91
Miscanthus Production
to the establishment of Miscanthus planting. Legumes may supply carryover nitrogen. Long-term grasslands might have relatively few aggressive
weeds that are common in highly fertilized crop rotations. Following heavily
fertilized crops such as maize, omitting N fertilizer may help reduce weed
growth in the first year.
If there is known contamination, you will need analysis of extractable
and bioavailable levels of the contaminants. Do some plants grow successfully on the site now? What type of soil is it – natural, reclaimed after mining, a result of extreme grading as for an airfield, or technosol (something
manufactured somehow, such as waste dumps, dredged sediments, or mine
wastes, combined with other materials)? Is it a uniform area or heterogeneous, for instance, with many different smaller contaminated areas, as in
an abandoned pesticide storage area? Does soil texture changes with depth?
Are there known health hazards for workers? Can you have some certainty
of access for multiple seasons to establish a harvestable perennial crop?
For a research plot one should do a more detailed investigation in order to
later verify changes produced during Miscanthus growth. For instance, to
validate claims of successful remediation of organic contaminants it is essential to have good information on the starting concentrations of the contaminants of concern across the site. This means using a systematic regimen of
sampling to appropriate depths and with a spacing suitable to the expected
variation or heterogeneity of the site. For a large area uniformly contaminated, perhaps 10 samples ha −1 is sufficient; for a more heterogeneous site in
an area where there are many exposed receptors (people or animals) one may
need more than 100 samples ha −1 . This is especially important if the contaminants of concern are taken up and stored in Miscanthus because they could
spread the exposure beyond the site when harvested and transported, and
then processed in some way.
5.4 Plant Nutrition and Supplementation
Soil fertility amendments, if any are needed, will vary with the results of initial
characterization. These may include mineral or organic fertilizers, or possibly
trace elements such as B or Mo. Organic fertility amendments often are animal
or treated human wastes which typically contain trace elements. In the US,
“biosolids” is a term used to describe the final product of a residential sewage
waste treatment plant. They are closely regulated, much more so than animal
wastes. Biosolids are often stabilized with additives such as lime or iron. They
are high in organic carbon and the pH is usually near neutral giving efficiency
in sorbing metals. Because there is a reasonably high concentration of total N
in such waste (4%–8%), biosolids often can serve as an adequate N source for
a crop (Evanylo, 2006). Levels of P and K are often beneficial to add to the soil,
Miscanthus Production
to the establishment of Miscanthus planting. Legumes may supply carryover nitrogen. Long-term grasslands might have relatively few aggressive
weeds that are common in highly fertilized crop rotations. Following heavily
fertilized crops such as maize, omitting N fertilizer may help reduce weed
growth in the first year.
If there is known contamination, you will need analysis of extractable
and bioavailable levels of the contaminants. Do some plants grow successfully on the site now? What type of soil is it – natural, reclaimed after mining, a result of extreme grading as for an airfield, or technosol (something
manufactured somehow, such as waste dumps, dredged sediments, or mine
wastes, combined with other materials)? Is it a uniform area or heterogeneous, for instance, with many different smaller contaminated areas, as in
an abandoned pesticide storage area? Does soil texture changes with depth?
Are there known health hazards for workers? Can you have some certainty
of access for multiple seasons to establish a harvestable perennial crop?
For a research plot one should do a more detailed investigation in order to
later verify changes produced during Miscanthus growth. For instance, to
validate claims of successful remediation of organic contaminants it is essential to have good information on the starting concentrations of the contaminants of concern across the site. This means using a systematic regimen of
sampling to appropriate depths and with a spacing suitable to the expected
variation or heterogeneity of the site. For a large area uniformly contaminated, perhaps 10 samples ha −1 is sufficient; for a more heterogeneous site in
an area where there are many exposed receptors (people or animals) one may
need more than 100 samples ha −1 . This is especially important if the contaminants of concern are taken up and stored in Miscanthus because they could
spread the exposure beyond the site when harvested and transported, and
then processed in some way.
5.4 Plant Nutrition and Supplementation
Soil fertility amendments, if any are needed, will vary with the results of initial
characterization. These may include mineral or organic fertilizers, or possibly
trace elements such as B or Mo. Organic fertility amendments often are animal
or treated human wastes which typically contain trace elements. In the US,
“biosolids” is a term used to describe the final product of a residential sewage
waste treatment plant. They are closely regulated, much more so than animal
wastes. Biosolids are often stabilized with additives such as lime or iron. They
are high in organic carbon and the pH is usually near neutral giving efficiency
in sorbing metals. Because there is a reasonably high concentration of total N
in such waste (4%–8%), biosolids often can serve as an adequate N source for
a crop (Evanylo, 2006). Levels of P and K are often beneficial to add to the soil,