Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Wheat, Sorghum and Forage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #256925
Title: Energy content of tropical grasses and legumes grown for bioenergy

Author
item MIRANDA, C.H. - Labex - Embrapa
item Sattler, Scott
item Pedersen, Jeffrey
item Vogel, Kenneth

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/6/2010
Publication Date: 10/31/2010
Citation: Miranda, C.B., Sattler, S.E., Pedersen, J.F., Vogel, K.P. 2010. Energy content of tropical grasses and legumes grown for bioenergy. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts, 1-3 Nov. 2010, Long Beach CA. CDROM Abstract #278-6.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Biomass samples of the tropical grasses Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Staph, Brachiaria humidicola (Rendle) Schweick, Brachiaria decumbens Staph, Panicum maximum Jacq., Pennistetum alopecuroides (L.) Spreng and three species of the tropical legume Stylosanthes grown in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, were analyzed for their total energy content using a bomb calorimeter. The grass samples varied in energy concentration from 15700 to 17140 J g-1, a range of 9%. The Stylosanthes samples ranged from 16980 to 17430 J g-1 in energy content. These results demonstrate that variation exists for biomass energy concentration among potential tropical perennial grass feedstocks harvested for use in combustion bioenergy conversion systems depending on maturity at harvest which affects leaf/stem ratios and degree of lignification and species and cultivars. Results also demonstrate that the biomass of the tropical legume Stylosanthes is fully equivalent in heat content to perennial tropical grasses.