Effect of Elephant Grass Genotypes to Bioenergy Production
Henrique Guimarães de Favare
Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil.
Joadil Gonçalves de Abreu
Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil.
Livia Vieira de Barros
Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil.
Felipe Gomes da Silva
Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil.
Luis Miguel Mendes Ferreira
University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
Marco Antônio Aparecido Barelli
University of the State of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil.
Inácio Martins da Silva Neto
University Center of Várzea Grande, Várzea Grande, Brazil.
Carlos Eduardo Avelino Cabral
Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil.
Wender Mateus Peixoto *
Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil.
Francisco Ildefonso da Silva Campos
Company of Research, Assistance and Rural Extension of Mato Grosso, Várzea Grande, Brazil.
Francisco José da Silva Ledo
Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Juiz de Fora (MG), Brazil.
Vanessa Quitete Ribeiro da Silva
Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Sinop (MT), Brazil.
Larah Drielly Santos Herrera
Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Brazil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study aimed to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) genotypes on energy production in the combustion form. A randomized block design with 3 repetitions was used. The treatments were arranged in subdivided plots scheme, considering as a plot the genotypes and as subplots, the harvest season. The agronomic characteristics plant height (H), leaf length (LL), leaf blade width (LBW), stem diameter (SD), tillers number (TN), stem percentage (SP), dry matter yield (DMY) were evaluated. The rainy season provided greater H to elephant grass genotypes with height above 3.5 m. The average SP obtained by the genotypes was 68.21% and 67.21% to the first and second year of cultivation, respectively, which gives the biomass good quality of burning. The rainy season provided greater DMY comparing to the dry season. In the first year of cultivation there were genotypes with annual dry matter yield (ADMY) above 50 ton ha-1 year-1, however, the non-maintenance of soil fertility promoted the reduction of 39.17% and 39.05% in the DMY and ADMY, respectively. Analyzing the agronomic characteristics, we conclude that the promising genotypes of elephant grass to produce energy in the form of direct combustion are CNPGL 91-25-1, Cubano Pinda, BRS Canará, Porto Rico and Mercker.
Keywords: Bioenergy, biomass, Pennisetum purpureum, stem percentage, yield.