Methods of Increasing Miscanthus Biomass Yield for Biofuel Production

Evgeny Chupakhin,Olga Babich,Stanislav Sukhikh,Svetlana Ivanova,Olga Kriger,Ekaterina Budenkova,Olga Kalashnikova

doi:10.3390/en14248368

Evgeny Chupakhin, Olga Babich + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en14248368

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Abstract

The lignocellulosic perennial crop miscanthus, especially Miscanthus × giganteus, is particularly interesting for bioenergy production as it combines high biomass production with low environmental impact. However, there are several varieties that pose a hazard due to susceptibility to disease. This review contains links showing genotype and ecological variability of important characteristics related to yield and biomass composition of miscanthus that may be useful in plant breeding programs to increase bioenergy production. Some clones of Miscanthus × giganteus and Miscanthus sinensis are particularly interesting due to their high biomass production per hectare. Although the compositional requirements for industrial biomass have not been fully defined for the various bioenergy conversion processes, the lignin-rich species Miscanthus × giganteus and Miscanthus sacchariflorus seem to be more suitable for thermochemical conversion processes. At the same time, the species Miscanthus sinensis and some clones of Miscanthus × giganteus with low lignin content are of interest for the biochemical transformation process. The species Miscanthus sacchariflorus is suitable for various bioenergy conversion processes due to its low ash content, so this species is also interesting as a pioneer in breeding programs. Mature miscanthus crops harvested in winter are favored by industrial enterprises to improve efficiency and reduce processing costs. This study can be attributed to other monocotyledonous plants and perennial crops that can be used as feedstock for biofuels.

Highlights

Miscanthus, or silvergrass is a genus of perennial herbaceous plants of the Poaceae family
This paper examined the chemical composition of Miscanthus sinensis grown in Siberia, depending on the age of the plantation during the first five years
The results presented in [68] demonstrated the uniform stabilization of biomass formation by plants of the genotypes M. × giganteus, M. sinensis, and M. sacchariflorus when grown for three years on moderately fertile soils of westcentral Poland

Summary

Introduction

Miscanthus, or silvergrass is a genus of perennial herbaceous plants of the Poaceae family. There is a tendency to increase the production areas for cultivation of herbaceous plants. This phenomenon can be explained by high growth rates and the prospects for its application in the national economy. All over the world, including the Russian Federation, the prospects for the use of this plant in the chemical and energy industries are being studied [1]. The main advantage of this plant is its high yield. This plant can actively grow in nutrient-depleted soils, and still have good quality and high lignin content [2]

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