Feed your cattle, fuel your Mustang:
Sweet sorghum is not just for breakfast anymore. Although sorghum is a source for table syrup, scientists see a future in which we convert sorghum to biofuel, rather than relying on fossil fuel. That potential just grew as University of Florida researchers found three UF/IFAS-developed sorghum varieties could produce up to 1,000 gallons of ethanol per acre.
"Sweet sorghum has the potential to be an effective feedstock for ethanol production," said Wilfred Vermerris, a UF/IFAS professor of microbiology and cell science and a co-author on the study.
Ethanol produced from sweet sorghum can be used for auto and jet fuel, UF/IFAS researchers said.
UF/IFAS researchers picture big fuel potential from sorghum partly because it's so abundant. Sorghum is the fifth largest cereal crop in the world and the third largest in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 2014, the U.S. was the largest producer of sorghum in the world.
UF/IFAS scientists like sorghum because it can be cultivated twice a year in Florida, requires little fertilizer, uses water efficiently and can be drought resistant, UF/IFAS research shows.
Combine this with terra preta to get more harvests per year and they might have something.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 15 2017, @10:28AM
Hint for you: Sorghum GRAIN is the part most often used for feedstock.
The sorghum syrup, fiber, and bagasse can be made from the cane of any variety, and if harvested early may lack grain, but all sorghum reaching maturity will produce grain. The quality and quantity of grain, cane fiber and syrup will vary depending on variety.
If you want to know more, Wikipedia provides a far more comprehensive explanation of the nuances of sorghum, as well as a agriculture research papers on the subject which can be found with a bit of googling and some patience.