The effects of extractives, particle size, crop species, and production site on the contents of structural carbohydrates, lignins, and micro-components in Canada Prairie Spring wheat, durum wheat, barley, oat, and triticale straw, as well as flax shives, were determined using wet chemistry methods and FT-IR. The sample particle size influenced the values of glucan, xylan, acid insoluble lignin, ash, and extractives. Glucan, xylan, and acid insoluble lignin levels increased with increasing particle size. Protein, ash, and extractive levels decreased with increasing particle size. Total glycans and total lignin levels for the various straws, from the medium particle sized fraction, were 56.6-63.9% and 14.7-19.4%. Total glycans and total lignin levels from the medium particle sized flax shives were 51.8 and 25.8%. The FT-IR calibration models predicted the glucan, xylan, and total lignin content with a correlation coefficient of 0.982, 0.971, and 0.994, respectively. Root mean square error of prediction and of cross-validation in the glucan, xylan, and total lignin content were 1.35 and 1.76%, 0.88 and 1.43%, and 0.82 and 0.97%, respectively.

*Presenting author: Yukihiro Tamaki;  corresponding author: G. Mazza: Tel: 250-494-6376; Fax: 250- 494-0755;  E-mail: Giuseppe.Mazza@agr.gc.ca