Influence of scarce planting on the yield of Miscanthus x giganteus aboveground biomass

Abstract

A simple field trial was performed to investigate the influence of less successful miscanthus culture establishment due to scarce planting on the yield of aboveground biomass. The trial was carried out on highly productive soil of non-carbonate chernozem type. Two months old miscanthus sprouting rhizomes with 1-2 developed stems were planted. The experiment included three levels of planting density: 0.50, 0.65 and 1.00 sprouting rhizomes/m2. At the lowest planting density (0.50), the average yield of 4-8 years old plantation, which is the stage with the highest aboveground biomass yield, amounted to 13.5±2.9 t dry matter (d.m.)/ha, while at the planting density of 1.00, the achieved yield was 21.2±4.5 t d.m./ha. Our results show that, at the recommended planting density of 15000 rhizomes/ha, on a highly productive soil, even with low survival of planted seedlings (> 43 %), satisfying yields of aboveground miscanthus biomass may be obtained.

Keywords

• miscanthus
• crop establishment
• planting density
• biomass yield