Is miscanthus a biofuel?

The rapid growth, low mineral content, and high biomass yield of Miscanthus increasingly make it a favourite choice as a biofuel, outperforming maize (corn) and other alternatives. Miscanthus is predominantly used for feedstock production for both energy and non-energy end uses.

What is miscanthus giganteus used for?

In agriculture, miscanthus straw is used in soil mulching to retain soil moisture, inhibit weed growth, and prevent erosion.

Is miscanthus giganteus invasive?

(2004) stated that the ideal dedicated biomass crop is a perennial that efficiently uses available resources, stores carbon in the soil, is an efficient user of water, has low fertilizer requirement, and is not invasive. Giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus) possesses many, if not all, of these characteristics.

What is miscanthus made of?

Miscanthus (Miscanthus X Giganteus) is a tall C4 perennial woody grass of East Asian origin, which has a high biomass yield potential and has been evaluated at Teagasc Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow, since 1993. It is sometimes confused with elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) but it is a different species.

Is Miscanthus profitable?

Miscanthus facts and figures Terravesta, which offers growers long-term contracts to grow and sell the crop, suggests growers can make an average net profit of of £530.85/ha over a 15-year period based on a mature yield of 14/t/ha. There is currently no specific grant funding available to help pay for establishment.

How do you harvest Miscanthus?

The method of harvesting Miscanthus for baling is to swath it, using an adapted maize/Grass self-propelled forage harvester adapted to produce 30 to 45 cm length rods, without breaking up the cane thus maintaining its waterproof qualities whilst drying The crop will naturally dry in the swath and will be ready to …

Will miscanthus giganteus grow in shade?

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

How fast does miscanthus grow?

It grows slowly when young but will reach a mature height of 3 to 8 feet in two to three years, depending on the cultivar and growing conditions. Its steady growth makes maiden grass valuable to landscaping, but it may also prove detrimental if the plant becomes invasive.

How quickly does miscanthus grow?

They should reach their ultimate height and spread in two to three years.

How do I get rid of miscanthus?

Mechanical Control

1. Mowing. Repeated mowing, as short as possible throughout the growing season, will kill Miscanthus, usually in 2 seasons.
2. Removal of Individual Plants or Hand Digging. Individual plants can be removed by digging, and for small areas this is a very practical and easy method.
3. Burning.
4. Grazing.
5. Fact Sheet.

Is Miscanthus good for the environment?

Miscanthus has the potential to encourage a greater diversity of wildlife than some agricultural crops, particularly if located in an area of low conservation value or as a link between existing habitats. It may also provide an area of sheltering habitat.

Can livestock eat Miscanthus?

Cattle prefer Miscanthus and in Japan it is controlled in fields by allowing cattle to graze beginning in June. Goats, sheep and horses will also eat Miscanthus. Most North American wildlife, including deer, will not eat Miscanthus, it is of little value to wildlife as food.

Can a giant miscanthus be used for biofuel?

If giant miscanthus can achieve the same yields at field scale that have been realized in research plots, enough biomass could be produced to meet U.S. renewable commitments on only the land area currently devoted to corn grain ethanol. Introduction – What Is Giant Miscanthus?

What makes Miscanthus different from other biomass crops?

The main feature distinguishing giant miscanthus from other biomass crops is its high lignocellulose yields. In the United States, giant miscanthus can yield more annual biomass than any other major biomass crop save Saccharum spp. (sugarcane, energycane) and has a much broader growing range (Figure 2).

How is Miscanthus used for heat and electricity?

Miscanthus is growing in popularity in Europe as a commercial biomass energy crop for heat and electricity generation as it emits significantly less CO₂ than fossil fuels. For example, miscanthus can generate as little CO₂ as 5.4g per kWh, whereas LPG produces 323g, oil produces 350g, coal produces 484g and electricity 530g per kWh.

Are there any biomass boilers that burn Miscanthus?

We are getting a lot of enquiries about biomass boilers that can burn miscanthus, so we thought that some information about its benefits may be useful. Miscanthus is growing in popularity as a biomass fuel for use in some wood burning boilers (also known as biomass boilers).