Miscanthus Giganteus proven to hold enormous potential as an alternative energy source

The search for alternative energy has begun due to the global distress that the world’s energy supply is running out and necessity for national, environmental and economic security. A new study conducted by the University of Illinois has identified Miscanthus x giganteus (M. x giganteus) as the resilient candidate for the next source of ethanol, if suitable growing settings are identified. This study forms a part of the Department of Energy-funded North Central Sun Grant Feedstock Partnership Project.

This superlative crop is a bioenergy product that can be specifically grown to produce ethanol. The universities study was utilized to investigate the establishment success, state of growth and the dry biomass yield reap from this grass.

According to the lead scientist and associate professor in the U of I Department of Crop Sciences, Tom Voigt, the overall goal is to promote the biomass yield of M. x giganteusper acre for the production of ethanol, whilst using the least inputs that hold no environmental harm.

Over the past 3 years researchers compared the establishment and growth rates, and biomass yield at four different locations namely Urbana, Ill.; Lexington, Ky.; Mead, Neb.; and Adelphia, N.J. with the sole purposes of finding regions that are most suitable for the grass.

Findings of the study disclosed the following results; in each location it was established that suitable growing conditions for the grass are evident, but in different years. The Illinois site was affected during 2008 due to late planting and extreme winter temperatures and during 2012 lower yields were experienced at the New Jersey site, as a result of the locations sandy soils and warm but dry weather conditions during that year.

During season two and three significant effects on the grass’s rate of biomass yield were brought on by Nitrogen fertilizer and M. x giganteus perennial forms a large mass of roots underground which promotes erosion control.

Voigt also stated that the study provided the researcher with an enhanced understanding of how diverse environment conditions can have a positive or negative impact on the growth, development and biomass yield of M. x giganteus.

"For the most part, we found that Miscanthus responds to sites in which water is adequately available. The combination of warm temperatures adequate precipitation spread throughout the growing season creates ideal growing conditions."  Tom Voigt explained

Voigt detailed "We are trying to develop a recipe for management practices that can be used by farmers interested in growing the grass,". "We want bioenergy crops to find their way into more marginal settings where ground is less easy to work with. Miscanthus can work where food crops can't."

In conclusion Voigt depicted that the results of the study are definitely of a positive nature and is proof that energy crops have an immense potential as an alternative energy source

For more information on this study;  "Miscanthus x giganteus Productivity: The Effects of Management in Different Environments" was published in GCB BIOENERGY Volume 3, Issue 6, December 2011.