Sorghum May be Best Shot at Biofuel Production in Southern US

Scientists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service have found sorghum to be an ideal candidate as a bioenergy crop because of its drought tolerance, adaptability to diverse growing conditions, low nitrogen fertilizer requirements and high biomass content. Sorghum is a top candidate for production in the southeastern region of the U.S. because it can extend the biofuel production and use the same equipment. Sorghum producers soluble sugar that can be converted into biofuel – and the leftover residual fibers can be burned to generate electricity. ARS researchers are conducting studies in response to a government mandate for the production of up to 36-billion gallons of biofuel by 2022. While 15-billion gallons will come from grain ethanol – 21-billion will have to come from other feedstocks – such as sorghum.

Source: NAFB News Service

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