Sugar/Energy Canes as Biofuels Feedstocks USDA-ARS Sugarcane Research Laboratory Houma, LA Dr. Ed Richard Edward.Richard@ars.usda.gov Dr. Anna Hale Anna.Hale@ars.usda.gov
Sugar cane as a bio-energy crop Molasses Bagasse Raw Sugar Leaf Litter
What is Energy Cane? Type 1 : Hybrids of commercial Saccharum varieties, but fiber levels too high for raw sugar extraction Type 2 : First (F1) and 2nd generation (BC1) crosses of production Saccharum with S. spontaneum, miscanthus or erianthus High biomass yields (30 + dry Mt/ha) Fiber: 18 24% Moderate soluble solids (Brix): 8 14% Perennial growth and consistent yields over 5 to 6 annual harvests (ratooning) Cold tolerance (shoot and stalk ) High water & nutrient use efficiency Flood tolerance
Erianthus Miscanthus Energy Cane L 79-1001 L 79-1002
Typical selection traits: Brix Pol Fiber Tonnage Sugar/hectare Stubbling ability/machine harvesting Disease and insect resistance Adaptability Cold tolerance (frost and freezes)
2007 Maturity Study First ratoon
Cold Tolerance Frost Tolerance Freeze Tolerance
Prosser Parlier Raleigh Booneville Lane Baton Rouge College Station Beaumont Starkville Auburn Raymond Tifton Gainesville Gainesville Houma
Ho 06-9002 Ho 06-9002 US 72-114 L 99-233 Starkville, MS Ho 02-144
High-fiber sugarcane varieties Yield (t/ha) L 79-1002 HoCP 91-552 Ho 00-961 LCP 85-384 Cane (wet) 82.2 87.1 77.5 70.6 Cane (dry) 31.3 28.7 26.7 22.8 10.5 (13%) 14.8 (17%) 13.7 (17%) 13.2 (18%) Brix 20.8 (26%) 13.9 (16%) 13.0 (16%) 9.6 (13%) Fiber Ethanol 12,720 12,850 11,940 10,530 (L/ha)* * Ethanol yield based on 558 L/MT Brix (80% sucrose) and 330 L/MT fiber
Biomass Yield (Mg/ha) 2nd Generation Hybrids 50 Brix 45 Fiber 40 35 30 13 10 12 25 11 20 15 13 14 32 28 30 29 10 24 18 5 0 H H H H H L o o o o o 99 99 03 58 51 48 19 11 3 2 00 03-1 02 79
Sugar/Energy Cane as a Dedicated Biofeedstock Advantages: Highest energy yield Perennial, noninvasive Diverse genetic makeup Does not flower in temperate Ho 06-9002 climates Dual Substrates: Fiber + Sugar Consistent annual yields (5+ harvests) Fairly long harvest season weather impact minimal Low nutrient requirements Can be grown on less productive soils 200+ year-old biomass handling industry Disadvantages: Vegetatively propagated Crushing required
Estimated potential energy cane area: 3,800,000 acres (base acreage: 18,200,000 acres)
Integrated Production System Aug. Sep.: Oct. Feb.: Mar. Jun.: Jul.: harvest sweet sorghum harvest sugar and/or energy canes harvest Miscanthus/Erianthus facility maintenance All can be grown and harvested using conventional sugarcane equipment Except for sorghum, all are perennials Tropical Maize? Tropical Sugar Beets?
Florida Energy Cane Research and Development USDA-ARS Sugarcane Field Station (SFS) Canal Point, Florida Dr. Jack C. Comstock jack.comstock@ars.usda.gov Dr. Serge J. Edmé serge.edme@ars.usda.gov
Florida Energy Cane Project USDA-ARS Sugarcane Field Station (USDA-ARS SFS) & University of Florida IFASEREC (Dr. Robert Gilbert) 40+ year relationship Florida Sugarcane League Initial work clones selected from ARS-SFS historical cold tolerant collection (S. spontaneum x com. sugarcane hybrids)
Florida Energy Cane Project Initiated continuous bio-energy germplasm program in 2008 ARS Crossing and planting seedlings (6,500 unique genotypes each year) 170 selected for Stage I field testing Univ. of Florida Yield testing Stage I, 170 clones three locations, 2 replications Stage II, 30-35 clones, three locations, 2 replications Stage III (Fall 2010), 8-10 clones, three locations, 4 replications Clones suitable for commercial sugar cultivars (high brix) transferred to that program
Proteome mapping
Protein profiling SES 234 CP65-357 SES 234 CP65-357
SES 234 CP 65-357
Florida Energy Cane Project Current Continuous Genotype Development Program Many genotypes in pipeline Protein profiling Four high-fiber clones near release for Florida yields equal or better than Houma L 79-1002 disease resistant Future Expand program to northern FL Extend the range of CP sugar cultivars Linkage mapping & microsatellite markers Varietal types geared for different biorefinery configurations high fiber, no sucrose high fiber, some sucrose