I would like to see the link to the source of your information. First thing that comes to mind would be the cost and source needed in sheer volume necessary for any usable finished product.

Cannas have been used for starch production and pig feed but I doubt the practical use for ethanol production.

Kent

http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=1372#.VDMCcPlDlOE

Thank you for the link to the Scientific Publishing page about canna rhizome ethanol production. For clarification; Canna Edulis Kerl is a common name for the agricultural strain of cannas grown primarily in the Southeast area of Asia and originally from South and Central America where it was primarily use as a food source and starch production. It is still used to some degree in those areas.

The referenced article originated from research done apparently in China where they have also explored a number of crops to be evaluated for an ethanol source. Unfortunately I could not arrive at a definitive answer to my major concern; actual gallons produced per acre of crop harvested or the total cost of production. I do not believe at this time there is the necessary resource available without taking a currently viable crop out of production. There conclusions were typically optimistic.

Your original question concerned using canna leaves and stalks may have been somewhat answered by the choice of the researchers in selecting rhizomes over the stalks and leaves. We might assume they considered the foliage less viable in production.

Kent

Hello Kent,

Thank you for reading that study, it is quite interesting. Its too bad we would have to use the rhizomes as that would kill the plant. I was hoping to use the leaves and stalks as they die back every fall.

take care,