1. Biofuel Crop Production
Presentation by:
Josh Carlin

2. 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

3. Perennial Crops
Switchgrass
Big Bluestem
Miscanthus x giganteus

4. Annual Crops Corn (rotated with soybean) Continuous Corn
Photoperiod Sensitive Sorghum
Brown Mid-Rib Sorghum (BMR)
Dual Purpose Forage Sorghum

5. Challenges Harvesting Water Usage Water Removal Standability Density
Ethanol Production
Crop Production

6. Water Usage 3 gallons required per gallon of corn ethanol (RFA)
6 gallons required per gallon of cellulosic ethanol (NREL)
About inches of water are necessary to produce an acre of average yielding corn

7. Harvesting Biomass needs to be at 15% moisture Transportation
Greater bulk density required to transport efficiently

8. 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.

9. Other Biofuel Crop Research
Photoperiod Sensitive Sorghum Population Study
Ash Byproduct N Fertility Study
DDGS Nitrogen Fertility Study

10. 2009 Manhattan KS Biofuel Plots