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Planting and Growing Miscanthus

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Planting and Growing Miscanthus PLANTING AND GROWING MISCANTHUS BEST PRACTICE GUIDELINES For Applicants to DEFRA’S Energy Crops Scheme Contents INTRODUCTION 3 WHY GROW ENERGY CROPS? 4 WHAT IS MISCANTHUS? 5 ANNUAL GROWING CYCLE 6 WHERE WILL MISCANTHUS GROW WELL? 7 SITE SELECTION AND PLANNING 8 PRE-PLANTING REQUIREMENTS 8 PLANTING MATERIAL 9 PLANTING EQUIPMENT 10 FERTILISER REQUIREMENTS 12 WEED CONTROL 12 PESTS AND DISEASES 14 HARVESTING 14 ENERGY VALUE 16 BIODIVERSITY 17 USEFUL CONTACTS AND REFERENCES 18 REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS 18 Introduction This booklet has been produced to introduce farmers to a new crop. It gives guidance on the most appropriate location, land preparation, planting techniques and crop management required to grow miscanthus as an energy crop.The booklet summarises current research, which is ongoing, and these guidelines may be modified as further experience is gained. Please check that you have the latest version of the booklet with the DEFRA office at Crewe. This booklet should be read in association with the Energy Crops Scheme explanatory booklet, ‘Establishment grants for short rotation coppice and miscanthus.’ 3 Why grow energy crops? Why grow energy crops? 20% relative to 1990 levels. These targets could mean the generation of 500 - 1000 MWe The market for energy crops – crops which are from biomass by the year 2010, an undertaking grown specifically to be harvested and burnt in that would require as much as 125,000 power stations or heating systems – is now hectares of energy cropping. developing in response to the need for One energy crop is miscanthus. Grants to atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) abatement. The UK Government identifies biomass- establish this crop can be obtained from derived energy as one of the ways that it can DEFRA under the England Rural Development achieve its obligations to the Kyoto Climate Programme (Energy Crops Scheme). For Change Protocol of reducing greenhouse gas details of the grant scheme, ask for a booklet emissions by 12.5%. It has a target to generate from the DEFRA office at Crewe (see page 18), 10% of the nation’s electricity from renewables or see the DEFRA ERDP website www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/default.htm by 2010, and aims to reduce CO2 output by 4 What is miscanthus? What is miscanthus? spreads naturally by means of underground storage organs (rhizomes). However, their Miscanthus species are woody, perennial, spread is slow and there will not be any rhizomatous grasses, originating from Asia uncontrolled invasion of hedges or fields.These which have the potential for very high rates of rhizomes can be split and the pieces re-planted growth. Miscanthus may be familiar to many as to produce new plants. All propagation, a flowering garden ornamental, but it is the maintenance and harvest operations can be non-flowering forms that are of interest done with conventional farm machinery. In the agriculturally. UK, long-term average harvestable yields from Miscanthus is planted in spring and canes a mature crop have exceeded 13 dry tonnes produced during the summer are harvested in per hectare per year (t/ha/yr) at the most winter. This growth pattern is repeated every productive experimental sites. These high year for the lifetime of the crop, which will be yields suggest that the crop has the potential to at least 15 years. Miscanthus differs from short make an important contribution to the UK’s rotation coppice willow (an alternative energy commitments to energy generation from crop) in that it gives an annual harvest and thus renewable sources. an annual income to the farmer. Miscanthus Miscanthus in a semi-natural habitat in Japan 5 Annual growing cycle Annual growing cycle nutrients move back to the rhizome. Leaves then fall and a deep leaf litter develops. Any The growth pattern of the crop is simple. It remaining foliage dies following the first air produces new shoots annually and these frost, and the stems dry to a relatively low usually emerge from the soil during April. moisture content (30-50%) during winter. By These shoots develop into erect, robust stems, February, free standing, almost leafless canes which reach 1 - 2 m in height by late August of remain and it is these which are harvested the year of planting, with a diameter of 10 mm. mechanically. This growth cycle is repeated The stems, which have an appearance similar to once spring-time temperatures increase again. bamboo canes, are usually unbranched and From the second season onwards the crop can contain a solid pith. be expected to achieve a maximum height of From late July the lower leaves start to dry. 2.5 - 3.5 m. Crop drying accelerates during autumn, as M M Spring:- New shoots emerge Winter:- Summer:- Harvestable stems M Crop reaches M maximum height Autumn:- Annual growing cycle Accelerated crop drying 6 Where will miscanthus grow well? Where will miscanthus therefore plant growth, is not achieved at very low temperatures. However, the threshold for grow well? miscanthus photosynthesis (6oC) is More experience is needed of yields considerably lower than for maize and, under a wide range of soil conditions, but therefore, the potential growing season is current information suggests that most longer. The major constraint to long season lowland agricultural sites in England growth is late spring frosts which destroy early should be suitable for miscanthus spring foliage and effectively reduce the cropping, with the highest yields coming duration of the growing season. from deep, moisture retentive soils. Yield as plants mature Key determinants of yield are sunshine, The yield from the first season’s growth, 1-2 temperature and rainfall. The old ‘maize t/ha, is not worth harvesting. The stems do not growing zone’; south of a line drawn between need to be cut and so the stems may be left in the Bristol Channel and the Wash, will satisfy the field until the following season. From the the environmental requirements for high yield, second year onwards the crop is harvested but many lowland sites north of this line will annually. The second year harvestable yields also be suitable. Within these areas, annual may range from 4-10 t/ha (occasionally up to 13 rainfall levels will effect yield. t/ha), and those in the third year would be between 10 -13 t/ha or more. Peak harvestable Soils yields of 20 t/ha/yr have been recorded at a number of sites. The reason for the variation Miscanthus has been reported growing, and depends on planting density, soil type and producing high or reasonable yields on a wide climate. At sites where moisture supply or range of soils - from sands to high organic exposure limit yield, there may be a longer matter soils. It is also tolerant of a wide range ‘yield-building’ phase. of pH, but the optimum is between pH 5.5 and 7.5. Miscanthus is harvested in the winter or Long term yield early spring and therefore it is essential that the site does not get excessively waterlogged The long-term average results from a multi-site during this period, as this may cause problems study in England show that harvestable yields with the harvesting machinery. from good sites, including clay, clay loam and peaty soils, exceed 13 t/ha/yr.Yields from sites Temperature at 300 m altitude in the Yorkshire Wolds (ADAS High Mowthorpe) and on free-draining sandy The potential cropping zones for miscanthus soils (ADAS Gleadthorpe) have been much are quite widespread. Photosynthesis, and lower at 9 t/ha/yr or even less. 7 Site selection and planning Pre-planting requirements Site selection and planning The first step, in the autumn before planting, is to spray the site with an appropriate broad As with any crop that is likely to be in the spectrum herbicide (e.g. glyphosate) for ground for a number years, it is important that controlling perennial weeds. The site should be a number of issues (such as landscape, wildlife sub-soiled if necessary to remove compaction, value, archaeology and public access) are then ploughed and left to over-winter. On light considered in the selection of a site. soils it may be more appropriate to spring Miscanthus, once established can grow to 3.5 m plough. This will allow frost activity to break in height, it is therefore important to consider down the soil further. This may also help the visual impact this might have on the local prevent ‘ley’ pests attacking the newly landscape, especially if the site is close to a established plants, as any larvae or eggs already footpath or a favourite local view. in the soil from the previous crop will have Miscanthus has the potential to encourage a insufficient food over the winter to survive. In greater diversity of wildlife than some the following spring the site should be agricultural crops. This potential is most likely rotovated immediately prior to planting. This to be realised if it is grown as one component will not only improve establishment by aiding of a mixed cropping pattern and if it is located good root development but will also improve in an area of low conservation value or as a link the effectiveness of any residual herbicides between existing habitats. Care must be taken applied after planting. to prevent this new habitat from adversely affecting existing habitats, especially those within existing conservation areas. Details of land which is eligible, the environmental standards you must observe and the assessment of your application which will take place can be found in the Energy Crops Explanatory Booklet. If you are unsure about any of these requirements you should seek advice from DEFRA’s office at Crewe. Pre-planting requirements Thorough site preparation is essential for good establishment, ease of subsequent crop management and high yields.
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