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bioweb.sungrant.org » Technical » Biomass Resources » Agricultural Resources » New Crops » Herbaceous Crops » Miscanthus

Miscanthus	Printer Friendly

Miscanthus is a perennial plant native to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate parts of Southeast Asia and is related to sugar cane. It is a C4 species (i.e., the first product of photosynthesis is a four carbon compound) and nutrient efficient. Very limited research has been conducted on this species in the United States. Recent studies in Illinois (from small research plots at three sites and involving manual harvest of the best crops during peak vegetation) report yields of 14.4, 24.6, and 19.6 tons/ac in the third year of production. Research is being expanded to include more sites in Illinois. Miscanthus has been the focus of extensive research in Europe. It is not clear how much of the European experience can be directly extrapolated to conditions in the U.S., but as Miscanthus has recently been receiving increased interest in the U.S., the European experience is summarized.    Efforts to evaluate Miscanthus as a potential bioenergy crop began in 1989 and since then have included field trials in Denmark, Germany, Ireland, United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland. Nearly all of the research has involved Miscanthus x giganteus (a cross between M. sacchariflorus and M. sinensis), a sterile hybrid that prevents invasive characteristics that have been experienced with some varieties of Miscanthus sinensis.   Miscanthus x giganteus is somewhat cold sensitive (particularly in the first year of production) and in areas with cold winters, problems with winter kill have occurred. Initial planting efforts involved growing plantlets in greenhouses (mostly from in vitro micropropagation) and transplanting to the field—an expensive establishment method. Procedures that involve planting pieces of rhizomes using a modified potato planter or similar machinery have been developed which are lowering planting costs. Planting density is 1 plant/meter2. Weed control is required in the establishment year (and sometimes the second year) and usually consists of one pre-emergent herbicide application and one to two post-emergent applications. Miscanthus x giganteus is nutrient efficient and requires no fertilizers in the establishment year. Fertilizer is applied annually in subsequent years at recommended replacement rates of 2-5 kg N, 0.3-1.1 kg P, and 4-8 kg K per ton of dry matter harvested as needed, however, on good soils, nitrogen may not be routinely required. Fertilizer is applied in the spring prior to new growth. Miscanthus x giganteus can successfully be produced without irrigation in north-central Europe, but in order to achieve satisfactory yields, may need to be irrigated in southern Europe.   Under favorable conditions, Miscanthus x giganteus can be high yielding, but shows a substantial range in potential yields. Table 1 summarizes yields of mature stands (at least three years old) in several European trials. The low yields occur on soils termed “poor” with higher yields on “good” soils. The high yields attained in the southern European countries involve irrigated production.    Miscanthus x giganteus harvest usually begins in the second year of production and typically occurs in February and March (especially in Northern Europe). Delayed harvest allows Miscanthus to field dry to 20% moisture, relocate nutrients to the rhizomes for use in the subsequent growing period, and improve the chemical composition of the plant for industrial (most notably combustion) uses. However, during this time, the lower leaves fall off, reducing the available biomass. This biomass reduction, combined with equipment limitations, results in harvestable yields of 50-70% of the yields attained at the end of the growing season. Additionally, yields attained in small research trials are higher than are attained in large scale commercial production situations using typical production practices. Expected commercial harvest yields are estimated to be 7-12 dry MT/hectare (3-5.3 dry tons/ac) (higher yields on soils with good water supply and lower yields on dry soils). Miscanthus x giganteus takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity. Expected production cycles are 15-25 years before replanting is needed.   The historical estimated costs of producing Miscanthus x giganteus have been high, mostly due to high establishment costs associated with transplanting plantlets. Mechanical planting of rhizomes substantially reduces costs. Harvest generally includes cutting using a modified forage harvester, followed by raking and baling. Research is underway to improve the efficiency while reducing harvest costs and biomass losses.

References
BTG Biomass Technology Group. (1997). Harvesting of Miscanthus in the Netherlands. European Energy Crops InterNetwork. Retrieved from www.eeci.net Christou, M. (1999). Growth and productivity of Miscanthus under different irrigation levels in Southern Europe. European Energy Crops InterNetwork. Retrieved from www.eeci.net Christou, M. (1999). Miscanthus harvest dates in Europe. European Energy Crops InterNetwork. Retrieved from www.eeci.net Institute for Crop Production and Grassland Research. (1998). European Miscanthus improvement: Broadening the genetic base, testing genotypes and developing crop specific breeding methods. European Energy Crops InterNetwork. Retrieved from www.eeci.net Kristensen, E.F. (1998). Danish experiences on harvesting of Miscanthus. European Energy Crops InterNetwork. Retrieved from www.eeci.net Lewandowski, I. (1999). Miscanthus from production to harvest. European Energy Crops InterNetwork. Retrieved from www.eeci.net Lewandowski, I.; Clifton-Brown, J.C.; Scurlock, J.M.O.; and Huisman, W. (2000). Miscanthus: European experience with a novel energy crop. Biomass and Bioenergy, 19, 209-227. Lewandowski, I.; Scurlock, J.M.O.; Lindvall, E.; and Christou, M. (2003). The development and current status of perennial rhizomatous grasses as energy crops in the U.S. and Europe.  Biomass and Bioenergy, 25, 335-361. Long, S.P. (2004, November 1). Miscanthus x giganteus: An adapted biomass crop for permaculture, air, and soil enhancement. Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research. Oak Ridge National Laboratory. (1999). Questions and answers about Miscanthus. Retrieved from http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/papers/miscanthus/miscanthus.html Schwarz, K. W.; Munzer, W.; Kjeldsen, J.B.; and Junge, R. (1999). Establishment of Miscanthus. European Energy Crops InterNetwork. Retrieved from www.eeci.net Scurlock, J.M.O. (1999). Miscanthus: A review of European experience with a novel energy crop. (Report No. ORNL/TM-13732). Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Walsh, M. (1998). Miscanthus productivity in Europe. European Energy Crops InterNetwork. Retrieved from www.eeci.net