Agronomic And Physiological Performances Of Different Species Of Miscanthus

Agron. Sustain. Dev. 30 (2010) 201–214 c INRA, EDP Sciences, 2009 DOI: 10.1051/agro/2009034

Available online at: www.agronomy-journal.org
for Sustainable Development

Review article

Agronomic and physiological performances of different species of Miscanthus, a major energy crop. A review
H.W. Zub, M. Brancourt-Hulmel*
INRA, USTL UMR 1281, 80203 Estrees-Mons, Peronne, France

(Accepted16 September 2009)

Abstract – The European Union recommends the use of lignocellulosic biomass to produce biofuels in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Miscanthus × giganteus, a C4 perennial and rhizomatous plant, has been identified as a good candidate for biomass production because of its high potential yield, of up to 49 t DM.ha−1 for autumn harvest and 26 t DM.ha−1 for winterharvest, under low input levels. Here, we review current knowledge on the biomass production in Europe of M × giganteus and its two parental species, M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus, under different stress conditions. This review identifies two key areas where M. giganteus crops could be improved: (i) tolerance to frost during winter or early spring is essential, mainly in Northern Europe, in order toensure overwintering and protect young shoots following early emergence. Susceptibility to winter frost at temperatures below −3.5 ◦ C for rhizomes and −8 ◦ C for young shoots of M. × giganteus can lead to significant plant losses and lower yields, and (ii) a good water supply is necessary to ensure good establishment rates and satisfactory biomass production. Reductions of up to 84% in above-grounddry matter production because of a lack of water for the autumn harvest, and up to 26% for the winter harvest have been observed. M. sinensis, which displays greater genetic variability than M. giganteus, will provide the necessary genetic resources for frost and water stress tolerance. It is also necessary to either identify genotypes among M. sinensis species that are able to produce anabove-ground biomass yield close to the biomass production of M. giganteus under limited water supplies and/or low temperatures, or to generate new interspecific hybrids of M. giganteus with greater tolerance. Particular attention should be paid to nitrogen response; although no response to nitrogen supply has been observed in M. giganteus, M. sinensis produces higher levels of biomass with nitrogeninputs. Miscanthus / biomass production / chilling temperature / frost / nitrogen supply / water supply / improvement Abbreviations: DM, dry matter; WUE, water-use efficiency; NUE, nitrogen-use efficiency; RUE, radiation-use efficiency

Contents 1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 2 Crop physiology . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 2.1 Principal features of a miscanthus crop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 2.2 Threshold temperature for emergence and thermal time for the growth and development of a miscanthus crop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 2.3 Radiation-, water- and nitrogen-use efficiencies . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 205 3 Biomass production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 3.1 Potential for biomass production by different species . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 3.2 Components of above-ground biomass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 3.2.1 Length of growing period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 206 3.2.2 Plant morphology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 4 Response of miscanthus to stress conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 4.1 Effect of chilling temperatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 4.1.1 Effect on leaf expansion rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....