Influence of Corn Residue Harvest Management on Grain,Stover, and Energy Yields

Economic, environmental, and energy independence issues are contributing to rising fossil fuel prices, petroleum supply concerns, and a growing interest in biomass feedstocks as renewable energy sources. Potential feedstocks include perennial grasses, timber, and annual grain crops with our focus being on corn (Zea mays L.) stover. A plot-scale study evaluating stover removal was initiated in 2008 on a South Carolina Coastal Plain Coxville/Rains–Goldsboro–Lynchburg soil association site. In addition to grain and stover yields, carbon balance, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and soil quality impact reported elsewhere in this issue, variation in gross energy distribution within various plant fractions — whole plant, below ear shank (bottom), above ear shank (top), cob, as well as leaves and stems of the bottom and top portions (n _{(part, year)}?=?20) was measured with an isoperibol calorimeter. Stalks from above the ear shank were the most energy dense, averaging 18.8 MJ/kg db, and when combined with other plant parts from above the ear shank, the entire top half was more energy dense than the bottom half — 18.4 versus 18.2 MJ/kg db. Gross energy content of the whole plant, including the cob, averaged 18.28?±?0.76 MJ/kg db. Over the 4 years, partial to total removal (i.e., 25 % to 100 %) of above-ground plant biomass could supply between 30 and 168 GJ/ha depending upon annual rainfall. At 168 GJ/ha, the quantity of corn stover biomass (whole plant) available in a 3,254-km² area (32 km radius) around the study site could potentially support a 500-MW power plant.     

Ethanol production from corn cob pretreated by the ammonia steeping process using genetically engineered yeast

Summary A new and effective pretreatment process for biomass conversion involves the steeping of biomass in 2.9 M NH₄OH. This resulted in the removing about 80–90% of the lignin along with almost all the acetate from cellulosic residues. Based on dry cellulose from corn cob, a high glucose yield of 92% was obtained after enzymatic saccharification of cellulose fraction. By using a genetically engineered, xylosefermenting Saccharomyces 1400(pLNH33) in the batch fermentation of a glucose-xylose mixture from corn cob, an ethanol concentration of 47 g/L was obtained within 36 h with 84% yield. In addition, an ethanol concentration of 45 g/L was obtained within 48 h with 86% yield using simultaneous saccharification-fermentation process.     

Process engineering of cellulosic n-butanol production from corn-based biomass using Clostridium cellulovorans

The cellulolytic Clostridium cellulovorans has been engineered to produce n-butanol from low-value lignocellulosic biomass by consolidated bioprocessing (CBP). The objective of this study was to establish a robust cellulosic biobutanol production process using a metabolically engineered C. cellulovorans. First, various methods for the pretreatment of four different corn-based residues, including corn cob, corn husk, corn fiber, and corn bran, were investigated. The results showed that better cell growth and a higher concentration of n-butanol were produced from corn cob that was pretreated with sodium hydroxide. Second, the effects of different carbon sources (glucose, cellulose and corn cob), basal media and culture pH values on butanol production were evaluated in the fermentations performed in 2-L bioreactors to identify the optimal CBP conditions. Finally, the engineered C. cellulovorans produced butanol with final concentration >3 g/L, yield >0.14 g/g, and selectivity >3 g/g from pretreated corn cob at pH 6.5 in CBP. This study showed that the fermentation process engineering of C. cellulovorans enabled a high butanol production directly from agricultural residues.     

Inhibition of trehalose breakdown increases new carbon partitioning into cellulosic biomass in Nicotiana tabacum

Validamycin A was used to inhibit in vivo trehalase activity in tobacco enabling the study of subsequent changes in new C partitioning into cellulosic biomass and lignin precursors. After 12-h exposure to treatment, plants were pulse labeled using radioactive ¹¹CO₂, and the partitioning of isotope was traced into [¹¹C]cellulose and [¹¹C]hemicellulose, as well as into [¹¹C]phenylalanine, the precursor for lignin. Over this time course of treatment, new carbon partitioning into hemicellulose and cellulose was increased, while new carbon partitioning into phenylalanine was decreased. This trend was accompanied by a decrease in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity. After 4 d of exposure to validamycin A, we also measured leaf protein content and key C and N metabolite pools. Extended treatment increased foliar cellulose and starch content, decreased sucrose, and total amino acid and nitrate content, and had no effect on total protein.     

Time and Site of Inoculation of Maize for Optimum Infection of Ears by Stenocarpella maydis

The optimum inoculation position on the maize plant, and optimum time of inoculation with Stenocarpella maydis for artificial induction of ear rot were determined in field trials. The placement of a conidial suspension on the shank at silking resulted in the highest incidence of S. maydis ear rot.     

Pretreatments to enhance the digestibility of lignocellulosic biomass

Lignocellulosic biomass represents a rather unused source for biogas and ethanol production. Many factors, like lignin content, crystallinity of cellulose, and particle size, limit the digestibility of the hemicellulose and cellulose present in the lignocellulosic biomass. Pretreatments have as a goal to improve the digestibility of the lignocellulosic biomass. Each pretreatment has its own effect(s) on the cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin; the three main components of lignocellulosic biomass. This paper reviews the different effect(s) of several pretreatments on the three main parts of the lignocellulosic biomass to improve its digestibility. Steam pretreatment, lime pretreatment, liquid hot water pretreatments and ammonia based pretreatments are concluded to be pretreatments with high potentials. The main effects are dissolving hemicellulose and alteration of lignin structure, providing an improved accessibility of the cellulose for hydrolytic enzymes.     

Effect of structural features on enzyme digestibility of corn stover

Corn stover was pretreated with excess calcium hydroxide (0.5 g Ca(OH)2/g raw biomass) in non-oxidative and oxidative conditions at 25, 35, 45, and 55 degrees C. The enzymatic digestibility of lime-treated corn stover was affected by the change of structural features (acetylation, lignification, and crystallization) resulting from the treatment. Extensive delignification required oxidative treatment and additional consumption of lime (up to 0.17 g Ca(OH)2/g biomass). Deacetylation reached a plateau within 1 week and there were no significant differences between non-oxidative and oxidative conditions at 55 degrees C; both conditions removed approximately 90% of the acetyl groups in 1 week at all temperatures studied. Delignification highly depended on temperature and the presence of oxygen. Lignin and hemicellulose were selectively removed (or solubilized), but cellulose was not affected by lime pretreatment in mild temperatures (25-55 degrees C), even though corn stover was contacted with alkali for a long time, 16 weeks. The degree of crystallinity slightly increased from 43% to 60% with delignification because amorphous components (lignin, hemicellulose) were removed. However, the increased crystallinity did not negatively affect the 3-d sugar yield of enzymatic hydrolysis. Oxidative lime pretreatment lowered the acetyl and lignin contents to obtain high digestibility, regardless of crystallinity. The non-linear models for 3-d hydrolysis yields of glucan (Y(g)), xylan (Y(x)), and holocellulose (Y(gx)) were empirically established as a function of the residual lignin (L) for the corn stover pretreated with lime and air.     

Comparative study of corn stover pretreated by dilute acid and cellulose solvent‐based lignocellulose fractionation: Enzymatic hydrolysis,supramolecular structure,and substrate accessibility

Liberation of fermentable sugars from recalcitrant biomass is among the most costly steps for emerging cellulosic ethanol production. Here we compared two pretreatment methods (dilute acid, DA, and cellulose solvent and organic solvent lignocellulose fractionation, COSLIF) for corn stover. At a high cellulase loading [15 filter paper units (FPUs) or 12.3 mg cellulase per gram of glucan], glucan digestibilities of the corn stover pretreated by DA and COSLIF were 84% at hour 72 and 97% at hour 24, respectively. At a low cellulase loading (5 FPUs per gram of glucan), digestibility remained as high as 93% at hour 24 for the COSLIF‐pretreated corn stover but reached only ～60% for the DA‐pretreated biomass. Quantitative determinations of total substrate accessibility to cellulase (TSAC), cellulose accessibility to cellulase (CAC), and non‐cellulose accessibility to cellulase (NCAC) based on adsorption of a non‐hydrolytic recombinant protein TGC were measured for the first time. The COSLIF‐pretreated corn stover had a CAC of 11.57 m²/g, nearly twice that of the DA‐pretreated biomass (5.89 m²/g). These results, along with scanning electron microscopy images showing dramatic structural differences between the DA‐ and COSLIF‐pretreated samples, suggest that COSLIF treatment disrupts microfibrillar structures within biomass while DA treatment mainly removes hemicellulose. Under the tested conditions COSLIF treatment breaks down lignocellulose structure more extensively than DA treatment, producing a more enzymatically reactive material with a higher CAC accompanied by faster hydrolysis rates and higher enzymatic digestibility. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;103: 715–724. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

High-yield cellulase production by Trichoderma reesei ZU-02 on corn cob residue

Cellulase production using corn cob residue from xylose manufacture as substrate was carried out by Trichoderma reesei ZU-02. It was found that on the same cellulose basis, the cellulase activity and yield produced on corn cob residue were comparable with that on purified cellulose. Under batch process, the optimum concentration of substrate was 40 g/l and the optimum C/N ratio was 8.0. In 500 ml flasks, cellulase activity reached 5.25 IU/ml (213.4 IU/g cellulose) after seven days' cultivation. In a 30 m(3) stirred fermenter for large scale production, cellulase and cellobiase activity were 5.48 IU/ml (222.8 IU/g cellulase) and 0.25 IU/ml (10.2 IU/g cellulose), respectively, after four days' submerged fermentation. The produced cellulase could effectively hydrolyze the corn cob residue, and the yield of enzymatic hydrolysis reached 90.4% on 10% corn cob residue (w/v) when the cellulase dosage was 20 IU/g substrate.     

The effects of biochars produced in different pyrolsis temperatures from agricultural wastes on cadmium uptake of tobacco plant

Abiotic stresses caused by cadmium (Cd) contamination in soil retard plant growth and decline the quality of food. Amendment of biochar was reported effective in reduction of mobility, plant uptake and toxicity of Cd in plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of biochar applications produced from corn cob and rice husk at three different pyrolysis temperatures (400, 500 and 600 °C) on Cd uptake of tobacco plants. The results showed that the shoot Cd concentration and content of tobacco plants significantly increased with the application of Cd in increasing doses. The results showed that increasing Cd dosescaused significant increase (P < 0.01) in shoot Cd concentration and content of the tobacco plant at three different pyrolysis temperatures of both corn cob and rice husk biochars. The concentration of Cd was 0.48 mg kg^?1 in Cd0 dose of corn cob biochar produced at 500 °C and increased to 61.6 mg kg^?1 at Cd5, while Cd concentration increased to 72.3 mg kg^?1 with rice husk biochar. Despite the increase in Cd concentrations and content, shoot Cd concentrations and contents were significantly (P < 0.01) reduced with the treatments of corn cob and rice husk biochars produced at different pyrolysis temperatures. The Cd concentration at Cd5 dose in the absence of biochar addition was 90.5 mg kg^?1, while Cd concentration at Cd5 dose in 400, 500 and 600 °C treatments of corn cob biochar was reduced to 66.5, 61.6 and 67.3 mg kg^?1 respectively, and to 77.0, 72.3 and 70.2 mg kg^?1 in rice husk biochar. The results also revealed that corn cob biochar treatments were more effective in reducing Cd uptake of tobacco plants compared to rice husk biochar. Higher specific surface area of corncob biochar compared to rice husk biochar caused to the difference between two biochar sources on Cd uptake of tobacco plants.     

Dilute-acid hydrolysis for fermentation of the Bolivian straw material Paja Brava

Hydrolysis of the straw material Paja Brava, a sturdy grass characteristic for the high plains of Bolivia, was studied in order to find suitable conditions for hydrolysis of the hemicellulose and cellulose parts. Dried Paja Brava material was pre-steamed, impregnated with dilute sulfuric acid (0.5% or 1.0% by wt), and subsequently hydrolyzed in a reactor at temperatures between 170 and 230 degrees C for a reaction time between 3 and 10 min. The highest yield of xylose (indicating efficient hydrolysis of hemicellulose) were found at a temperature of 190 degrees C, and a reaction time of 5-10 min, whereas considerably higher temperatures (230 degrees C) were needed for hydrolysis of cellulose. Fermentability of hemicellulose hydrolyzates was tested using the xylose-fermenting yeast species Pichia stipitis, Candida shehatae and Pachysolen tannophilus. The fermentability of hydrolyzates decreased strongly for hydrolyzates produced at temperatures higher than 200 degrees C.     

Kernel set in maize genotypes differing in nitrogen use efficiency in response to resource availability around flowering

Environmental conditions affect grain yield in maize (Zea mays L.) mainly by altering the kernel number per plant (KNP). This number is determined during a critical period of about 2 weeks around silking. The objectives of this study were to assess how the rate and timing of nitrogen (N) fertilizer applications affect biomass partitioning and KNP in two genotypes with different N use efficiency, and to compare kernel set of these genotypes under varying regimes of carbohydrate and N availability during the critical period for kernel set. In the first field experiment, plant density and the rate of N supply per plant were varied independently. In the second field experiment, N availability was controlled via the application of N fertilizer, and carbohydrate availability was controlled by shading or thinning at silking. In both experiments, low rates of N supply reduced KNP more strongly in the non-efficient genotype when compared to the efficient genotype. The genotypic differences in kernel set were neither associated with N uptake into the above-ground biomass at maturity, nor above-ground biomass at silking. In the non-efficient genotype, application of N fertilizer at silking increased KNP. This increase was not associated with an increase in plant growth but with increased partitioning of biomass towards the reproductive organs during the critical period for kernel set. The genotype which had been selected for its high N use efficiency also showed higher kernel set at high plant density and shading during flowering when compared to the non-efficient genotype. Under conditions of restricted resource availability per plant, plant and ear growth rates during the critical period of about 14 days after onset of flowering declined compared with non-limiting conditions. However, these growth rates were less reduced in the efficient genotype. Pooling treatments of different plant density and different available N, each hybrid showed linear responses of KNP to plant growth rate and to ear growth rate. Furthermore, in the efficient genotype KNP was reduced to a lesser extent in response to decreasing growth rates. We conclude that higher kernel set of the efficient genotype compared to the non-efficient genotype under stressful conditions was associated with low sensitivity of plant growth and dry matter distribution towards reproductive organs to low assimilate availability during the critical period of kernel set, and particularly with low sensitivity of kernel set to decreasing plant and ear growth rates.     

Vertical Distribution of Corn Stover Dry Mass Grown at Several US Locations

Corn (Zea mays L.) stover was identified as a renewable non-food agricultural feedstock for production of liquid fuels, biopower, and other bioproducts, but it is also needed for erosion control, carbon sequestration, and nutrient cycling. To help balance these multiple demands, our objectives were to (1) determine height distribution of corn stover biomass, (2) quantify the percentage of stover that is corn cob, and (3) develop a general relationship between plant harvest height and stover remaining in the field for a broad range of growing conditions, soil types, and hybrids in different regions. Plant height, dry grain, stover, and cob yield data were collected at eight US locations. Overall, stover yield increased about 0.85 Mg ha^-1 and cob yield increased about 0.10 Mg ha^-1 for each 1.0 Mg ha^-1 increase in dry grain yield. At grain harvest, the stover-to-grain ratio ranged from 0.64 to 0.96 and cob-to-grain ratio ranged from 0.11 to 0.19. A strong nearly 1:1 linear (r ²?=?0.93) relationship between the relative cutting height and relative biomass remaining in the field was observed across all sites. These data were requested by the US Department of Agriculture-Natural Resource Conservation Service to help improve version 2 of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE2) and Wind Erosion Prediction System and better estimate corn stover harvest rates based on cutting height or selective organ harvest (e.g., grain and cob only). This information will improve the capacity of RUSLE2 and similar models to predict the erosion risk associated with harvesting corn residues.     

Effect of hemicellulose and lignin removal on enzymatic hydrolysis of steam pretreated corn stover

Ethanol can be produced from lignocellulosic biomass using steam pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. The sugar yields, from both hemicellulose and cellulose are critical parameters for an economically-feasible ethanol production process. This study shows that a near-theoretical glucose yield (96-104%) from acid-catalysed steam pretreated corn stover can be obtained if xylanases are used to supplement cellulases during hydrolysis. Xylanases hydrolyse residual hemicellulose, thereby improving the access of enzymes to cellulose. Under these conditions, xylose yields reached 70-74%. When pre-treatment severity was reduced by using autocatalysis instead of acid-catalysed steam pretreatment, xylose yields were increased to 80-86%. Partial delignification of pretreated material was also evaluated as a way to increase the overall sugar yield. The overall glucose yield increased slightly due to delignification but the overall xylose yield decreased due to hemicellulose loss in the delignification step. The data also demonstrate that steam pretreatment is a robust process: corn stover from Europe and North America showed only minor differences in behaviour.     

Bioconversion of corn straw by coupling ensiling and solid-state fermentation

A two-stage process that combined solid-state fermentation (SSF) and ensiling was used for bioconversion of corn straw, in order to increase nutritional value and palatability for animal feed. SSF of corn straw increased the level of protein from 6.7% to 14.7% and decreased the cellulose by 38.0% and hemicellulose by 21.2%. Cellulase and xylanase were produced during SSF. After SSF, the fermented substrate was directly ensiled by inoculating with lactic acid bacteria (LAB). In situ produced enzymes and bacterial inoculation resulted in a rapid drop in pH, a high level of lactic acid production, partial degradation of cell wall components and generation of reducing sugars (RSs). Efficiency of ensiling at 25 degrees C, 30 degrees C, 35 degrees C, 40 degrees C was evaluated. Temperature influenced the effect of ensiling; the higher the temperature, the shorter the ensiling period. The combined fermentation upgraded the nutritional value, enhanced the efficiency of ensiling and reduced bioprocessing costs.     

Co-regulation Of ear growth and internode elongation in corn

Ear is the harvest part of corn (Zea mays L.) and we are interested in studying its growth and development in our effort in corn yield improvement. In our current study, we examined the relationship between ear growth and internode characteristics using different approaches. Correlations between stem growth rate and number of ears per plant (prolificacy) were assessed among several genotypes. Internode elongation of 2 genotypes was modified by plant hormones and by population density manipulations. Among the 7 genotypes examined that have different prolificacy levels, there was a general correlation of slower stem elongation at middle growth stages and larger ear number. When the internode elongation was enhanced by application of gibberellic acid (GA), ear growth was suppressed; and when a GA synthesis inhibitor uniconazole was applied at early stages, internode length was reduced and ear growth was promoted in terms of both ear size and visible ear number at silking stage. Higher population density caused longer internodes and fewer ears per plant and the effect of lower density was the opposite. Our results suggested that internode elongation in the middle section of corn plants was linked to suppression of ear development in corn.     

Genetic mapping and QTL analysis for yield and agronomic traits with an F2:3 population derived from a waxy corn × sweet corn cross

We constructed a framework map using SSR markers in the F₂ population derived from a cross between a waxy corn inbred line and a sweet corn inbred line. We constructed a genetic linkage map of the F_2:3 population employing 295 SSR markers on 158 F₂ individuals produced from the cross. The map comprised a total genomic length of 2,626.5 cM in 10 linkage groups and an average distance between markers of 8.9 cM. The number of loci per linkage group ranged from 27 (chr. 5) to 34 (chr. 7). The genetic distance per linkage group ranged from 213.6 cM (chr. 10) to 360.6 cM (chr. 2). Χ ² tests revealed that 254 markers (86.1 %) distributed over all 10 chromosomes exhibited a Mendelian segregation ratio of 1:2:1. A total of 14 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for days to silking (DTS), plant height (PH), ear height (EH), ear height ratio (ER), ear length (L-ear), and setted ear length (L-sear) were found in the 158 F₂ progeny. They were mapped to chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and 10. Among them, one QTL was associated with DTS, three with PH, six with EH, one with ER, two with L-ear, and one QTL was related to L-sear. In our study, we found that four QTLs: qDTS1, qEH1a, qEH1b, and qPH1, were clustered between umc2390 and umc1603 on chromosome 1. These new QTLs identified by the present study could serve as useful molecular markers in selecting for yield and agronomic traits in maize. The results of this study may improve the identification and characterization of genes responsible for yield and agronomic traits in waxy corn and sweet corn.     

Biomass,sugar, and bioethanol potential of sweet corn

Sweet corn is a widely distributed crop that generates agricultural waste without significant commercial value. In this study, we show that sweet corn varieties produce large amounts of residual biomass (10 t ha^?1) with high content of soluble sugars (25% of dry matter) in a short growing season (3 months). The potential ethanol production from structural and soluble sugars extracted from sweet corn stover reached up to 4400 l ha^?1 in the most productive hybrids, 33% of which (1500 l ha^?1) were obtained by direct fermentation of free sugars. We found wide genetic variation for biomass yield and soluble sugars content suggesting that those traits can be included as complementary traits in sweet corn breeding programs. Dual‐purpose sweet corn hybrids can have an added value for the farmers contributing to energy generation without affecting food supply or the environment.     

Pyrolysis characteristics and kinetics of Arundo donax using thermogravimetric analysis

The increase of the price of fossil means, as well as their programmed disappearing, contributed to increase among appliances based on biomass and energy crops. The thermal behavior of Arundo donax by thermogravimetric analysis was studied under inert atmosphere at heating rates ranging from 5 to 20 °C min⁻¹ from room temperature to 750 °C. Gaseous emissions as CO₂, CO and volatile organic compounds (VOC) were measured and global kinetic parameters were determined during pyrolysis with the study of the influence of the heating rate. The thermal process describes two main phases. The first phase named active zone, characterizes the degradation of hemicellulose and cellulose polymers. It started at low temperature (200 °C) comparatively to wood samples and was finished at 350 °C. The pyrolysis of the lignin polymer occurred during the second phase from 350 to 750 °C, named passive zone. Carbon oxides are emitted during the active zone whereas VOC are mainly formed during the passive zone. Mass losses, mass loss rates and emission factors were strongly affected by the variation of the heating rate in the active zone. It was found that the global pyrolysis of A. donax can be satisfactorily described using global independent reactions model for hemicellulose and cellulose in the active zone. The activation energy for hemicellulose was not affected by a variation of the heating rate with a value close to 110 kJ mol⁻¹ and presented a reaction order close to 0.5. An increase of the heating rate decreased the activation energy of the cellulose. However, a first reaction order was observed for cellulose decomposition. The experimental results and kinetic parameters may provide useful data for the design of pyrolytic processing system using A. donax as feedstock.     

干旱对东北春玉米生长发育和产量的影响

选取玉米品种丹玉39为供试材料,利用大型农田水分控制试验场,采用大田池栽方式,在玉米三叶-拔节期、拔节-吐丝期、吐丝-乳熟期分别开展中度干旱胁迫及复水控制对比试验,分析3个关键生育时期干旱胁迫对春玉米生长发育和产量的影响.结果表明：与水分适宜对照（CK）相比,三叶-拔节期遭受干旱胁迫后,全生育期推迟13 d,至拔节普遍期,株高偏低29.8%,叶面积偏小41.2%,复水后,株高和产量得到较大程度恢复,果穗性状和最终产量差异不大;拔节-吐丝期遭受干旱胁迫后,全生育期缩短7 d,至吐丝普遍期,株高偏低18.6%,叶面积偏小14.1%,果穗长、穗粒数、果穗干质量、穗粒质量分别下降6.9%、19.1%、28.1%和29.4%,空秆率增加13.3%;吐丝-乳熟期遭受干旱胁迫后,全生育期缩短15 d,生长至乳熟普遍期,株高偏低2.3%,叶面积偏小37.3%,果穗长、穗粒数、果穗干质量、穗粒质量分别下降9.2%、24.1%、30.8%和27.9%,空秆率增加24.5%.拔节-吐丝期、吐丝-乳熟期干旱胁迫处理并复水后,玉米株高恢复不明显,产量降幅显著.