TITLE:
Growth Rates of Giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus) and Giant Reed (Arundo donax) in a Low-Input System in Arkansas, USA
AUTHORS:
Mohan Acharya, David M. Burner, Amanda J. Ashworth, Felix B. Fritschi, Taylor C. Adams
KEYWORDS:
Miscanthus × giganteus, Arundo donax, Growth, Stalk Elongation Rate, Dry Weight per Stalk
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.9 No.12,
November
9,
2018
ABSTRACT: The US Department of
Energy is currently building strategies for the expansion of clean and
renewable energy sources, and tall, rapidly-growing grasses such as giant
miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus) and
giant reed (Arundo donax) are
two of the many of species that could fill this renewable energy niche. The
objective was to compare stalk growth components of giant miscanthus and giant
reed, in a low-input system (no irrigation and no fertilizer use) in Arkansas,
USA. Due to the potential invasiveness of giant reed, our study was conducted
on an upland site to minimize escape. Plant height and dry weight per stalk
were measured every week for two consecutive growing seasons in 2012 and 2013.
Leaf area index (LAI) was measured every two weeks from May to September in
2012. A significant species × day interaction occurred for plant height and dry
weight per stalk, due to the relatively greater height and weight of giant reed
compared to giant miscanthus after May. Stalk elongation rate was greater for
giant reed than giant miscanthus (1.85 and 1.11 cm day-1,
respectively). Leaf area index differed between species, giant reed (10.4 m2 m-2) >
giant miscanthus (4.4 m2 m-2). We
showed that giant reed produced taller, heavier stalks, and had a greater stalk
elongation rate, compared to giant miscanthus. For sustainable bioenergy
production from giant reed in Arkansas, further studies should be performed to
determine ideal number of harvests per year and associated production cost.