Abstract
Sweet sorghum [SS; Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is a potential biofuel crop for the Great Plains. Sweet sorghum was compared with corn [ Zea mays (L.)] and grain sorghum for potential ethanol yield, energy use efficiency, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at seven dryland site‐years in Nebraska. Seasonal rainfall ranged from approximately 340 to 660 mm. Soils were deep with medium texture at all site‐years. The effects of seeding rate, N rate, and cultivar on SS performance were evaluated. Sweet sorghum sugar yield was not affected by seeding rate and N application at six of seven site‐years, but yield was increased by 19% at one site‐year. Calculated ethanol yield and net energy yield were 33 and 21% more, respectively, with the grain crops compared with SS, but mean net energy yield of an earlier‐maturing SS cultivar was comparable with the grain crops. The mean ratio of energy produced in ethanol per total energy invested was 23% less for grain crops compared with SS. Mean life cycle GHG emissions were 53% and 66 to 69% less compared with gasoline for SS and grain crops, respectively. Very efficient use of the ethanol coproducts was assumed for the grain crops while SS bagasse was assumed to be returned to the field. At least one SS cultivar is competitive with grain crops for some biofuel criteria, but SS is not competitive with grain crops for total or net liquid transportation fuel produced per hectare.
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Claims 10
Claim · model-written summary
Sweet sorghum sugar yield was unaffected by seeding rate and nitrogen at six of seven site years.
- Taxon
- Sweet sorghume0
- Treatment
- seeding rate and N applicatione0
- Outcome
- sugar yielde0
- Direction
- not affectede0
- Qualifier
- six of seven site‐yearse0
Not reportedComparator
Verbatim
e0“Sweet sorghum sugar yield was not affected by seeding rate and N application at six of seven site‐years”
Claim · model-written summary
Sweet sorghum sugar yield rose 19% at one site year under the tested rates.
Not reportedTaxonTreatmentComparator
Verbatim
e0“but yield was increased by 19% at one site‐year”
Claim · model-written summary
Grain crops had 33% greater calculated ethanol yield than sweet sorghum.
Verbatim
e0“Calculated ethanol yield and net energy yield were 33 and 21% more, respectively, with the grain crops compared with SS”
Claim · model-written summary
Grain crops had 21% greater calculated net energy yield than sweet sorghum.
Verbatim
e0“Calculated ethanol yield and net energy yield were 33 and 21% more, respectively, with the grain crops compared with SS”
Claim · model-written summary
An earlier maturing sweet sorghum cultivar had mean net energy yield comparable with grain crops.
Verbatim
e0“mean net energy yield of an earlier‐maturing SS cultivar was comparable with the grain crops”
Claim · model-written summary
Grain crops had a 23% lower ethanol energy output to invested energy ratio than sweet sorghum.
Verbatim
e0“The mean ratio of energy produced in ethanol per total energy invested was 23% less for grain crops compared with SS.”
Claim · model-written summary
Sweet sorghum life cycle greenhouse gas emissions were 53% less than gasoline.
Verbatim
e0“Mean life cycle GHG emissions were 53% and 66 to 69% less compared with gasoline for SS and grain crops, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
Grain crop life cycle greenhouse gas emissions were 66 to 69% less than gasoline.
Verbatim
e0“Mean life cycle GHG emissions were 53% and 66 to 69% less compared with gasoline for SS and grain crops, respectively.”
Claim · model-written summary
At least one sweet sorghum cultivar was competitive with grain crops on some biofuel criteria.
Verbatim
e0“At least one SS cultivar is competitive with grain crops for some biofuel criteria”
Claim · model-written summary
Sweet sorghum was not competitive with grain crops for total or net liquid fuel per hectare.
Verbatim
e0“SS is not competitive with grain crops for total or net liquid transportation fuel produced per hectare.”
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See all 12 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.