Biomass loss and composition change of energycane and biomass sorghum during aerobic and anaerobic storage

Authors: YANG, YUBIN - Texas A&M Agrilife; BERA, TANUMOY - Texas A&M Agrilife; WILSON, LLOYD - Texas A&M Agrilife; DOU, FUGEN - Texas A&M Agrilife; JIFON, JOHN - Texas A&M Agrilife; ROONEY, WILLIAM - Texas A&M University; ARAJI, HAMIDREZA - Texas A&M Agrilife; MORRISON, JESSE - Mississippi State University; BALDWIN, BRIAN - Mississippi State University; Knoll, Joseph; WRIGHT, ALAN - University Of Florida; ODERO, DENNIS - University Of Florida; SANDHU, HARDEV - University Of Florida; Hale, Anna; Mula-Michel, Himaya; WANG, JING - Texas A&M Agrilife

Submitted to: Scientific Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/25/2025
Publication Date: 1/3/2026
Citation: Yang, Y., Bera, T., Wilson, L.T., Dou, F., Jifon, J.L., Rooney, W.L., Araji, H.A., Morrison, J.I., Baldwin, B.S., Knoll, J.E., Wright, A.L., Odero, D.C., Sandhu, H.S., Hale, A.L., Mula-Michel, H.P., Wang, J. 2026. Biomass loss and composition change of energycane and biomass sorghum during aerobic and anaerobic storage. Scientific Reports. 16:4065. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34190-1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-34190-1

Interpretive Summary: Energycane and biomass sorghum are two promising cellulosic energy crops in the southeastern US. These crops are harvested in the fall, but biomass for energy or biofuel production is needed year-round, so this material may need to be stored after harvest. However, there is a lack of data on the storage characteristics of these crops. The objective of this study was to determine the biomass loss and composition change of energycane and biomass sorghum in storage under different environments. Field trials were conducted in seven locations across the southeastern US for energycane and six locations for biomass sorghum for 3, 6 and 9 months under aerobic and anaerobic storage. Biomass was harvested with a silage chopper at all locations. Aerobic storage was conducted in large piles covered with tarps, whereas anaerobic storage was conducted in large plastic silage bags to limit exposure to oxygen during storage. The two crops had similar storage characteristics with respect to biomass loss and changes in moisture and composition. Average moisture content decreased from 60.7% to 50.4% after 9 months in covered aerobic storage piles but increased from 62.9% to 67.2% for anaerobic storage in the silage bags. Biomass loss averaged 49.9% after 9 months of aerobic storage and 40.3% for anaerobic storage. Dry matter loss can be described as a non-linear function of storage duration and average storage moisture, with greater loss for longer duration and higher storage moisture. The proportion of cellulose and lignin in the stored biomass increased but hemicellulose and ash decreased with increasing storage duration. Results from this study provide valuable insights on changes in feedstock quantity and quality during storage and fill a critical knowledge gap in addressing the challenge of year-round biomass supply.

Technical Abstract: Energycane and biomass sorghum are two of the most promising cellulosic energy crops in the southeastern US, but there is a lack of data on their storage characteristics. The objective of this study was to determine the biomass loss and composition change of energycane and biomass sorghum in storage under different environments. Field trials were conducted in seven locations across the southeastern US for energycane and six locations for biomass sorghum for 3, 6 and 9 months under aerobic and anaerobic storage. Results revealed that crop type and genotype accounted for less than 3% of the observed change in moisture content, biomass loss, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and ash content, suggesting similar storage characteristics between energycane and biomass sorghum. Average moisture content decreased from 60.7 to 50.4% after 9 months in covered aerobic storage piles but increased from 62.9 to 67.2% for anaerobic storage in anaerobic silage bags. Biomass loss averaged 49.9% after 9 months of aerobic storage and 40.3% for anaerobic storage. Dry matter loss can be described as a non-linear function of storage duration and average storage moisture, with greater loss for longer duration and higher storage moisture. Cellulose and lignin increased but hemicellulose and ash decreased with increasing storage duration. Results from this study provide valuable insights on changes in feedstock quantity and quality during storage and fill a critical knowledge gap in addressing the challenge of year-round biomass supply.