A Canadian Ethanol Feedstock Study to Benchmark the Relative Performance of Triticale: II. Grain Quality and Ethanol Production

Abstract

Cereal grain ethanol production may need to supplement biomass ethanol production to meet the increasing long‐term demand for ethanol. A study was initiated to benchmark the relative performance of triticale (×Triticosecale ssp.) to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) classes utilized for ethanol production. Ten cultivars: three triticale, two Canada prairie spring (CPS) wheat, three Canada western soft white spring (CWSWS) wheat, one Canada western red spring (CWRS) wheat, and one Canada western general purpose (CWGP) wheat cultivars were grown at 45 locations across Canada from 2006 to 2009. The locations were subgrouped by agroecological zone for western Canada, by province for Ontario and Quebec, and Charlottetown, PEI, for the Maritimes. The greatest grain yield was usually observed for Hoffman (red spring wheat) followed by triticale cultivars and CWSWS cultivars. Ethanol yield varied by region as a reflection of grain yield, and differences among cultivars generally were: triticale (excluding Tyndal) = Hoffman = CWSWS > CPS > CWRS. Ethanol concentration was least for Tyndal triticale and AC Superb CWRS. Stability assessments indicated that Pronghorn and AC Ultima triticales and Bhishaj CWSWS wheat provide consistent and high ethanol yields. The other CWSWS cultivars, AC Sadash and AC Andrew, had similarly high ethanol yields but were variable, indicating that utilization outside the Parkland and Western Prairies agroecological zones could pose greater risk for ethanol plants over Pronghorn and AC Ultima. Ethanol fermentation plants could therefore increase efficiency by replacing CPS wheat feedstocks with select triticales and potentially improve the consistency of production by using select triticales in regions where CWSWS wheats are less stable.