Biomass Production and Composition of Temperate and Tropical Maize in Central Iowa
Bioethanol production in the midwestern U.S. has largely focused on maize (Zea mays L.) grain for starch-based ethanol production. There has been growing interest in lignocellulosic biomass as a feedstock for biofuels. Because maize adapted to the tropics does not initiate senescence as early as tem...
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doaj-4138e476ebca43aa8f03139709e7be892021-04-02T13:24:29ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952018-06-01868810.3390/agronomy8060088agronomy8060088Biomass Production and Composition of Temperate and Tropical Maize in Central IowaPedro Alexander Infante0Ken Moore1Charlie Hurburgh2Paul Scott3Sotirios Archontoulis4Andrew Lenssen5Shui-zhang Fei6Horticulture Group of Department of Agronomy Science, University Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá DC 111321, ColombiaDepartment of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50010, USADepartment of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50010, USAUSDA Agricultural Research Service, 819 Wallace Road, Ames, IA 50010, USADepartment of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50010, USADepartment of Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50010, USADepartment of Horticulture, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50010, USABioethanol production in the midwestern U.S. has largely focused on maize (Zea mays L.) grain for starch-based ethanol production. There has been growing interest in lignocellulosic biomass as a feedstock for biofuels. Because maize adapted to the tropics does not initiate senescence as early as temperate-adapted maize, using a tropical germplasm could improve biomass yield. This study compares the suitability of temperate and tropical maize with differing relative maturities as feedstocks for bioethanol production. Field trials were established in central Iowa during the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. Six hybrids of different relative maturities were grown at two levels of N fertilization and two row spacings to evaluate total biomass production and feedstock quality under midwestern U.S. conditions. Total biomass, height at the final leaf collar, stem diameter at one meter above ground, and lignocellulose concentration were measured at harvest. Tropical maize was taller and had greater non-grain and total biomass production (15% more than temperate maize), while temperate maize had greater grain yield and grain starch, as well as earlier maturation. Narrower row spacing had greater biomass and grain yield. Nitrogen fertilization rate affected grain and feedstock composition. Tropical maize had lower cellulose, lignin, and ash concentrations and higher nitrogen at harvest than that of temperate maize. Conversely, temperate maize had greater ash, cellulose, and lignin concentrations. Tropical maize planted at high densities has high potential as a feedstock for bioethanol production in the U.S. Midwest.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/8/6/88maizetropical germplasmlignocellulosic biomassbiofuel |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Pedro Alexander Infante Ken Moore Charlie Hurburgh Paul Scott Sotirios Archontoulis Andrew Lenssen Shui-zhang Fei |
spellingShingle |
Pedro Alexander Infante Ken Moore Charlie Hurburgh Paul Scott Sotirios Archontoulis Andrew Lenssen Shui-zhang Fei Biomass Production and Composition of Temperate and Tropical Maize in Central Iowa Agronomy maize tropical germplasm lignocellulosic biomass biofuel |
author_facet |
Pedro Alexander Infante Ken Moore Charlie Hurburgh Paul Scott Sotirios Archontoulis Andrew Lenssen Shui-zhang Fei |
author_sort |
Pedro Alexander Infante |
title |
Biomass Production and Composition of Temperate and Tropical Maize in Central Iowa |
title_short |
Biomass Production and Composition of Temperate and Tropical Maize in Central Iowa |
title_full |
Biomass Production and Composition of Temperate and Tropical Maize in Central Iowa |
title_fullStr |
Biomass Production and Composition of Temperate and Tropical Maize in Central Iowa |
title_full_unstemmed |
Biomass Production and Composition of Temperate and Tropical Maize in Central Iowa |
title_sort |
biomass production and composition of temperate and tropical maize in central iowa |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Agronomy |
issn |
2073-4395 |
publishDate |
2018-06-01 |
description |
Bioethanol production in the midwestern U.S. has largely focused on maize (Zea mays L.) grain for starch-based ethanol production. There has been growing interest in lignocellulosic biomass as a feedstock for biofuels. Because maize adapted to the tropics does not initiate senescence as early as temperate-adapted maize, using a tropical germplasm could improve biomass yield. This study compares the suitability of temperate and tropical maize with differing relative maturities as feedstocks for bioethanol production. Field trials were established in central Iowa during the 2014 and 2015 growing seasons. Six hybrids of different relative maturities were grown at two levels of N fertilization and two row spacings to evaluate total biomass production and feedstock quality under midwestern U.S. conditions. Total biomass, height at the final leaf collar, stem diameter at one meter above ground, and lignocellulose concentration were measured at harvest. Tropical maize was taller and had greater non-grain and total biomass production (15% more than temperate maize), while temperate maize had greater grain yield and grain starch, as well as earlier maturation. Narrower row spacing had greater biomass and grain yield. Nitrogen fertilization rate affected grain and feedstock composition. Tropical maize had lower cellulose, lignin, and ash concentrations and higher nitrogen at harvest than that of temperate maize. Conversely, temperate maize had greater ash, cellulose, and lignin concentrations. Tropical maize planted at high densities has high potential as a feedstock for bioethanol production in the U.S. Midwest. |
topic |
maize tropical germplasm lignocellulosic biomass biofuel |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/8/6/88 |
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AT pedroalexanderinfante biomassproductionandcompositionoftemperateandtropicalmaizeincentraliowa AT kenmoore biomassproductionandcompositionoftemperateandtropicalmaizeincentraliowa AT charliehurburgh biomassproductionandcompositionoftemperateandtropicalmaizeincentraliowa AT paulscott biomassproductionandcompositionoftemperateandtropicalmaizeincentraliowa AT sotiriosarchontoulis biomassproductionandcompositionoftemperateandtropicalmaizeincentraliowa AT andrewlenssen biomassproductionandcompositionoftemperateandtropicalmaizeincentraliowa AT shuizhangfei biomassproductionandcompositionoftemperateandtropicalmaizeincentraliowa |
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1721565119647842304 |