Title:
Evaluation of Sorghum Genotypes for Biomass Production Under Water Limited Conditions
Author(s):
Fracasso, A., Perego, A., Amaducci, S.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Due toincreasing human population and to the consequent higher request of energy, it is necessary to implement energy and fuel production from low input and renewable sources [1]. Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolorMoench) is a low inputmultipurpose crop that can provide food, feed but also biofuel from conversion of sugars accumulated in the stalk[2]. Moreover, the increasing water scarcity is becoming a constraint even for drought resistant species [3]. For these reasons, the evaluation of newly developed commercial hybrids under limited water availability is of primary importance to assess the potential of sorghum as a bioenergy crop. Ten genotypes were characterized during three growing seasons (2010-2012) in open field trials. Phenological traits potentially linked to drought tolerance, fiber content and biomass chemical composition were studied. Among the analyzed genotypes, six show a high value of drought tolerance index. In particular the newly developed genotype ABF306 stands out among the early genotypes for its high biomass production, sugar content and organic matter digestibility under water limited conditions.
Keywords:
biomass, sorghum bicolor L. Moench, chemical composition, water use
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Energy crops and energy grasses
Event:
22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1CV.4.5
Pages:
251 - 256
ISBN:
978-88-89407-52-3
Paper DOI:
10.5071/22ndEUBCE2014-1CV.4.5
Price:
FREE
