85
Miscanthus Production
Mantineo et al. (2009). The common name of Arundo donax is giant cane or
giant reed, and it bears some similarity to M. × giganteus in adaptability and
productivity, as discussed below. Even when irrigation was stopped in the
fourth year of study, M. × giganteus yielded over 27 Mg ha −1 . Yield decreased
somewhat in the fifth year with no irrigation. Significant winter rainfall
must have been stored in the soil column, although soil water capacity was
reported as ~10 cm in the top 0.8 m of total 1.2 m soil depth.
Successful M. × giganteus establishment in this Mediterranean climate was
absolutely dependent on irrigation because of very limited summer rainfall
(Mantineo et al., 2009). Cosentino et al. (2007) had earlier measured Water
Use Efficiency (WUE) for M. × giganteus grown with limited irrigation in the
same environment and found it was above 4.5–4.8 g L −1 aboveground dry
matter production in consecutive years. They noted that the WUE declined
as more water was provided to ~2.5 and 3.5 g L −1 . The reported numbers are
consistent with the work of Clifton-Brown & Lewandowski (2000) in a greenhouse experiment where water amounts are more easily measured. The work
of Cosentino et al. (2007) and Mantineo et al. (2009) suggests that M. × giganteus can produce high yields with less water than most crops.
In no year does the M. × giganteus WUE reach the WUE of A. donax in the
same location, which was above 4 g L −1 beginning with the second year.
The authors note that A. donax did not go totally dormant in winter, unlike
M. × giganteus, and so may it make better use of available water in winter. Of
course, in colder climates such advantage is not available. The aboveground
vegetation of A. donax like that of M. × giganteus is frost sensitive, though perhaps not so much so. Below-ground rhizomes are killed at about −5°C for 24
hours, a bit more tolerant than M. × giganteus (Pompeiano et al., 2015).
It is clear from the above studies, and general knowledge of crop physiology, that water-holding capacity of soil, in addition to total applied water, and
deep roots are all critical for maximizing yield when dependent on rainfall.
One recent study from Ukraine (Doronin et al., 2019) shows that the use of
water-retaining materials can benefit rhizome development when that is the
goal, as in the preparation of large rhizomes for transplanting. Water-holding
materials can allow for longer survival in transitory droughts and are widely
used in potting materials for planters that are intermittently watered. This
might not be economical for field-scale production but could benefit nursery
preparation of planting materials.
5.2.3 Weeds
Detailed studies of herbicide tolerance of M. × giganteus were done by Eric
Anderson for his M.S. degree at University of Illinois (2010). Tolerance to
broad-leaf herbicides (mainly auxin analogs) was the same as for maize, as
expected. Tolerance of wider-spectrum herbicides and of those designed for
control of grassy weeds were also reported. A more extensive greenhouse
study by Smith et al. (2015a) considered 22 PRE- and 22 POST-planting
Miscanthus Production
Mantineo et al. (2009). The common name of Arundo donax is giant cane or
giant reed, and it bears some similarity to M. × giganteus in adaptability and
productivity, as discussed below. Even when irrigation was stopped in the
fourth year of study, M. × giganteus yielded over 27 Mg ha −1 . Yield decreased
somewhat in the fifth year with no irrigation. Significant winter rainfall
must have been stored in the soil column, although soil water capacity was
reported as ~10 cm in the top 0.8 m of total 1.2 m soil depth.
Successful M. × giganteus establishment in this Mediterranean climate was
absolutely dependent on irrigation because of very limited summer rainfall
(Mantineo et al., 2009). Cosentino et al. (2007) had earlier measured Water
Use Efficiency (WUE) for M. × giganteus grown with limited irrigation in the
same environment and found it was above 4.5–4.8 g L −1 aboveground dry
matter production in consecutive years. They noted that the WUE declined
as more water was provided to ~2.5 and 3.5 g L −1 . The reported numbers are
consistent with the work of Clifton-Brown & Lewandowski (2000) in a greenhouse experiment where water amounts are more easily measured. The work
of Cosentino et al. (2007) and Mantineo et al. (2009) suggests that M. × giganteus can produce high yields with less water than most crops.
In no year does the M. × giganteus WUE reach the WUE of A. donax in the
same location, which was above 4 g L −1 beginning with the second year.
The authors note that A. donax did not go totally dormant in winter, unlike
M. × giganteus, and so may it make better use of available water in winter. Of
course, in colder climates such advantage is not available. The aboveground
vegetation of A. donax like that of M. × giganteus is frost sensitive, though perhaps not so much so. Below-ground rhizomes are killed at about −5°C for 24
hours, a bit more tolerant than M. × giganteus (Pompeiano et al., 2015).
It is clear from the above studies, and general knowledge of crop physiology, that water-holding capacity of soil, in addition to total applied water, and
deep roots are all critical for maximizing yield when dependent on rainfall.
One recent study from Ukraine (Doronin et al., 2019) shows that the use of
water-retaining materials can benefit rhizome development when that is the
goal, as in the preparation of large rhizomes for transplanting. Water-holding
materials can allow for longer survival in transitory droughts and are widely
used in potting materials for planters that are intermittently watered. This
might not be economical for field-scale production but could benefit nursery
preparation of planting materials.
5.2.3 Weeds
Detailed studies of herbicide tolerance of M. × giganteus were done by Eric
Anderson for his M.S. degree at University of Illinois (2010). Tolerance to
broad-leaf herbicides (mainly auxin analogs) was the same as for maize, as
expected. Tolerance of wider-spectrum herbicides and of those designed for
control of grassy weeds were also reported. A more extensive greenhouse
study by Smith et al. (2015a) considered 22 PRE- and 22 POST-planting