Sweet sorghum biomass: Part III. Cultivars and plant constituents

Abstract

With their adaptability to extensive land areas, rapid growth characteristics, modest water requirements and high carbohydrate contents, the sweet sorghums have become prime candidates for renewable energy sources. With this objective, the high-sucrose requirement of cultivars suitable for crystalline raw sugar production becomes less important than the requirement for a high content of total fermentable sugars, i.e., sucrose plus dextrose and levulose. The results of field trials with several different cultivars in southern Texas during 1978 and 1979 are reported here. Among the constituents measured were, total sugars, soluble solids other than sugars, fiber, starch, lipids, and protein. The effects of harvest date and row-spacing on total sugars was also examined. (17 references).