Cultivation Of Miscanthus Research Articles

The cultivation and energy balance of Miscanthus×giganteus production in Turkey

Miscanthus × giganteus is a perennial energy crop with a C 4 photosynthesis mechanism which has potential as important source biomass energy for Turkey. Its annual yields and energy balance were determined for the central Anatolia–Konya region for 3 years. For the first year, the highest yield was obtained with 100 kg N ha - 1 fertilizer application, 7825.69 MJ t - 1 energy consumption. For the second year, the highest yield was obtained with 100 kg N ha - 1 fertilizer rate, 2361.81 MJ t - 1 energy consumption. For the third year, the highest yield was obtained with 100 kg N ha - 1 fertilizer rate 1818.13 MJ t - 1 energy consumption.

Effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization on biomass yield and efficiency of energy use in crop production of Miscanthus

The perennial C 4 grass Miscanthus has been proposed as a biomass energy crop in Europe. Effects of crop age, irrigation and nitrogen fertilization on biomass and energy yields and N content of Miscanthus were investigated and the energy costs of production determined. After an establishment period of 1 year, cultivation of Miscanthus resulted in a dry matter production of over 37 t ha −1 year −1 over a period of 4 years. Irrigation and nitrogen level greatly affected Miscanthus biomass yield. In absence of N fertilization, irrigation did not modify biomass yield and the effect of irrigation increased with the increase in N level. The average N response ranged from 37 to 50 kg biomass kg −1 N applied. Because the calorific value of Miscanthus biomass (16.5 MJ kg −1) was not affected by irrigation and N fertilization, energy production depended exclusively on biomass yield. Maximum energy yield was 564 GJ ha −1 year −1. Without N supply and irrigation, energy yield was 291 GJ h −1. Net energy yield, calculated as the difference between energy output and input, but without inclusion of drying costs, was 543 GJ ha −1 with N fertilization and irrigation and 284 GJ ha −1 without; the ratios of energy output to input in crop production were 22 and 47, respectively.

Cultivation of Miscanthus under West European conditions: Seasonal changes in dry matter production, nutrient uptake and remobilization

There is increasing interest in cultivation of Miscanthus as a source of renewable energy in Europe, but there is little information on its nutrient requirements. Our aim was to determine the nutrient requirement of an established Miscanthus crop through a detailed study of nutrient uptake and nutrient remobilization between plant parts during growth and senescence. Therefore dry matter of rhizomes and shoots as well as N, P, K and Mg concentration under three N fertilizer rates (0, 90, and 180 kg N ha-1) were measured in field trials in 1992/93 and at one rate of 100 kg N h-1 in 1994/95. Maximum aboveground biomass in an established Miscanthus crop ranged between 25-30 t dry matter ha-1 in the September of both trial years. Due to senescence and leaf fall there was a 30% loss in dry matter between September and harvest in March. N fertilization had no effect on crop yield at harvest. Concentrations of N, P, K and Mg in shoots were at a maximum at the beginning of the growing period in May and decreased thereafter while concentrations in rhizomes stayed fairly constant throughout the year and were not affected by N fertilization. Nutrient mobilization from rhizomes to shoots - defined as the maximum change in nutrient content in rhizomes from the beginning of the growth period measured in 1992/93 was 55 kg N ha-1, 8 kg P ha-1, 39 kg K ha-1 and 11 kg Mg ha-1. This is equivalent to 21 N, 36 P, 14 K and 27 Mg of the maximum nutrient content of the shoots. Nutrient remobilization from shoots to rhizomes ‐ defined as the increase in nutrient content of rhizomes between September and March ‐ measured in 1994/95 was 101 kg N ha-1, 9 kg P ha-1, 81 kg K ha-1 and 8 kg Mg ha-1 equivalent to 46 N, 50 P, 30 K and 27 Mg of nutrient content of shoots in September. Results showed that nutrient remobilization within the plant needs to be considered when calculating nutrient balances and fertilizer recommendations.

CO 2-balance for the cultivation and combustion of Miscanthus

Miscanthus ‘Giganteus’ is a perennial C 4-grass from East Asia. The biomass yield-potential of Miscanthus has been investigated in Germany since 1987. The combustion of biomass offers a possibility for lowering emissions of the greenhouse gas CO 2. The CO 2 which is set free during combustion has previously been fixed by the plants. The study analyses the demand for energy and the CO 2-emissions which are involved in the production of Miscanthus, beginning with propagating the plants to transporting the biomass to the power station. Energy demand and CO 2-emissions are compared with those of the provision and combustion of hard coal. The energy content of Miscanthus biomass harvested from one hectare, about 20 t of dry matter, corresponds to the energy content of 12 t hard coal. For each gigajoule of hard coal, 96.6 kg CO 2 are emitted during provision and combustion. By combusting Miscanthus instead of hard coal 90% of CO 2-emissions can be saved.