Agronomic Performance of Newly Developed Lignocellulosic Bioenergy Crops in Texas.

Lignocellulosic feedstock crops are very important in overcoming challenges associated with fossil fuel use and grain-based biofuel production. Feedstock crops are widely grown and research has been conducted to improve their performance during the last decade. This study was conducted to evaluate the agronomic performance of four newly developed, high yielding, second generation energycane (Saccharum spp.hybrids) genotypes and energy sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] varieties in a semi-arid region. The experiment was conducted in 2015 and 2016 in Chillicothe, Texas, on an Abilene clay loam soil. Plots were arranged based on a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Plant growth and development data such as plant height, Leaf Area Index (LAI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and the fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fAPAR) were collected every two weeks. Aboveground biomass and leaf area data were collected using the destructive method in every four weeks during the crop growing season. This study discusses the yield and agronomic trait differences among the genotypes based on this data. Result and conclusion will be presented at the time of poster presentation.

Key words: Lignocellulosic feedstocks, Bioenergy crop, Agronomic traits