Feedstock Crop Production Costs and Biofuel Feedstock Input Costs Associated with the Production of Energy Cane and Sweet Sorghum in the Southeastern USA

Michael E. Salassi, Alessandro Holzapfel, Brian M. Hilbun, Michael A. Deliberto, Kenneth A. Gravois, Howard P. Viator, Lawrence L. Falconer, Tyler B. Mark

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Concentration of biofuel feedstock crop production in specific regions of the USA is dependent on the relative comparative advantage of production in a specific region based on several agronomic and economic factors. For the southeastern region of the USA, energy cane and sweet sorghum have been identified as two feedstock crops with the greatest potential for further development of production. This study utilized field trial data from yield studies in Louisiana to develop estimates of feedstock crop production costs and biofuel feedstock input costs for these two crops. Results indicated that feedstock production costs on a harvest yield basis, as well as the related dry matter basis, were heavily dependent on yield level. Economic research from this study indicated that energy cane had a slight cost advantage compared with sweet sorghum, although production of sorghum in certain periods during the growing season was very cost competitive with energy cane.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)772-782
Number of pages11
JournalBioenergy Research
Volume10
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2017

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Research results presented in this article are based upon work that was supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture, under award number 2011-69005-30515.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, The Author(s).

Keywords

  • Biofuel
  • Biomass
  • Economics
  • Energy cane
  • Sweet sorghum

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Energy (miscellaneous)

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