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Miscanthus

Introduction

Quinns are promoting the growing of Miscanthus in Ireland in conjunction with Bical in the UK who are Europes largest propagators of Miscanthus.  Bical have nearly 20 years experience in growing the crop and they are providing Quinns with advice on agronomy and developing markets. Joe Hogan of JHM Crops in Adare Co. Limerick is also a partner and is responsible for the Southern half of the country.

Background

Quinns are committed to adapting to the changing scene in farming and to keeping ahead of trends in the industry. The rise in the cost of energy along with competition from cheaper food imports has moved the balance in favour of producing crops to grow energy rather than just food alone. The restrictions placed by the Nitrate Directive will also add to the overall cost of food production in the EU. Miscanthus requires no energy input apart from that required for harvesting once it is established making it one of the most environmentally friendly yet efficient crops available.

Outlook

Quinns have spent the last 3 years researching the potential markets for miscanthus. We have researched the situation in regard to Government and EU schemes, the agronomy of the crop and how it will fit in to the Irish farming situation. Dr. J.J. Leahy of the University of Limerick Environmental Science Department has carried out a feasibility study on the crop and is convinced of its huge potential in Ireland. Quinns and Joe Hogan of JHM Crops lobbied for an establishment grant for the crop similar to the Energy Crops Scheme in England, and in last Decembers Budget, Minister Cowen announced such a grant. The details of the Grant are yet to be announced but it is expected to be of the order of 50% of the cost of establishing Miscanthus. Certain conditions, such as a defined energy end use contract being in place for the cane, are likely to be attached to an Establishment Grant.

Markets

The main end use for Miscanthus is energy. There are many types of energy uses for this crop but the principal end uses are:

• In pellet form as a fuel for domestic, community, institutional or industrial boilers. Miscanthus can be blended with sawdust or other forestry by-products to produce pellets.
• In baled or shredded form for combined heat and power units for i

Miscanthus has further end uses such as:

PRESENT SITUATION

Origin of the crop

Miscanthus is a C4 perennial grass that originated in Asia and was introduced to Europe as a horticultural specimen in the 19^th Century.

In recent years it was investigated as an energy crop as it fitted the required criteria of an ideal energy crop due to its high dry matter, perennial growth and lack of nutrient input. The miscanthus we are using is a fast growing clone called Miscanthus x giganteus. It is sterile and thus has no seed heads and is propagated by way of underground rhizome. The rhizome spreads only up to about 1 metre and therefore when planted, the crop maintains its original “footprint” – it does not encroach into neighbouring plots.

Life Cycle

To establish the crop in year one, the rhizomes are planted in the spring, usually in April and over the first summer the shoots emerge. In this first year the crop will grow to about 5 or 6 foot high. It will typically look patchy as the shoots emerge unevenly unlike cereals or maize. It will grow till the temperatures drop in October and over the winter the leaves will fall to the ground. This leaf litter is very important as a means of recycling nutrients and providing mulch that suppresses weed growth.

In March the following year it is advised to top the crop with a flailed mower before the shoots appear above the ground. The crop will grow rapidly to reach its maximum height in late September of about 10-12 foot. Again the cool temperatures trigger senescence and translocation of nutrients to the ground.

By March the next year the crop is dry and ready for harvest. Dry matter is high (usually 17-20% moisture). The crop can be harvested by way of forage harvester similar to maize or by mower conditioner followed by baling.

Yields per acre increase yearly to reach a maximum in year 5 which is maintained for many years. There are crops in the UK which are over 20 years old and still maintaining yield. We are confident that yields in Ireland will be high due to our mild climate and high organic matter soils. A yield of 20 t/ha should be achievable but a range of between 15t/ha to a potential 25t/ha could be achieved on good sites.

Agronomy

Soils

Miscanthus can be grown on a wide variety of soils but the old adage of the better the land the better the crop still applies. It prefers moisture retentive soils rather than light drought prone soils. It likes heat and therefore exposed locations at high altitudes are not preferred. Sunny locations are also preferred to increase light penetration into the crop. It likes high organic matter soils but will not grow well on reclaimed bog with low ph. As the planting machines do not have a spring loaded planting mechanism, they are not suited to sites with hidden boulders or surface bedrock.

Inputs

The ground should be treated with glyphosate prior to ploughing in autumn.

The rhizomes are planted into a fine seedbed as for maize. It is desirable to have a 6 inch tilth by way of a power harrow immediately prior to planting. It is planted in 1 metre wide rows to achieve about 1 plant per square metre established. After planting the crop should be ring rolled and then treated with pre-emergent herbicide typically atrazine and stomp.

Some herbicide may be required later in the season or in its second season as the un-established crop may not be able to compete with emerging weeds.

A complete agronomic service is included and a guarantee of the crop is given provided the recommendations given are adhered to. The crop is vulnerable to rabbit damage for a number of weeks after planting so fencing or a grass margin could be used to minimize damage. Wireworms and leatherjackets are also a potential threat in crops following grass. Generally, these threats are only real in its first year while it is establishing itself.

Once established, Miscanthus will provide an annual crop for many years. It does not require annual cultivation. If a harvest is missed for whatever reason, the entire crop can be harvested the following year with only a small (18-20%) drop in overall yield over the two years. This loss is offset by the reduced harvesting costs over the two year period.

EU Schemes

Single Farm Payment/Setaside

Miscanthus can be grown on setaside or non setaside land to claim the Single Farm Payment. On non setaside land it can qualify for a €125 per ha Energy Crop Supplement if a contract is in place. A letter of undertaking that it is going for non food use is required.

REPS

At this point in time, Miscanthus cannot qualify for payment under REPS 3. This is an anomaly which we fully expect to have reversed. We understand that the Department of Agriculture is working on including Miscanthus in REPS with certain conditions attached. This should be confirmed and the conditions outlined prior to this 2007 planting season.

Organic Payments

As there are no inputs required after establishment this crop should qualify for any available organic payments after the second year. Farmers are advised to check with their own advisors to have this verified.

Energy Crop Payment

Once Miscanthus is grown for an energy end use with a contract in place it will qualify for this payment which has been increased to €125/ha per year. This is not available for Miscanthus grown on setaside land. A bond which currently stands at €60/ha has to be lodged by the purchaser of the crop in order to claim this supplementary payment similar to the situation for industrial oilseed rape.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Apart from replacing fossil fuels when combusted as a fuel, Miscanthus, has an extremely high energy ratio (the potential energy from the crop to energy required to produce the crop). This arises chiefly because no inputs in the form of annual cultivation, fertilizer or herbicides are required.  Table 1. gives the energy ratios of some crops grown for energy.

Table 1.

Miscanthus when growing takes in CO2 (Carbon dioxide ) from the atmosphere and when the cane is eventually combusted, this CO2 returns to the atmosphere making it CO2 neutral.

However below the ground its organs such as roots and rhizomes also play an important part in the positive energy balance of the crop. These organs act as a carbon sink to lock up atmospheric carbon dioxide. After 4 years, a crop of Miscanthus will have 15-20tonnes of below ground biomass which amounts to 7.2-9.2 tonnes of carbon per hectare. This stays and builds in the ground as there are no annual cultivations to release this carbon unlike conventional arable crops such as wheat and barley.

SUMMARY

Miscanthus

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