The Tallow tree is a fast growing species that produces abundant quantities of seed rich in lipids suitable for the production of biodiesel and other uses.Because of its high seed yields, this perennial crop has legitimate potential to supply the biodiesel industry with critical feedstock at low-cost. Tallow trees readily adapt to soils too infertile, wet or saline for profitable agriculture and therefore commercial production will not compete with food crops for limited land resources

This PDF file provides a description of LSU AgCenter Bioenergy Projects and the faculty leading the research and outreach. Topics covered include: development of alternative renewable fuels; bagasse to ethanol; gasification technologies; use of bran to produce bio-diesel; costs of producing energy sugarcane; production and management aspects and biofuel potential.

All varieties of sweet sorghum remain completely recumbent two weeks after Hurricane Gustav, whereas, sugarcane has become considerably more erect. The inability of sweet sorghum to erect itself after lodging will make harvesting more difficult and losses will be greater.

The N fertilizer treatments (0, 45, 90 and 135 lb/A) were applied as urea by hand just after each harvest date.

We began to harvest the Dale and Theis sweet sorghum varieties on July 24 and completed the harvest on the 25th. Only the Dale and Theis varieties were harvested on these dates because they reached harvest maturity before the M81-E and Topper varieties.

Sweet Sorghum Blog from Iberia Research Station on August 26, 2008

Lacassine sweet sorghum site.

The sweet sorghum varieties M-81E and Topper just began heading early this week (July 14).

The three sweet sorghum varieties being evaluated are relatively close in maturity.

Sweet sorghum growth response to nitrogen rate is evident from this photo taken in late July 2008.

Lake Charles Sweet Sorghum Plot Updates - August 1, 2008 from County Agents Jerry Whatley and Allen Hogan.

Overview of sweet sorghum variety test at the Southeast Research Station.

Post-directed chemicals have been used to provide weed control in our sweet sorghum plots.

Following a period with good growing conditions for the past couple of weeks, moisture stress conditions are beginning to affect sweet sorghum growth for the second time this growing season at the Hill Farm Research Station.

Currently, Southeast Research Station is conducting two sweet sorghum studies.

The best plots at the Iberia Research Station are about 8 feet tall and varietal differences in height and plant population are evident.

A lot has happened since my last blog. Let me see if I can get you caught up…On Friday, June 20, we began to see a few heads emerge from the flag leaf of the Dale and the Theis varieties.

Sweet sorghum growing at the Macon Ridge Research Station near Winnsboro, LA.

Three images from the Lacassine site planting study.

The sweet sorghum varieties Dale, M81-E, Theis, and Topper were planted in a variety trial at the Hill Farm Research Station on April 16, 2008.

Sweet sorghum plots at Jeanerette are now benefitting from hot temperatures, adequate moisture and available fertilizer.

Field was sprayed right after planting with 1 quart/acre of Atrazine as a pre-emergence herbicide.

County Agent Jimmy Flanagan viewing a plot of sweet sorghum that had an excessive amount of annual weeds.

Sweet sorghum plots at the Iberia Research Station were fertilized after emergence on May 12

Sweet Sorghum Blog from the Iberia Research Station on 5/9/2008

Links related to bioenergy

Kinder field Demo Planted 4/1/2008 4 varieties (Dale, Topper, M81, Theis) replicated 4 times on 32” rows; single drill.

South Lake Charles Site First planting April 1, second planting April 15, future planting April 29 Demonstration objective -- Date of planting, yield and optimum harvest

Laccassine SitePlanted April 15Double drilled on 72” rows, 200’ long, one variety per row(M81, Theis, Dale, Topper) .Planted with commercial vacuum drill

4/25/2008 - On Monday of this week we noticed that many leaves of the sweet sorghum plants had a purplish tint to them.

The Southeast Research Station, located in the states dairy area is working on sweet sorghum studies aiming on evaluation of ethanol production potential.

Sweet Sorghum images from County Agents Whatley and Hogan.

5/2/2008 It rained approximately 1.4 inches this past Saturday. This rain helped the sorghum to move quite a bit since last week’s blog.

(Distributed 04/23/08) Using Louisiana sugar mills to produce biofuels and value-added chemicals in addition to sugar can help the state’s sugar industry become a driving force for economic growth in Louisiana and produce alternative fuels to satisfy the state’s demand, LSU AgCenter researchers told the U.S. secretary of energy April 21.

Sweet Sorghum Blog from the Iberia Research Station.

The LSU AgCenter is also conducting a sweet sorghum trial at the Rice Research Station South Farm location.

The term biofuels refers to any fuel – in a solid, liquid or gas form – made from the breakdown or decay of a biological feedstock source. This two-page fact sheet presents some basic information about biofuel production in the United States and in Louisiana and briefly describes current research on biofuels being conducted by the LSU AgCenter.