Using NIR /PLS to determine successful harvest time and species of perennial cool season grasses for biofuels

Fifteen species of perennial cool season grasses were grown as part of the South Platte Irrigation Research and Demonstration Project near Iliff, Colorado for three seasons (2009-2011).  Agronomic information regarding the feedstock samples was collected, and the composition and predicted reactivity (total sugar yield from pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis assay) of the samples was determined. Potential ethanol yields were also calculated from predicted composition. The results are analyzed from a biofuels perspective, complementing a previous analysis from a forage quality perspective. Though higher biomass yields resulted from a late June harvest, an early June harvest was better suited to forage quality considerations such as crude protein while a late June harvest provided better composition for biofuels applications. There were some differences among species for biofuels production potential as measured by composition and laboratory scale reactivity assay.