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Biofuel Crop Production. Presentation by: Josh Carlin. What should we grow?. Ideal Crop High biomass yield Low in lignin and high in cellulose and hemicellulose Able to stand in field to extend harvest window Low water requirement Low nutrient requirement. Perennial Crops. Switchgrass
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Biofuel Crop Production Presentation by: Josh Carlin
What should we grow? • Ideal Crop • High biomass yield • Low in lignin and high in cellulose and hemicellulose • Able to stand in field to extend harvest window • Low water requirement • Low nutrient requirement
Perennial Crops • Switchgrass • Big Bluestem • Miscanthus x giganteus
Annual Crops • Corn (rotated with soybean) • Continuous Corn • Photoperiod Sensitive Sorghum • Brown Mid-Rib Sorghum (BMR) • Dual Purpose Forage Sorghum
Challenges • Harvesting • Water Removal • Standability • Density • Water Usage • Ethanol Production • Crop Production
Water Usage • 3 gallons required per gallon of corn ethanol (RFA) • 6 gallons required per gallon of cellulosic ethanol (NREL) • About 20-25 inches of water are necessary to produce an acre of average yielding corn
Harvesting • Biomass needs to be at 15% moisture • Transportation • Greater bulk density required to transport efficiently
Cob Harvesting • The next step? • Cobs prove to be a good resource in the cellulosic biofuel industry • Higher bulk density than stover • Leave Less ash when burned • Produce higher BTU per pound.
Other Biofuel Crop Research • Photoperiod Sensitive Sorghum Population Study • Ash Byproduct N Fertility Study • DDGS Nitrogen Fertility Study