The maize stem as a potential source of cellulose nanocrystal: Cellulose characterization from its phenological growth stage dependence

•Biomass characterization of the maize stem.•Dependence of the biomass content with the different phenological growth stages.•Obtention of micrometer size fibers from the maize stems.•Independence of the crystallinity index with the different phenological growth stages.•Length, diameter and aspect ratio of the nanocrystal obtained by statistical analysis.