Miscanthus

The yields of non-conventional crops such as Miscanthus sinensis, poplar and willow are little known. With the exception of willows in Sweden, these new energy crop species are mostly cultivated on small plots and are often at the research stage. Consequently, these yield data have to be examined critically. The published yields of M. sinensis, for instance, range between 8 and 22 t )M ha 1 year-1 and were mainly measured under special conditions (Friihwirth et al. 2006 Scholz et al. 2007 Stolzenburg 2008). The denoted average yields of poplar and willow are a result of an expert census in Germany (KTBL 2006). 

HohmannT(1994) Energetische Nutzung von Miscanthus. In FNR Schriftenreihe Nachwachsende Rohstoffe Band 4, Dresden, pp 143-157... 

Jacks-Sterrenberg I (1995) Untersuchungen zur Ertragsphysiologie von Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. 

Stolzenburg K (2008) Chinaschilf (Miscanthus x giganteus) - Anbau und rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen, Landwirtschaftliches Technologiezentrum Augustenberg, AuBenstelle Rheinstetten-Forchheim, p 12... 

In this context, Fig. 5.16 indicates the dynamic evolution of the identified biomass primary potentials at the EU25 level, whilst Table 5.5 shows a detailed breakdown of corresponding fuel costs for the considered biomass options, including agricultural products or energy crops (e.g., rapeseed and sunflower, miscanthus), agricultural residues (straw), forestry products (e.g., wood chips), forestry residues and biowaste. 

Energy crops Short-rotation woody crops, herbaceous woody crops, grasses, starch crops, sugar crops, forage crops, oilseed crops, switchgrass, miscanthus... 

Miscanthus is a tall perennial grass that has been evaluated in Europe during the past 5 to 10 years as a new bioenergy crop. Like other energy crops, the harvested stems of miscanthus may be used as fuel for production of heat and electric power, or for conversion to other useful products such as ethanol. 

Figure 14.15. Depth distribution of summed compound classes in soil profiles under Miscan-thus stands. L and Of describe organic litter layers mainly composed of the Miscanthus residues, Ah the humic mineral topsoil, and Bh an argillic subsoil horizon. Samples were taken in the years 1999 and 2000.

Elsewhere, wood chips, sugarcane, switchgrass (also called Miscanthus), corn husks, prairie grass, or soybean and corn are being converted into liquid biofuels. Various waste materials are also used to make ethanol, butanol, biodiesel, and other substitutes for gasoline. 

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