Illinois scientists found that the ear-less stalks store 25 percent or more sugars

Live Science  tells us that ear-less corn holds heaps of sugar. "When grown in the Midwest, this "tropical maize" lacks nutrient-needy cobs, so the crops require less nitrogen and other fertilizers." Thus, the ear-less corn is more like sugar cane, which is crushed to extract the juice.

 

"In terms of biofuel production, tropical maize could be considered the 'sugarcane of the Midwest,'" says Fred Below, a crop scientist at the University of Illinois. "The tropical maize we're growing here at the University of Illinois is very lush, very tall and very full of sugar."

"Sugarcane grown in Brazil produces lots of sugar with minimal nitrogen fertilizer," observes Below, describing in a general way the EROEi (Energy Return On Energy Invested) of this biomass to energy strategy. "As is the case for the tropical maize, the sugars can be converted into ethanol without the middle processing steps needed for complex sugars."