Growth, yield and mineral content of Miscanthus × giganteus grown as a biofuel for 14 successive harvests

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Abstract

Miscanthus × giganteus, a perennial rhizomatous grass commercially used as a biofuel crop was grown in a field experiment on a silty clay loam soil for 14 years. There were 3 rates of fertilizer nitrogen (N), none (control), 60 kg N ha-1 yr-1 and 120 kg N ha-1 yr-1 as cumulative applications. The crop was harvested in winter and dry matter yield measured. N did not influence yield. Yield, which increased for the first 6 years, decreased in years 7 and 8, but then increased again and was highest in the 10th year averaging 17.7 t ha-1 across all treatments. Differences in total production over the14 years were only 5% between the highest and lowest yielding treatments and averaged 178.9 t ha-1 equivalent to 12.8 t ha-1 yr-1. In the first 10 harvests, 92% of dry matter was stem. Although the study showed N fertilizer was not required, it is considered that an application of 7 kg P ha-1 yr-1 and 100 kg K ha-1 yr-1 would avoid soil reserve depletion. Pesticides were not required every year and the crop can be considered as low input with a high level of sustainability for at least 14 years. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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Christian, D. G., Riche, A. B., & Yates, N. E. (2008). Growth, yield and mineral content of Miscanthus × giganteus grown as a biofuel for 14 successive harvests. Industrial Crops and Products, 28(3), 320–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2008.02.009

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