Energy productivity of sugar sorghum as affected by the elements of growing technology

Abstract

Purpose. Improving the energy efficiency of growing sugar sorghum as a feedstock for biofuel production in the eastern part of Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.Methods. Field, laboratory, analytical and statistical techniques.Results. The results of studies on the impact of the varietal characteristics, sowing time and background of mineral nutrition on the energy productivity of sugar sorghum for the production of different biofuels under the conditions of the eastern part of Forest-Steppe of Ukraine shows that the maximum yield of ethanol was obtained by sowing seeds of sugar sorghum late April and for fertilizing N160P160K160, specifically 2.18 t/ha in ‘Sylosne 42’ variety and 2.93 t/ha in ‘Favoryt’. The maximum yield of solid fuel was obtained for the introduction of double fertilizers, but for different sowing times and reached 18.19 t/ha in ‘Sylosne 42’ (mid-May), 22.07 t/ha in ‘Favoryt’ (late April). The lowest yield of biofuel (1.52 t/ha of ethanol and 13.6 t/ha of solid biofuel in ‘Sylosne 42’; 69 t/ha of ethanol and 14.79 t/ha of solid biofuel in ‘Favoryt’) was observed for sowing seeds in mid-May in the treatment without fertilizer. For total energy yield, ‘Favoryt’, on average in the experiment, exceeded ‘Sylosne 42’ by 45.0 GJ/ha. However, the maximum total energy yield in ‘Sylosne 42’ (341.8 GJ/ha for sowing seeds in mid-May) and in ‘Favoryt’ (426.3 GJ/ha for sowing seeds in late April) was noted for fertilizing N160P160K160.Conclusions. The aximum energy productivity of varieties ‘Sylosne42’ and ‘Favoryt’ was for sowing seeds in late April and fertilizing with N160P160K160.