Miscanthus

Miscanthus (also known as Elephant Grass) is a woody grass that originated in SE Asia. Miscanthus is perennial plant that achieves rapid growth, high Biomass yields, low mineral content and produces a crop every year without need for re-planting – making miscanthus an increasingly favourite choice as a Bioenergy Feedstock.

Miscanthus is a ‘rhizomatous C4’ grass species - it utilises the C4 photosynthetic pathway in contrast to the C3 pathway utilised by standard arable crops in Northern Europe (such as wheat, oilseed rape potatoes). This enables miscanthus to achieve higher irradiation conversion efficiencies than C3 plants and is also more efficient in its use of nitrogen and water

Miscanthus x giganteus (Miscanthus giganteus, Giant Miscanthus) is the favoured miscanthus species produced for Bioenergy. This sterile (non-invasive) hybrid of M. sinensis and M. Sacchariflorus can grows to heights of more than 4 meters (12 feet) in one growing season (from the third season onwards). In temperate climates such as in the UK, dry mass yields of 10-40 tonnes per hectare per year (4-16 tonnes per acre) may be achieved. The high Biomass yields and low maintenance requirements makes Miscanthus a Feedstock an attractive option for UK producers.