Dear Lauren,

We are writing in response to your request that, NexSteppe provide non-confidential composition 

information for certain commercial and pre-commercial NexSteppe hybrids. We attach for your review 

and inclusion in the docket, at your discretion, the following information:

1. A summary of composition results for certain NexSteppe hybrids. (Table 1)

2. A summary of NREL methods that were used for the composition analysis of NexSteppe hybrids 

(Table 2)

3. The general production guidelines under which the plants used in the compositional analysis 

were grown. 

Plant samples to be used in the composition analysis were grown under what can be described as 

"commercial" conditions using the attached production guide as a general rule. Local variations in 

agronomic practices may have occurred and we do not have detailed records of the conditions under 

which each of these samples were cultivated. 

We hope that you find this information useful, if you would like to discuss or we can provide any further 

information please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards,

Kripa Rao

CC: 

John Van de North

Thomas Lorenzen (Dorsey)

Tim Lust (NSP)

Chris Cogburn (NSP)
Table 1: Nexsteppe Palo Alto Composition data*

Material Trial Location

Average 

Free 

Sugars 

(%)

Average 

Starch 

(%)

Average 

Total 

cellulosics 

(%)

Average 

ACC (%)

Palo Alto Hybrid 1 Alagoas state, Brazil 8.48 5.22 75.78 77.44%

Palo Alto Hybrid 2 Alagoas state, Brazil 8.50 3.58 78.09 79.13%

Palo Alto Hybrid 1 Hereford, Texas 1.23 8.12 80.10 87.53%

Palo Alto Hybrid 2 Hereford, Texas 2.99 4.30 75.53 82.98%

Palo Alto Hybrid 1 Hermiston, Oregon 1.69 0.91 75.27 88.59%

Palo Alto Hybrid 2 Hermiston, Oregon 5.94 0.28 77.60 83.11%

Palo Alto Hybrid 2 North Carolina 2.55 1.60 80.47 86.88%

*Table 2: Composition data quantified using NREL methods listed in Table 2. 

Analyte Method Used Comments

Sample preparation 

for analysis

NREL/TP-510-42620, “Preparation of 

Samples for Compositional Analysis”

% Ash NREL/TP-510-42622 “ Determination of ash 

in biomass”

Total ash before 

solvent extraction

% Free sugars NREL/TP-510-42619 “Determination of 

Extractives in Biomass”

Measured from the 

water extractives and 

includes sucrose, 

glucose and fructose

% Cellulose, % 

Hemicellulose

NREL/TP-510-42618: Determination of 

Structural Carbohydrates and Lignin in 

Biomass

Performed on the 

water and ethanol 

extractive free 

materials

% Lignin NREL/TP-510-42618: Determination of 

Structural Carbohydrates and Lignin in 

Biomass

Includes acid soluble 

and insoluble lignin
palo alto

high biomass

 sorghum
‘Palo Alto’ is the brand name for NexSteppe Inc. line of high biomass sorghum. Palo Alto 

high biomass sorghum is designed to be a high yielding, low moisture hybrid specifically for 

cellulosic ethanol production. 

Introduction 

Grain based ethanol has dominated the biofuels industry in the 

U.S. However, the federal government has capped how much 

ethanol can be derived from grain. Much of the ethanol produced in 

the future will come from lignocellulose, which comprises much of 

the composition of plants. The ethanol produced from lignocellulose 

is often referred to as cellulosic ethanol. The plant material, or 

feedstock, to produce cellulosic ethanol will come from a number of 

sources, including various waste products such as wood chips and 

crop residue, particularly from corn. However, to meet the demand 

for a reliable cellulosic feedstock, dedicated biomass crops will be 

necessary. Much of the initial focus for bioenergy crops has been 

placed on perennials such as switchgrass, miscanthus, energy cane 

and arundo. Although these and other perennial crops will play a 

large role, certain annual crops will also make a major contribution. 

High biomass sorghum is one of these crops. 

How it Differs from Other Sorghum

High biomass sorghum is often confused with forage sorghum or sweet sorghum, but it is 

neither. Forage sorghum has been grown for livestock feed for many years as hay, silage or 

as pasture. For livestock, emphasis on breeding and agronomy was placed on the quality and 

quantity of forage that could be produced, ultimately resulting in high daily pounds of livestock 

gain on a per acre basis. With sweet sorghum, the goal is to grow a plant that produces a lot of 

juice high in fermentable sugars. In contrast, the goal for high biomass sorghum is to provide 

a feedstock that requires low inputs while producing a high yield with a high percentage of 

cellulose and hemicellulose. 

Palo Alto High Biomass Sorghum

What is it?
Advantages of High Biomass Sorghum as a Cellulosic Feedstock

The primary advantages of using high biomass sorghum as cellulosic ethanol feedstock are 

listed below:

• It is much easier for a farmer to commit land to growing an annual crop with a life cycle of 

less than 140 days than a perennial crop that will tie up land for multiple years.

• Sorghum is known to be more drought tolerant than many other C4 annual crops such as 

corn.

• Sorghum has a low establishment cost.

• Infrastructure for handling sorghum seed is already in place.

• Established agronomy practices for grain and forage sorghum can be adapted for high 

biomass sorghum.

• Harvesting equipment is readily available.

• If long term storage of biomass sorghum is required, it can be baled or ensiled.

High biomass 

sorghum is a 

feedstock that 

requires low inputs 

while producing 

a high yield with 

a high percentage 

of cellulose and 

hemicellulose. 
Land Preparation and Planting

Palo Alto high biomass sorghum seed is similar to other types of sorghum in that best 

emergence and plant establishment occur when planted in a firm, uniform seedbed. Notillage or reduced tillage is an option as long as the seed can be placed uniformly into the 

soil. If significant crop residue is present, row cleaners are recommended. Germination and 

establishment is best when seed is placed into soil that has 

reached at least 60o F. A planting depth of 1 to 2 inches works best. 

Sorghum seed is relatively small compared to cotton or soybean 

seed and will vary between hybrids and even between seed lots. 

For this reason, seeding rates are based on number of seed per acre 

rather than pounds per acre. Recommended seeding rate will range 

from 45,000 to 70,000 seed/acre, depending on the yield goal. If 

heavy crop residue is present or soil is in poor condition, increase 

seeding rate 15%. Planters should be well maintained and equipped 

with the proper sorghum plate for the seed size used. This will 

minimize skips and doubles within the row. Row spacing can vary, 

but 30-inch rows work well. 

production Guide

Palo Alto High Biomass Sorghum

Seeding Rate

45,000 to 70,000 seed/acre

Under a high yield 

environment, as much 

as 300 lbs of N/acre 

can be removed from 

the soil. 
Water Requirement

Sorghum is able to withstand short 

periods of drought without drastically 

lowering yield. In areas where rainfall 

is sparse, supplemental irrigation will 

greatly increase yield potential. As a 

general rule, Palo Alto high biomass 

sorghum will need approximately 75% 

of the water required for corn to reach 

maximum yield. Depending on the environment, high biomass sorghum will use 18 in to 26 in 

of total water (rainfall, soil water, irrigation) to achieve its full potential yield. Water demand 

will reach its peak at the heading stage and will remain high through the grain hard dough stage. 

At its peak, average daily water use will be approximately 0.28 inches. Care should be taken not 

to over irrigate early in the season. This is important to allow the sorghum to develop a deep root 

system. In a deep soil profile, sorghum can extract water from at least a depth of 4 ft. 

 No Nitrogen

Nutrient Requirement 

Palo Alto high biomass sorghum does not require as much N-P-K as many other crops. For 

high yield environments, the following amounts of nutrients should be made available to the 

crop: 140 lb N, 80 lb P2

O5 and 160 lb K2O per acre. The amount of fertilizer applied should take 

into account any soil residual nutrients that are present based on a soil nutrient analysis. On 

high clay textured soils, all of the needed nutrients can be applied preplant. In sandy soils, it 

is best to apply N and K fertilizer in split applications, with 30 to 40 % applied preplant or at 

planting, and the remainder applied as a layby treatment. High biomass sorghum will grow best 

in soils with a pH between 6.5 and 7.6. Lime and gypsum should be applied as necessary to 

amend soil pH. Micronutrients may be necessary in some regions; check with local experts for 

specific micronutrient recommendations.

Nitrogen Applied 

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0 30 60 90 120 150 180

Daily Water Requirement (in)

Days After Planting

NexSteppe Palo Alto High Biomass Sorghum Water Use

Boot

Bloom

Hard Dough

Maturity

Panicle Initiation
Category Characteristic Value

Management

Maturity Group F

Plant Description

Total Plant Height (m) 3.5-5.0

Seeds per Kg (000) 30.0-33.0

Days to Flower 110-120

Days to Harvest 120+

Growth

Seedling Vigor 5

Staygreen 7

Plant Uniformity (ht.) 5

Lodging 3

Pre-Flower Stress Tolerance 4

Post-Flower Stress Tolerance 5

Post Freeze Standability 5

Yield Under Stress 4

Harvest

Yield for Maturity 2

Diseases

Charcoal Rot Tolerance 4

Anthracnose Tolerance 7

Turcicum Tolerance 2

Rust Tolerance 6

Target Spot Tolerance 3

SCMV Tolerance 3

Chemical Burn Tolerance 3

Insects

Greenbug Tolerance C

K

M

LEGEND

Rating	
  Scale:

1-­‐2 =	
  Excellent

3-­‐4 =	
  Very	
  Good

5-­‐6 =	
  Good

7-­‐8 =	
  Fair

9 =	
  Poor

-­‐ =	
  Not	
  Available

Greenbug	
  Tolerance:

C =	
  Biotype	
  “C”

D =	
  Biotype	
  “D”

E =	
  Biotype	
  “E”

I =	
  Biotype	
  “I”

Codes:

E =	
  Early

M-­‐E =	
  Medium-­‐Early

M =	
  Medium

M-­‐F =	
  Medium-­‐Full

F	
  =	
  Full

PS	
  =	
  Photo	
  Period	
  Sensitive

SCMV:

Sugar	
  Cane	
  Mosaic	
  Virus

Notes:

Rating	
  scale	
  relative	
  to	
  other	
  NexSteppe®	
  brand	
  products.

Data	
  based	
  on	
  a	
  limited	
  number	
  of	
  trials	
  conducted	
  by	
  Nexsteppe.	
  Traits	
  for	
  which	
  

no	
  rating	
  value	
  is	
  shown	
  were	
  not	
  rated	
  for	
  this	
  product.	
  	
   Planting	
  hybrid	
  in	
  areas	
  

of	
  different	
  geography	
  or	
  environment	
  will	
  change	
  some	
  ratings.

Although Palo Alto high biomass sorghum does not require a lot of N to produce high 

yields, if a high amount of N is in the soil, it will be taken up by the plant. Under a high yield 

environment, as much as 300 lbs of N/acre can be removed from the soil. This makes high 

biomass sorghum an excellent crop on swine effluent spray fields or other industrial sites where 

large amounts of nutrients need to be utilized and removed from the field. 

Weed Control

Herbicides labeled for grain sorghum or forage sorghum can be safely used in high biomass 

sorghum. It is best to apply a pre-emergence herbicide, especially if annual grass is a potential 

problem. An atrazine containing premix with either metolachlor or dimethenimid will generally 

do a good job in controlling annual grasses and most annual broadleaf weeds. Be sure and check 

labels for local use of atrazine. Atrazine cannot be used pre-emergence in sandy or high pH 

soils. In these soils, metolachlor or dimethenamid can be applied alone pre-emergence. Seed 

must be treated with a safener (Concep III® or equivalent) if one of these grass herbicides is to 

be used. Atrazine or other broadleaf herbicides can be applied early post emergence in most 

soils. Because of the rapid growth of Palo Alto high biomass sorghum, late emerging weeds are 

seldom a problem. 

Potential Insects and Control

Many of the insects that infest grain sorghum can be a potential 

problem in high biomass sorghum. See regional university or other 

experts for specific threshold levels and insecticide recommendations. 

One insect that can be particularly damaging is fall armyworm 

(Spodoptera frugiperda). Begin examining sorghum for fall 

armyworms 15 days after planting. If worms are found on 20% of the 

plants, apply insecticide. Control will be improved if fall armyworms are small.

Potential Diseases and Control

NexSteppe research has shown that diseases seldom reach a level in Palo Alto hybrids to 

warrant fungicide application. Late season leaf infection can actually help lower the percent 

moisture in the biomass at harvest. Seed fungicide treatments applied by NexSteppe are 

sufficient to control most seedling diseases.

Harvest

Palo Alto high biomass sorghum can be harvested as hay, ensiled or delivered fresh to the end 

user. To maximize yield, it is important to delay harvest until the sorghum has reached the soft 

to hard dough stage. Biomass yield increases significantly from heading to hard dough stage. 

Delaying harvest also allows the biomass to dry down. This is especially important for justin-time delivery. At the soft to hard dough stage, Palo Alto hybrids will usually be about 60% 

moisture. This is 10 to 15 percentage points drier than other high biomass sorghums on the 

market. Moisture content may be even less than 60% if late leaf disease infection has occurred, 

resulting in dry leaves. The cutter bar of the harvester should be set approximately 3 to 4 inches 

above the ground. 
0

Key	
  Strengths

High yield of dry matter

Reduced moisture level at harvest

Fast plant growth

Management	
  Tips

Best to harvest 20 to 40 days after flowering to 

maximize dry matter yield.

	
  	
  9	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  8	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  7	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  6	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  5	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  4	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  3	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  2	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  1	
  

Stalk	
  Moisture	
  

Seedling	
  Vigor	
  

Pre-­‐Flower	
  Stress	
  Tolerance	
  

Yield	
  	
  for	
  Maturity	
  

High	
  Biomass	
  Sorghum	
  52K1009	
  

Key Strengths

• High yield of dry matter

• Reduced moisture level at harvest

• Fast plant growth

Management Tips

• Best to harvest 20 to 40 days after 

flowering to maximize dry matter yield.

• This hybrid is susceptible to 

Colletotrichum graminicola 

(Anthracnose) which should lower the 

amount of leaf tissue harveste resulting 

in less ash content in the dry biomass 

composition. 

NexSteppe 52K1009 is a long season 

hybrid with a dry, large diameter stalk 

and good standability. The dry stalk will 

result in lower plant moisture at harvest.

 

exSteppe 52K1009 is a long season hybrid with a dry, 

large diameter stalk and good standability. The dry

stalk will result in lower plant moisture at harvest. 

Product Brand Characteristics

  



 



 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Key Stre

Hi

Re

Ex

Manage

Th

Co

wh

ha

dr

9 

Stalk Mo

Seedling 

Pre-Flow

Yield fo

High B

N

LEGEND 

Rating Scale:

1-2 = Excellent 

3-4 = Very Good 

5-6 = Good 

7-8 = Fair 

9 = Poor 

- = Not Available

Greenbug Tolerance:

C = Biotype “C” 

D = Biotype “D” 

E = Biotype “E” 

I = Biotype “I”

Codes:

E = Early 

M-E = Medium-Early 

M = Medium 

M-F = Medium-Full 

F = Full 

PS = Photo Period Sensitive

SCMV:

Sugar Cane Mosaic Virus

Notes:

Rating scale relative to other NexSteppe® brand products. 

Data based on NexSteppe® conducted trials in Hereford TX in Fall of 2012. Traits for 

which no rating value is shown were not rated for this product. Planting hybrid in 

areas of different geography or environment will change some ratings. 




For further information visit www.nexsteppe.com, 

or contact Brent Bean, Director of Agronomy

ph: 806-223-2873, email: bbean@nexsteppe.com.

PAUS14-1