Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Variation due to Growth Environment in Alfalfa Yield, Cellulosic Ethanol Traits, and Paper Pulp Characteristics

  • Published:
BioEnergy Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a promising bioenergy and bioproduct feedstock because of its high yield, N-fixation capacity, potential for planting in rotation with corn (Zea mays L.), and valuable protein co-product (leaf meal). Our objective was to examine the effect of growth environment on biomass yield, cellulosic ethanol traits, and paper pulp fiber characteristics of alfalfa stems. Landscape position (summit and mild slope), season of harvest (four harvests per season), and multiple years (2005 and 2006) provided environmental variation. Alfalfa stem samples were analyzed for cell wall carbohydrate and lignin concentration. Stems were subjected to dilute acid pre-treatment, enzymatic saccharification, and pulping processes to measure relevant cellulosic ethanol and paper production traits. Landscape position was not a significant source of variation for yield or any biomass quality trait. Yields varied among harvests in 2005 (1,410–3,265 kg ha−1) and 2006 (1,610–3,795 kg ha−1). All cell wall, conversion test, and paper production traits exhibited year by harvest interactions with no clear pattern. Total carbohydrates and lignin ranged from 440 to 531 g kg−1 DM and from 113 to 161 g kg-1 DM, respectively. Release of cell wall sugars by the conversion test ranged widely (419 to 962 g kg−1 DM). Fiber traits were similarly variable with length and fine content ranging from 1.24 to 1.59 mm and from 15.2% to 21.9%, respectively. Utilizing alfalfa biomass for cellulosic ethanol and paper pulp production will involve dealing with significant feedstock quality variation due to growth environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Adner B, Baker J (1996) Measurement of cellulase activities; LAP-006. NREL Analytical Procedure. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden

    Google Scholar 

  2. Afyuni MM, Cassel DK, Robarge WP (1993) Effect of landscape position on soil water and corn silage yield. Soil Sci Soc Am J 57:1573–1580

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ahmed AER, Labavitch JM (1977) A simplified method for accurate determination of cell wall uronide content. J Food Biochem 1:361–365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Almeida JRM, Modig T, Petersson A, Hahn-Hagerdal B, Liden G, Gorwa-Grausland MF (2007) Increased tolerance and conversion of inhibitors in lignocellulosic hydrolysates by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 82:340–349

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Barnes DK, Bingham ET, Marphy RP et al (1977) Alfalfa germplasm in the United States: genetic vulnerability, use, improvement and maintenance. USDA Technical Bulletin 1571, Washington, pp. 1–21

  6. Boateng AA, Jung HG, Adler PR (2006) Pyrolysis of energy crops including alfalfa stems, reed canarygrass and eastern gamagrass. Fuel 85:2450–2457

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Buxton DR, Casler MD (1993) Environmental and genetic effects on cell wall composition and digestibility. In: Jung HG, Buxton DR, Hatfield RD, Ralph J (eds) Forage cell wall structure and digestibility. ASA-CSA-SSSA, Madison, pp 685–714

    Google Scholar 

  8. Buxton DR, Hornstein JS, Wedin WF, Marten GC (1985) Forage quality in stratified canopies of alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, and red clover. Crop Sci 25:273–279

    Google Scholar 

  9. Buxton DR, Russell JR, Wedin WF (1987) Structural neutral sugars in legume and grass stems in relation to digestibility. Crop Sci 27:11279–1285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Carter PR, Sheaffer CC (1983) Alfalfa response to soil water deficits. I. Growth, forage quality, yield water use, and water-use efficiency. Crop Sci 23:669–675

    Google Scholar 

  11. Casey JP (1980) Pulp and paper chemistry and chemical technology vol II, 3rd edn. Wiley-Interscience, New York, p 827

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chernoglazov VM, Ermolova OV, Klyosov AA (1988) Adsorption of high-purity endo-1, 4-beta-glucanases from Trichoderma reesei on components of lignocellulosic materials—cellulose, lignin and xylan. Enzyme Microb Technol 10:503–507

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Dale BE (1983) Biomass refining: protein and ethanol from alfalfa. Ind Eng Chem Prod Res Dev 22:466–472

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Deetz DA, Jung HG, Buxton DR (1994) Water deficit effects on cell wall composition and in-vitro degradability of structural polysaccharides from alfalfa stems. Crop Sci 36:383–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. DeLong MM, Swanberg DR, Oelke EA et al (1995) Sustainable biomass energy production and rural economic development using alfalfa as a feedstock. In: Klass DL (ed) Second biomass conference of the Americas: energy, environment, agriculture and industry. Portland, OR, 21–24 Aug, pp 1582–1591

  16. Deyong Y (1996) Drainage aids for bleached wheat straw. Proceedings of the 3rd International Nonwood Fiber Pulping and Papermaking Conference, Beijing, China, pp 441-450

  17. Dien BS, Jung HG, Vogel KP et al (2006) Chemical composition and response to dilute-acid pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification of alfalfa, reed canarygrass and switchgrass. Biomass Bioenergy 30:880–891

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Dinwoodie JM (1965) The relation between fiber morphology and paper properties: a review of the literature. Tappi J 48:440–447

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Dinwoodie JM (1966) The influence of anatomical and chemical characteristics of softwood fibers on the properties of sulfate pulp. Tappi J 49:57–67

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Downing M, Volk TA, Schmidt DA (2005) Development of new generation cooperatives in agriculture for renewable energy research, development, and demonstration projects. Biomass Bioenergy 28:425–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Engels FM, Jung HG (1998) Alfalfa stem tissues: cell-wall development and lignification. Ann Bot 82:561–568

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Fernandez EO, Young RA (1994) An explanation for the deviation from linearity in properties of blends of mechanical and chemical pulps. Tappi J 77:221–223

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Fick GW, Onstad DW (1988) Statistical models for predicting alfalfa herbage quality from morphological or weather data. J Prod Agric 1:160–166

    Google Scholar 

  24. Fiez TE, Miller BC, Pan WL (1994) Winter wheat yield and grain protein across varied landscape positions. Agron J 86:1026–1032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Franzen DW, Nanna T, Norvell WA (2006) A survey of soil attributes in North Dakota by landscape position. Agron J 98:1015–1022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Gallant JC, Wilson JP (1996) TAPES-G: a grid-based terrain analysis program for the environmental sciences. Computers Geosciences 22:713–722

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Halim RA, Buxton DR, Hattendorf MJ, Carlson RE (1989) Water-stress effects on alfalfa forage quality after adjustment for maturity differences. Agron J 81:189–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Jones AJ, Mielke LN, Bartles CA, Miller CA (1989) Relationship of landscape position and properties to crop production. J Soil Water Conserv 44:328–332

    Google Scholar 

  29. Jung HG, Casler MD (2006) Maize stem tissues: impact of development on cell wall degradability. Crop Sci 46:1801–1809

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Jung HG, Deetz DA (1993) Cell wall lignification and degradability. In: Jung HG, Buxton DR, Hatfield RD, Ralph J (eds) Forage cell wall structure and digestibility. ASA-CSA-SSSA, Madison, pp 315–346

    Google Scholar 

  31. Jung HG, Engels FM (2002) Alfalfa stem tissues: cell wall deposition, composition and degradability. Crop Sci 42:524–534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Jung HG, Sheaffer CC, Barnes DK, Halgerson JL (1997) Forage quality variation in the U.S. alfalfa core collection. Crop Sci 37:1361–1366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Kiesselbach TA, Russel JC, Anderson A (1929) The significance of subsoil moisture in alfalfa production. J Am Soc Agron 21:241–268

    Google Scholar 

  34. Kojima M, Yamamoto H, Yoshida M, Ojio Y, Okumura K (2009) Maturation property of fast-growing hardwood plantation species: a view of fiber length. Forest Ecol Manage 257:15–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Lamb JFS, Jung HG, Sheaffer CC, Samac DA (2007) Alfalfa leaf protein and stem cell wall polysaccharide yields under hay and biomass management systems. Crop Sci 47:1407–1415

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Marques da Silva JR, Silva LL (2008) The yield pattern considering the distance to flow accumulation lines. Eur J Agron 28:551–558

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. McCloskey JT (1995) What about non-woods? Proceedings of the Tappi global fibre supply symposium. Tappi, Atlanta, pp 95–106

    Google Scholar 

  38. Mooney CA, Mansfield SD, Touhy MG, Saddler JN (1998) The effect of initial pore volume and lignin content on the enzymatic hydrolysis of softwoods. Bioresour Technol 64:113–119

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Page DH (1996) Theory for the tensile strength of paper. Tappi J 52:674–681

    Google Scholar 

  40. Peterson PR, Sheaffer CC, Hall MM (1992) Drought effects on perennial forage legume yield and quality. Agron J 84:774–779

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Redfearn DD, Buxton DR, Devine TE (1999) Sorghum intercropping effects on yield, morphology and quality of forage soybean. Crop Sci 39:1380–1384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Rehm G, Schmitt M, Lamb J, Eliason R (2001) Fertilizer recommendations for agronomic crops in Minnesota. BU-06240-S, Minnesota Extension Serv, Univ of Minn, St. Paul

    Google Scholar 

  43. Ross DM, Van Acker RC (2005) Effect of nitrogen fertilizer and landscape position on wild oat (Avena sativa) interference in spring wheat. Weed Sci 53:689–876

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Samac DA, Jung HG, Lamb JFS (2006) Development of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) as a biofuel feedstock. In: Minteer S (ed) Alcoholic fuels. CRC, Boca Raton, pp 79–98

    Google Scholar 

  45. Sanderson MA, Hornstein JS, Wedin WF (1989) Alfalfa morphological stage and its relation to in situ digestibility of detergent fiber fractions of stems. Crop Sci 29:1315–1319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Sanderson MA, Wedin WF (1988) Cell wall composition of alfalfa stems at similar morphological stages and chronological age during spring growth and summer regrowth. Crop Sci 28:342–347

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Saruul P, Srienc F, Somers DA, Samac DA (2002) Production of a biodegradable plastic polymer, poly-β-hydroxybutyrate, in transgenic alfalfa. Crop Sci 42:919–927

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Seker H, Rowe DE, Brink GE (2003) White clover morphology changes with stress treatments. Crop Sci 43:2218–2225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Sheaffer CC, Martin NP, Lamb JFS, Cuomo GR, Jewett JG, Quering SR (2000) Leaf and stem properties of alfalfa entries. Agron J 92:733–739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Sjoestroem E (1993) Wood chemistry, fundamentals and applications, 2nd edn. Academic, San Diego, pp 128–129

    Google Scholar 

  51. Soon YK, Malhi SS (2005) Soil nitrogen dynamics as affected by landscape position and nitrogen fertilizer. Can J Soil Sci 85:579–587

    Google Scholar 

  52. Stone JR, Gilliam JW, Cassel DK, Daniels RB, Nelson LA, Kleiss HJ (1985) Effect of erosion and landscape position on the productivity of Piedmont soils. Soil Sci Soc Am J 49:987–991

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Theander O, Aman P, Westerlund E, Andersson R, Pettersson D (1995) Total dietary fiber determined as neutral sugar residues, uronic acid residues, and Klason lignin (The Uppsala Method): collaborative study. J AOAC Inter 78:1030–1044

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Tiessen KHD, Flaten DN, Bullock PR et al (2008) Interactive effects of landscape position and time of application on the response of spring wheat to fall-banded urea. Agron J 100:557–563

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Tschirner U, Ramaswamy S, Goel A (2003) Effect of cereal straw fibre addition to papermaking furnish. Pulp Paper Canada 104:26–29

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Undersander D, Becker R, Cosgrove D et al (2004) Alfalfa management guide. ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison

    Google Scholar 

  57. US Department of Energy (2008) Theoretical ethanol yield calculator. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/biomass/ethanol_yield_calculator.html. Cited 18 Nov 2008

  58. US Department of Agriculture: National Resources Conservation Service (2006) Major land resource regions custom report: MLRA explorer custom report, M-103. USDA Agriculture Handbook 296

  59. United States Department of Agriculture: National Resources Conservation Service (2009) Crop productivity index—Waseca County, Minnesota. Web Soil Survey 2.1, National Cooperative Soil Survey. http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx. Cited 10 Apr 2009

  60. United States Department of Agriculture: National Agricultural Statistics Service (2008) U.S. and state database: Hay Alfalfa (Dry) National Statistics. http://www.nass.usda.gov/QuickStats/index2.jsp. Cited 31 March 2008

  61. Vermerris W, Saballos A, Ejeta G, Mosier NS, Ladisch MR, Carpita NC (2007) Molecular breeding to enhance ethanol production from corn and sorghum stover. Crop Sci 47:S142–S153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Ververis C, Georghiou K, Christodoulakis N, Santas P, Santas R (2004) Fiber dimensions, lignin and cellulose content of various plant materials and their suitability for paper production. Ind Crops Prod 19:245–254

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  63. Vough LR, Marten GC (1971) Influence of soil moisture and ambient temperature on yield and quality of alfalfa forage. Agron J 63:40–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Wiemer PJ, Dien BS, Springer TL, Vogel KP (2005) In vitro gas production as a surrogate measure of the fermentability of cellulosic biomass to ethanol. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 67:52–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Wilson JR, Deinum B, Engels FM (1991) Temperature effects on anatomy and digestibility of leaf and stem of tropical and temperate forage species. Neth J Agri Sci 39:31–48

    Google Scholar 

  66. Yeh TF, Braun JL, Goldfarb B, Chang J, Kadla JF (2006) Morphological and chemical variations between juvenile wood, mature wood, and compression wood in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.). Holzforschung 60:1–8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Yu Y, Kettunen H, Paulapuro H (2000) On the reinforcement of straw pulp. Nordic Pulp Paper Res J 15:114–119

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We appreciate the valuable training and technical assistance of Ted Jeo, Matt Bickell, Tom Hoverstad, and Paul Adam. Funding for this project was provided by the Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment of the University of Minnesota. Mention of a proprietary product does not constitute a recommendation or warranty of the product by the University of Minnesota or the USDA-ARS and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other suitable products.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, USDA-ARS, 411 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Katie Petersen Rock, Ryan T. Thelemann, Craig C. Sheaffer & Gregg A. Johnson

  2. Plant Science Research Unit, USDA-ARS, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Hans-Joachim G. Jung

  3. Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA

    Ulrike W. Tschirner

Authors
  1. Katie Petersen Rock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ryan T. Thelemann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hans-Joachim G. Jung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ulrike W. Tschirner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Craig C. Sheaffer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Gregg A. Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hans-Joachim G. Jung.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rock, K.P., Thelemann, R.T., Jung, HJ.G. et al. Variation due to Growth Environment in Alfalfa Yield, Cellulosic Ethanol Traits, and Paper Pulp Characteristics. Bioenerg. Res. 2, 79–89 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-009-9035-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-009-9035-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation