻¹, respectively, Stover yield across years ranged from 6,798 to 13,365 kg ha ⁻¹, and the whole plant estimated bioethanol ranged from 3,159 to 5,770 L ha ⁻¹. The stover had appreciable forage quality, including a 49 g kg ⁻¹ crude protein, sufficient for animal maintenance needs. Up to 96 kg N ha ⁻¹ and 211 kg K ha ⁻¹ were removed from harvested stover, an issue of concern for crop fertilizer management strategy and sustained production.

KEYWORDS:

• Grain sorghum
• stover
• feedstock
• bioethanol
• forage

Acknowledgments

We want to thank USDA-NIFA Evans-Allen formula grant for funding the project. We would also like to thank Richardson Seed Co., for supplying the seed. This is a contribution of Virginia State University Agricultural Research Station Journal Article No. 381.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).