1. Nitrogen Fertilization for Ethanol Production with Sweet Sorghum and Corn G. Stevens, R. Holou, M. Rhine and D. Dunn University of Missouri-Delta Center Portageville, Missouri

2. 60% of U.S. fuel from foreign countries

3. Fuel versus feed debate

5. Switchgrass >10 year old stands Missouri Bootheel

6. Nutrient Partitioning Roland Holou, PhD student November 2007 Fresh wt 4.8 tons/acre Dry wt 3.4 tons/acre

7. Sweet Sorghum University of Missouri-Delta Center 2007

8. Subfamily Panicoideae C4 photosynthesis Sugar cane (Saccharine hybrids) Sugar cane (Saccharine hybrids) Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Maize (Zea mays) Maize (Zea mays)

9. WWII Sugar Rationing First & Last 1942- 1947, two years after war ended

10. Moonshine- sugar from sweet sorghum Cheaper sugar for making ethanol.

11. Sweet sorghum Positive Reports that it requires less water and nitrogen than corn. Reports that it requires less water and nitrogen than corn.Negative Infrastructure not developed to handle large quantities of juice. Infrastructure not developed to handle large quantities of juice.

12. Objective Sweet sorghum- Determine optimum N rates for producing ethanol Sweet sorghum- Determine optimum N rates for producing ethanol Irrigated Tiptonville silt loam soil Sweet sorghum– 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120 lb N/acre Corn- 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, 240 lb N/acre Sorghum variety: M81E, 4 replications

13. Corn, bushels per acre S Sorghum, tons per acre 25 20 15 10 5 0 S Sorghum, fresh wt dry wt Corn and Sweet Sorghum Yields in 2007 Pounds N per acre Corn

14. Sweet sorghum stalks, 2008 Fresh weight

15. Corn yields, 2008

16. Formerly Eastman Kodak Chemical Co. Batesville, Arkansas

17. Sorghum Stalks, 2007 ComponentLb Net Wt. % Water 26,03064 Sucrose6,45416 Glucose 4141 Fructose 3541 Unknown Water Extractables 2,3486 Bagasse 5,19913

18. Yeast conversion Sucrose + H2O ------  2 Glucose 342 18 180 342 18 180 6,454 lb sucrose 6,794 lb glucose 2*180= 360

19. Yeast conversion Fructose + ½ O2 ------  Glucose 164 16 180 164 16 180 354 lb sucrose 389 lb glucose

20. Ethanol for sugars As lb Glucose As lb Glucose Sucrose 6,794 Sucrose 6,794 Glucose 414 Glucose 414 Fructose 389 Fructose 389 Total 7,586 Total 7,586 Glucose  2 Ethanol + 2 CO2 180 46 44 180 46 44 GlucoseEthanol 7,586 lb x 2(46) = 3,877 lb 7,586 lb x 2(46) = 3,877 lb 180 180 587 gal Eth/acre (theoretical) Based on 6.6 lb per gallon 0.511/6.6 = 0.0774 gal Et/lb glucose

21. Sweet Sorghum Bagasse Composition Wt. % Lbs Acid Sol Lignin 9489 Acid Insol Lignin 211,092 Arabinan4187 Xylan16811 Mannan>110 Galactan>142 Glucan442,293 Unknowns5276 “chem correct term for cellulose”

22. Ethanol from cellulose Glucan + H2O  Glucose 180/(180-18) = 1.1 lb glucose/lb glucan 2,293 lb x 1.1 x 0.0774= 195 gallons glucan ethanol/acre from cellulose from cellulose Enzymes- currently too expensive H2OGlucose

23. Ethanol- loam soil Ethanol yield from corn with 160 lb N averaged 574 gal/acre Ethanol yield from corn with 160 lb N averaged 574 gal/acre Ethanol yield from sweet sorghum with 60 lb N averaged 528 gal/acre from sugar assuming 90% efficiency. Ethanol yield from sweet sorghum with 60 lb N averaged 528 gal/acre from sugar assuming 90% efficiency. Max including glucan= 782 gal/acre Max including glucan= 782 gal/acre Corn ethanol estimated 2.8 gal per bushel

24. Less Productive Soils- 2008 Lb N ClaySand 01937 403766 805583 12050104 1607496 20085109 24066102 ClaySand02418 202416 402821 603918 803722 1003426 1203821 Corn -bushels Sorghum- wet ton

25. Preliminary Summary Prime corn land should remain in corn production to supply food and feed. Prime corn land should remain in corn production to supply food and feed. Sweet sorghum niche for ethanol production may be on marginal soils such as heavy clay and sand. Sweet sorghum niche for ethanol production may be on marginal soils such as heavy clay and sand. Because of high cost of cellulose enzymes other uses for bagasse should be explored. Because of high cost of cellulose enzymes other uses for bagasse should be explored.

26. www.plantsci.missouri.edu/deltacrops