YIELD ETHANOL, PRODUCTIVITY WATER AND ECONOMIC WATER PRODUCTIVITY FOR CORN AND SORGHUM

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of irrigation on ethanol productivity, water yield and economic productivity of water for ethanol production from corn and grain sorghum crops. The experimental design used a two-factor arrangement, in strips with randomized blocks and four replications. ​Being evaluated in factor “A”, three irrigation depths: 0%, 50% and 100% of the reference evapotranspiration, and in factor “D”, corn and grain sorghum cultivars. Irrigation management was determined using the water balance method and calculating evapotranspiration using the Penman-Monteith method. For the determination of the productivity of the cultures, the plants of a useful area of 5 m² were collected. The ethanol yield of each treatment was obtained by the product of grain yield and average ethanol yield. Water productivity and water economic productivity were determined. The highest ethanol yields were obtained with 100% irrigation for corn. Water productivity and water economic productivity showed the best results for the 50% water replacement depth.