Poster Presentation 1A-08

Estimation of Potential Ethanol Yield from Corn Stover Produced Using Different Crop Management Strategies

Steven R. Thomas,^1* John Jechura,¹ W.W. Wilhelm,² Gary Varvel² and Ken Vogel³

¹National Bioenergy Center

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

1617 Cole Boulevard

Golden, CO 80401

Phone:  (303) 384-7775

Fax:  (303) 384-7752

E-mail: steven_thomas@nrel.gov

²Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit

USDA-ARS, Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, NE 68583

³Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit

USDA-ARS, Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, NE 68583

Favorable biomass conversion process economics depend heavily on high product yields and conversion efficiency. Feedstock composition (absolute and relative quantity of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and other components) directly impacts product yield efficiency. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) rapid analytical techniques have been used successfully to predict structural carbohydrate components in forage crops and are used widely in marketing of hay and other forage materials and balancing rations for dairy and beef cattle. Calibrated NIRS methods coupled with process economic models have been used to predict ethanol yield from corn stover. Harvested stover samples from field experiments and NIRS analyses were used to estimate the amount of ethanol that could be derived from corn stover produced under several management and cultural scenarios in Eastern and Central Nebraska. These estimates of ethanol production can be used to determine favorable locations for biomass ethanol plants and developing management practices to enhance ethanol yield from corn stover.