Chengci Chen1, Ratna Sharma-Shivappa2, Ye Chen2, David Wichman1, and Duane Johnson1. (1) Montana State University, Central Ag Research Center, Moccasin, MT 59462, (2) North Carolina State University, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Raleigh, NC 27695
Corn grain is the major feedstock for fuel ethanol production in the United States, yet little corn is produced in Montana due to the cool climate and short growing season. Alternative feedstock needs to be explored for potential fuel ethanol production. In this project we 1) evaluate various warm season grasses for yield potential in Montana, 2) develop production systems to maximize biomass yield, and 3) evaluate annual winter cereal hay and straw as well as warm season grasses for potential fuel ethanol feedstock and livestock feed. The yield potential is 7700, 8690, and 10720 for forage pearl millet, sweet sorghum, and sorghum x Sudangrass, respectively. Double-cropping systems produced 22550 kg ha-1 for winter triticale/wheat – pearl millet and 23540 kg ha-1 for winter triticale/wheat – sweet sorghum, compared to 14470 kg ha-1 for winter triticale/wheat single cropping for grain and straw. For winter triticale/wheat – pearl millet, winter triticale/wheat – sweet sorghum, and winter triticale/wheat single cropping systems, sugar yield after enzymatic hydrolysis with Spezyme CP cellulase and Multifect xylanase was estimated to be 7370, 7370, and 6240 kg ha-1 for chemical pretreated feedstocks, and 6080, 6830, and 5460 kg ha-1 for enzyme-assisted-ensiled feedstocks, respectively. Correspondent ethanol yield for above cropping systems was 2280, 2400, and 2540 L ha-1 for chemical pretreated feedstocks, and 2160, 2420, and 1970 L ha-1 for enzyme-assisted-ensiled feedstocks, respectively. The pre-matured feedstocks, both dry hay and silage, have good feed values for livestock. Biofuel feedstock production may be integrated into the existing livestock production systems in Montana and the multi-product crops evaluated in this study can be used both for bioethanol feedstock and livestock feed.