Abstract
The elephant grass has gained prominence as one of the main forage species used for biomass production. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify elephant grass genotypes with high energy biomass production potential by evaluating morpho-agronomic and biomass quality. The following traits were evaluated in this study: dry matter yield (DMY), percentage of whole-plant dry matter (%DM), percentage of neutral detergent fiber (%NDF), percentage of acid detergent fiber (%ADF); percentage of cellulose (%CEL), percentage of lignin (%LIG), percentage of carbon (%C), percentage of nitrogen (%N), and carbon: nitrogen ratio (C: N). Five different production ages were evaluated, and significant differences were observed for the variable DMY. The harvests performed at 20 and 24 weeks of age, provided the best response for biomass energy production (DMY) from elephant grass, averaging 20.50 and 23.77 t.ha−1. The genotypes that most stood out during the evaluation period at the five production ages were King Grass, Mole de Volta Grande, and Mercker 86 - Mexico. Genotypes Mole de Volta Grande and King Grass are the most suitable for elephant grass breeding programs aimed at biomass energy production in the conditions of Campos dos Goytacazes - RJ, Brazil. Key words: Bioenergy, biomass quality, carbon: nitrogen ratios, Pennisetum purpureum Shum, yield.
Highlights
The increasing search for alternatives to fossil fuels has become a critical issue for the future of the economic development of the planet
The following traits were evaluated in this study: dry matter yield (DMY), percentage of whole-plant dry matter (%DM), percentage of neutral detergent fiber (%NDF), percentage of acid detergent fiber (%ADF); percentage of cellulose (%CEL), percentage of lignin (%LIG), percentage of carbon (%C), percentage of nitrogen (%N), and carbon: nitrogen ratio (C: N)
Five different production ages were evaluated, and significant differences were observed for the variable DMY
Summary
The increasing search for alternatives to fossil fuels has become a critical issue for the future of the economic development of the planet. Biomass stands out as a medium- and long-term choice. Because biomass burning only recycles the CO2 taken from the atmosphere by photosynthesis, it appears that, in the long term, this will be one of the safest energy alternatives, provided that it is produced efficiently (Kalt and Kranzl, 2011). The elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) is triploid tropical forage of African origin, which presents high production capacity and quality dry matter accumulation. In this regard, elephant grass has gained prominence as one of the main forage species used in energy production (Morais et al, 2011). Since its products are not directly present in the human diet and because it is usable in its entirety, elephant grass is ahead of other grasses used as energy source
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