Carbon mitigation by the energy crop, Miscanthus

Abstract

Clifton-Brown, J. C., Breuer, J., Jones, M. B. (2007). Carbon mitigation by the energy crop, Miscanthus. Global Change Biology. 13 (11), 2296-2307 Sponsorship: EU JOUB-0069 / AIR-CT92-0294 RAE2008Biomass crops mitigate carbon emissions by both fossil fuel substitution and sequestration of carbon in the soil. We grew Miscanthus x giganteus for 16 years at a site in southern Ireland to (i) compare methods of propagation, (ii) compare response to fertilizer application and quantify nutrient offtakes, (iii) measure long-term annual biomass yields, (iv) estimate carbon sequestration to the soil and (v) quantify the carbon mitigation by the crop. There was no significant difference in the yield between plants established from rhizome cuttings or by micro-propagation. Annual off-takes of N and P were easily met by soil reserves, but soil K reserves were low in unfertilized plots. Potassium deficiency was associated with lower harvestable yield. Yields increased for 5 years following establishment but after 10 years showed some decline which could not be accounted for by the climate driven growth model MISCANMOD. Measured yields were normalized to estimate both autumn (at first frost) and spring harvests (15 March of the subsequent year). Average autumn and spring yields over the 15 harvest years were 13.4?1.1 and 9.0?0.7 t DW ha?1 yr?1 respectively. Below ground biomass in February 2002 was 20.6?4.6 t DW ha?1. Miscanthus derived soil organic carbon sequestration detected by a change in 13C signal was 8.9?2.4 t C ha?1 over 15 years. We estimate total carbon mitigation by this crop over 15 years ranged from 5.2 to 7.2 t C ha?1 yr?1 depending on the harvest time.Peer reviewe

Species and Genotype Effects of Bioenergy Crops on Root Production, Carbon and Nitrogen in Temperate Agricultural Soil

“…Continual growth of roots under Miscanthus was expected as the stand was still maturing during this period [34], with each new shoot developing its own root system. Root biomass may also increase for Miscanthus during periods of water stress [1].…”

Side by Side Comparison of Chemical Compounds Generated by Aqueous Pretreatments of Maize Stover, Miscanthus and Sugarcane Bagasse

“…Miscanthus is a dedicated perennial energy crop and has been proposed as a model of a low input agricultural crop. It is at present used for burning in power plants but it is also proposed as a potential feedstock for cellulosic ethanol given the large yields and it's adaptability to marginal lands [9]. Yields of more than 40 ton DM/ha have been achieved for miscanthus in southern Europe and USA [6].…”

Implications for the hydrologic cycle under climate change due to the expansion of bioenergy crops in the Midwestern United States

“…Bioenergy extracted from lignocellulosic feedstocks offers the possible use of marginal land (8), along with many energy, environmental, and economic advantages over current biofuel sources (9), and is being considered as a promising alternative to sustainably meet the US Department of Energy target for bioenenergy and biobased products in the future (10). At present, Miscanthus × giganteus (miscanthus) and Panicum virgatum (switchgrass) are considered as the two perennial grasses with the highest potential for lignocellulosic bioenergy production in the Midwest with high biofuels yield per unit land area, reduced requirement of nutrient inputs (11,12), and low net CO 2 emissions (13)(14)(15)(16). However, if large portions of the landscape in the Midwestern United States are converted to these crops for meeting bioenergy demands, for example, by using land that supports maize production, it is likely to significantly impact the hydrologic cycle.…”