Industrial hemp (<i>Cannabis sativa </i>L<i>.</i>) is a commodity crop grown in many U.S states for various applications, with recent legalization reforms and greater interest in commercial cultivation infusing new incentives towards hemp related research. Despite existing applications of industrial hemp-based fiber and oil products as well as hemp-based biofuels and bioproducts, several key questions remain for the technical and economic feasibility of using hemp as a bioenergy crop. Hence, the aim of the study is to combine agronomy, laboratory, and economic analysis approaches to evaluate and compare the potential of eleven industrial hemp varieties. Experimental data for the eleven hemp varieties via dilute acid pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation showed an ethanol yield of 70-91 gallons /dry ton hemp stems, with a theoretical ethanol yield of 91-101 gallons /dry ton hemp stems. Highest ethanol yield of 91.1 gallons /dry ton hemp stems was observed from Futura 75, while lowest ethanol yield of 70.6 gallons /dry ton hemp stems was obtained in Codimone. Based on the agronomic data, the per hectare yield for fiber only variety ranged 2933.3 kg to 8340.3 kg, while for the dual variety it ranged 3582.2 kg to 7665.5 kg. Agronomic data of per hectare yield of industrial hemp stem alone was at a similar level to the other energy crops such as switchgrass and sorghum. In addition to the stems, field trial for the dual variety also showed a grain yield of 1082.7 kg/ha for Bialobrzeskie, whereas Santhica 27 obtained a grain yield of 554.8 kg/ha. Further cost analyses making biofuels from hemp grains and hemp stem into consideration will be performed to improve the stigma surrounding its application towards environmentally friendly purposes when compared to other bioenergy crops. These combined evaluations illustrate that industrial hemp has significant potential to become a promising regional commodity crop for producing both biofuels and value-added products.

Comparative evaluation of industrial hemp varieties: Agronomical practices, biofuels, and bioproducts potential

2019 Spring National Meeting

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