Biofuel Crop ProductionPresentation by: Josh Carlin

What should we grow?Ideal CropHigh biomass yieldLow in lignin and high in cellulose and hemicelluloseAble to stand in field to extend harvest windowLow water requirement Low nutrient requirement

Perennial CropsSwitchgrassBig BluestemMiscanthus x giganteus

Annual CropsCorn (rotated with soybean)Continuous CornPhotoperiod Sensitive SorghumBrown Mid-Rib Sorghum (BMR)Dual Purpose Forage Sorghum

ChallengesHarvestingWater RemovalStandabilityDensityWater Usage Ethanol ProductionCrop Production

Water Usage3 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

HarvestingBiomass needs to be at 15% moistureTransportation Greater bulk density required to transport efficiently

Cob HarvestingThe next step?Cobs prove to be a good resource in the cellulosic biofuel industryHigher bulk density than stover Leave Less ash when burnedProduce higher BTU per pound.

Other Biofuel Crop ResearchPhotoperiod Sensitive Sorghum Population StudyAsh Byproduct N Fertility StudyDDGS Nitrogen Fertility Study

2009 Manhattan KS Biofuel Plots