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Cited by 165Bioenergy crop production and managementBiofuel production and bioconversionAgricultural Productivity and Crop Improvement

Growth and agronomy of Miscanthus x giganteus for biomass production

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Anderson, Eric, Arundale, Rebecca, Maughan, Matthew, Oladeinde, Adebosola, Wycislo, Andrew, Voigt, Thomas·2011·Biofuels
DOI 10.4155/bfs.10.80
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Abstract

Miscanthus x giganteus is a highly productive, sterile, rhizomatous, C4 perennial grass that should be considered as a feedstock for bioenergy production. Here, we review the current state of research and the future of M. x giganteus biomass production. Since the 1980s, the grass has been studied and used in Europe to produce heat and electricity via combustion. Since 2005, the US government has encouraged research using herbaceous feedstocks for conversion to ethanol for use as transportation fuel. M. x giganteus is being widely studied in the USA because of its potential to produce large quantities of biomass. This review examines the taxonomy and genetics, growth and development, physiology and agronomy, and modeled and potential ‘real-world’ yields of M. x giganteus in Europe and the USA. In addition, the invasiveness and the future perspective of M. x giganteus utility and research in the USA are also considered.

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  • The level of N in the soil that was maintained over 10 years in this study suggests that miscanthus needs little or no fertilizer inputs, and this is consistent with the conclusions of a body of prior research.

    “The level of N in the soil that was maintained over 10 years in this study suggests that miscanthus needs little or no fertilizer inputs, and this is consistent with the conclusions of a body of prior research (Anderson etal.,2011; Clifton- Brown etal.,2007; Davis et al., 2009; Heaton et al., 2010; Lewandowski etal.,2000; Parrish etal.,2021; Strullu etal.,2011).”

    From Decadal change in soil carbon and nitrogen with a <i>Miscanthus</i> × <i>giganteus</i> crop on abandoned agricultural land in southeast Ohio (2024) · cites this paper as Anderson et al., 2011

    The Fertility section reports three studies in which nitrogen fertilization had little or no effect on yield, all on fertile soils. It also reports yield increases with nitrogen elsewhere and concludes that the response depends on soil type and location. Thus it supports low nitrogen inputs in some conditions, not a general conclusion that miscanthus needs little or no fertilizer. The citing study’s ten-year soil-N result is its own finding, not one attributed to Anderson et al. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • The range in yields recorded in sites throughout the United States were consistent with the miscanthus biomass yield recorded throughout the course of the last decade in this study.

    “The range in yields recorded in sites throughout the United States were consistent with the miscanthus biomass yield recorded throughout the course of the last decade in this study (Adjuik etal.,2020; Anderson etal.,2011; Arundale etal.,2014; Yost et al., 2017).”

    From Decadal change in soil carbon and nitrogen with a <i>Miscanthus</i> × <i>giganteus</i> crop on abandoned agricultural land in southeast Ohio (2024) · cites this paper as Anderson et al., 2011

    Table 3 reports Miscanthus biomass yields at several US sites, supporting the use of this paper as a source of yield benchmarks. But the ‘M. x giganteus yields in the USA’ section says published field research was limited to Illinois and Kansas, so it does not substantiate yields from sites throughout the United States. The comparison with the citing study’s decade of results is the citing authors’ own conclusion. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Well-managed cellulosic feedstocks, like miscanthus, can remove CO2 from the atmosphere which may then be stored in soils even after the plant biomass is harvested.

    “Well- managed cellulosic feedstocks, like miscanthus, can remove CO2 from the atmosphere which may then be stored in soils even after the plant biomass is harvested (Anderson et al., 2011; Anderson- Teixeira et al., 2009; Davis etal.,2009).”

    From Decadal change in soil carbon and nitrogen with a <i>Miscanthus</i> × <i>giganteus</i> crop on abandoned agricultural land in southeast Ohio (2024) · cites this paper as Anderson et al., 2011

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Authors
Anderson, E., Arundale, R., Maughan, M., Oladeinde, A., Wycislo, A., & Voigt, T.
Affiliations
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
ORCID
Venue
Biofuels
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2011-01
Volume
2
Issue
1
Pages
71-87
ISSN
  • 1759-7269 (ISSN-L)
  • 1759-7277
DOI
10.4155/bfs.10.80
OpenAlex
W1968805467
Cited by
165
References
95
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 9
FWCI
22.19
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
Biofuels (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Bioenergy crop production and management
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Biofuel production and bioconversion
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Agricultural Productivity and Crop Improvement
Keywords
Miscanthus × giganteus, biomass production, biomass feedstock, perennial grasses, C4 grasses, agronomy, growth and development, plant physiology, ethanol production, bioelectricity, invasiveness, sterile hybrids, rhizomatous grasses

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