Cultivation of miscanthus × giganteus for biofuel and its tolerance of lithuania's climate

Abstract

During the period 2007-2009, field trials were conducted at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture on Miscanthus × giganteus cultivation for biofuel. The plant was tested for tolerance of our climate and environment conditions: over winter survival, growth rate and development peculiarities in the first-third cultivation years, biomass potential and the effect of nitrogen fertilizers on the productivity. Miscanthus × giganteus seedlings (2-leaf stage) were introduced from Austria and were planted in an Eutri-Cambic Arenosol (ARb-eu) at a rate of 20 seedlings per 10 m 2 . Plant height and number of stems were estimated monthly. Stem thickness was measured and biomass yield and its chemical composition were determined at the end of the growing season. Three nitrogen fertilization levels (0, 60 and 120 kg ha -1 ) were explored from the second year of growing. It was found that Miscanthus × giganteus persistence after the three years of cultivation was 65%, including seedling introduction in the first year of cultivation, tolerance of the weather of two winters and contrasting weather of two springs and shortage of moisture in the summer of the second year of growth. Miscanthus biomass yield increased with every year from on average 20 t ha -1 fresh biomass and 6 t ha -1 dry matter in the second year to 28 and 11 t ha -1 , respectively in the third year. Nitrogen fertilizer increased the yield only in the second year of growth. The hybrid Miscanthus × giganteus can be recommended for growing in Lithuania for bioenergy purposes.