Sweet stalk sorghum: an alternative sugar crop for ethanol production

Abstract

Replicated field trials were conducted in Entisols of medium fertility in KIAAR farm during Kharif 2004 and 2005 with 12 and 14 Sweet Sorghum genotypes, respectively. The were harvested at physiological maturity (86–113 days). Yield, yield components and quality estimates were measured, which differed significantly in both seasons. During 2004, highest stalk yield of 45.0 t/ha was observed in NSSH 104. The highest stalk yield of 48.0 t/ha was observed in PAC 52093 folowed by PVR 453 (45.3 t/ha). Highest sugar content was in RSSV 56(14.2%) followed by NSSV 254(13.2%). The juice pH in both seasons ranged from 5.0 to 6.4. Reducing sugars varied from 1.05 to 2.50%. A separate experiment was conducted to study the performance of three ruling varieties (SSV-74, RSSV-9 and NSSH-104). The stalk yields varied from 22 to 27 with an average of 25 t/ha. The fibre content is 13%. The ethanol yield is 1500 1(60 1/ton) with power generation of 3.25 MW per ha (0.5 MW/ton). A big mill test was made in sugar mill by crushing 356 tons of Sweet Sorghum stalks. The extraction was 50% and TRS was 5.64% with ethanol yield of 38.89 1/ton stalk.