Chemical profiles of switchgrass

Chemical analysis Studies were conducted for four populations of switchgrass (Alamo, Kanlow, GA993, and GA992), Panicum virgatum L., which were partitioned into leaves, internodes. and nodes. The variations in carbohydrate compositions, lignin and extractives content, higher heating value (HHV), and the syringyl:guaiacyl ratio of switchgrass were determined. The experimental results indicated that bulk chemical profiles for the four populations of switchgrass were comparable. However, the results from three morphological components of switchgrass, leaves, internodes and nodes, provided a significant diversity among the analytical results Studied. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.