Quality biomass in elephant grass hybrids for energy purposes

Abstract

Besides the use as forage, elephant grass has been used as an alternative energy source. This is due to its high production capacity of biomass. It is desirable that this biomass has high fiber content, low ash, so there need to obtain a genetic material with these traits. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical characteristics of elephant grass hybrids and their parents for the production of energy biomass. The experiment was conducted at Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, located in Campos, in the years 2011 and 2012 were made two cuts which were assessed: Percentage of ash (% CIN); neutral detergent fiber (FDN%) and acid (% FDA); cellulose (CEL%); hemicellulose (HEM%); and lignin (% LIG). The design was a randomized block design with three replications. The treatments were four female parents, four male parents, 16 hybrids obtained by crossing scheme partial diallel and a witness. The Means was compared by Tukey test (P <0.05). As for the traits evaluated in this study, the hybrid combinations H1, H3, H5, H7, H9 and parents P4 and P6 have good biomass qualities and, therefore, have the potential for use for energy purposes.