5
Establishing Miscanthus, Production
of Biomass, and Application
to Contaminated Sites
Lawrence C. Davis, Valentina Pidlisnyuk, Aigerim Mamirova,
Pavlo Shapoval, and Tatyana Stefanovska
Abstract
The establishment of vegetation on sites with contamination to improve
soil quality, reduce risk, and produce a biomass product depends on
many local conditions. Site characterization results, remediation goals,
local markets for biomass products, soil properties, climate, temperature, annual and seasonal precipitation, past experience at similar sites,
and availability of soil amendments are some aspects to consider. This
chapter addresses the establishment of Miscanthus and its application
when growing in contaminated soil. Plant selection and breeding of
Miscanthus is reviewed briefly. Water is very important for the establishment of Miscanthus, and issues related to rainfall during the first weeks
and months are reviewed. Plant nutrition and soil amendments affect
growth and biomass yield. The time of harvest for Miscanthus affects
nitrogen use because much more nitrogen is removed if the harvest is
in the fall compared to winter harvest. The effects of soil amendments
on the fate of contaminants and plant growth are included because the
knowledge of how to obtain beneficial results by adding soil amendments has advanced significantly. Improved results have been reported
for Miscanthus production when plant growth regulators have been
added. Results from recent literature are included.
CONTENTS
5.1 Plant Selection and Breeding ......................................................................78

5.2 Plant Establishment ..................................................................................... 80

5.2.1 Weight................................................................................................ 80

5.2.2 Water.................................................................................................. 82

5.2.3 Weeds ................................................................................................ 85

5.2.4 Weather ...............................................................................................87

77