Prospects of Winter Wheat Straw for Energy Production

As more types of biomass feedstocks are used for bioenergy and value-added product production, observations need to be made regarding influence of genetic variability. In this study, straw from 22 varieties of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) were assessed for their ash, carbon, nitrogen, biomass yield, energy content, and subsequent calculated energy yield. While there was no singular variety superior or inferior in biomass yield (Mg ha-1) or energy yield (GJ ha-1), two varieties representing high and low yields were further analyzed for their thermal degradation profiles. The V McIntosh variety had a greater energy yield than the SS 8308 variety. Both varieties had similar degradation patterns during both pyrolysis and combustion. However, during combustion, there was a greater difference in temperature associated with SS 8308 resulting in a 7.7% increase in the heat released during the overall exothermic reaction. From these results there was little influence of variety on the potential of wheat straw to be used as a bioenergy feedstock.