Maize cultivation as a biofuel raw material

Maize is used both directly in human nutrition and as a raw material in starch, glucose, oil and feed industry. Maize grain is a very good source of energy, being rich in starch and high digestibility of starch increase the nutritional value. Maize is also important roughage used in animal nutrition as green and as silage. The efficiency and profitability of agricultural production depend on energy consumption. Today, agricultural production technologies are developing rapidly and aiming higher profitability. Maize is increasingly used as a feedstock for the production of ethanol fuel. When considering where to construct an ethanol plant, one of the site selection criteria is to ensure there is locally available feedstock. Ethanol is mixed with gasoline to decrease the amount of pollutants emitted, when used to fuel motor vehicles. The price of food is affected to a certain degree by the use of maize for biofuel production. The cost of transportation, production, and marketing are a large portion of the price of food. Higher energy costs affect these costs, especially transportation.

Autorentext

Hasan Hüseyin Öztürk: Çukurova Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Tar m Makinalar ve Teknolojileri Mühendisli i Bölümünde ö retim üyesi (Prof. Dr.) olarak görev yapmaktad r.Hasan Kaan Küçükerdem: I d r Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Biyosistem Mühendisli i Bölümünde arät rma görevlisi olarak çal maktad r.