Effects of Growing Location and Irrigation on Attributes and Ethanol Yields of Selected Grain Sorghums

Abstract

Cereal Chem. 85(4):495-501Nine sorghum cultivars (five inbred lines and four hybrids) were grown in 2006 in three locations (Mount Hope, KS, Halstead, KS, and Plainview, TX) under different irrigation conditions and were evaluated for composition and ethanol fermentation efficiency. The objective was to study, in one growing season, the effects of genotype, growing location, and irrigation on the physical and chemical properties and fermentation efficiencies of grain sorghum. Genotype had a significant effect on chemical composition, physical properties, and ethanol yield. The cultivars showed a large variation in starch (61.0-74.8%), protein (7.56-16.35%), crude fat (2.79-4.77%), crude fiber (0.58-2.57%), ash (1.25-2.26%), kernel weight (20.0-35.9 mg), kernel hardness (49.6-97.5), and kernel size (1.9-2.7 mm) and were the most important factors affecting ethanol fermentation efficiency (87.5-93.9%). Starch and protein contents were significantly affected by growing location but not by irrigation. Environment had a significant effect on ethanol yields. Unexpectedly, irrigation somewhat reduced fermentation efficiency.

Impact of Deficit Irrigation on Sorghum Physical and Chemical Properties and Ethanol Yield

“…Griess et al (2010) reported similar results: sorghum starch concentration under irrigated conditions was significantly higher than under dryland conditions. Figure 1 shows a strong linear relationship between total starch contents and ethanol yield (R 2 = 0.96, p < 0.0001), which agrees with the previous research reported by Wu et al (2008), Lacerenza et al (2008), and Yan et al (2011). Starch content was not significantly correlated with fermentation efficiency (R 2 = 0.28).…”

“…The ΔH gel reflected the loss of double-helical order (Cooke and Gidley, 1992), and the variations in ΔH gel represented differences in bonding forces between the double helices that form the amylopectin crystallites (McPherson and Jane, 1999). Previous studies indicate that amylose-lipid com- plexes may be formed during heating, and the percentage of amylose-lipid complexes was negatively correlated with fermentation efficiency (Le Bail et al, 1999;Ottenhof et al, 2005;Wu et al, 2007Wu et al, , 2008. In this study, the amyloselipid complex peak formed similarly for all samples ( fig.…”

“…The use of sorghum in ethanol production has increased in recent years; 30% to 35% of the total crop was used for ethanol production in 2011 (USDA, 2011). Previous studies have shown that the amylose-to-amylopectin ratio, starch content, protein digestibility, protein content, free amino nitrogen, formation of amylose-lipid complex, and particle size of ground grain meal have significant effects on ethanol yield and fermentation efficiency (Wu, 1989;Zhan et al, 2003;Wu et al, 2006Wu et al, , 2007Wu et al, , 2008Pérez-Carrillo and Serna-Saldívar, 2007;Yan et al, 2009Yan et al, , 2010Yan et al, , 2011. Therefore, sorghum grain qualities are important and greatly affect end-use product qualities.…”

Evaluation of Waxy Grain Sorghum for Ethanol Production

“…Sorghum cultivars with high starch and low protein contents are cultivars of choice for fuel ethanol production. Wu et al (2008) reported that higher starch content means higher ethanol yield, better processing efficiency, and lower amounts of residues after fermentation; therefore, total starch content of waxy grain sorghum can be a predicator of ethanol yield. Average ethanol yield from waxy grain sorghum is similar to com (Lemuz et al 2009).…”

Estimation of Rhizome Composition and Overwintering Ability in Perennial Sorghum spp. Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS)

“…de Wet & Harlan, and its hybrids with S. bicolor have been used for decades as high biomass forage and hay crops [2,3]. Recently, several forms of S. bicolor have been evaluated as candidates for both liquid and solid biofuel feedstocks [4][5][6][7][8]. This species behaves as an annual in temperate climates and as a weak perennial in tropical and subtropical climates where temperatures do not drop below freezing.…”