Miscanthus Variety Performance in the Virginia Piedmont.

The perennial C4 grass Miscanthus x giganteus is a promising crop for dedicated bioenergy production given its low total input requirements and high rates of biomass per unit area. At present, research in this crop has largely focused on the fertilization and establishment requirements to obtain successful crops, but limited information is available regarding suitable cultivars for the US. The objective of this experiment was to test commercially available Miscanthus x giganteus varieties in a “no-input” management scenario. A multi-year variety trial was conducted in Gretna, VA, using a RCBD with three replications. Yields and morphological traits of four Miscanthus lines ‘FREEDOM', the ILLINOIS clone, 'NEGARA', and an unnamed variety from a commercial nursery (here named as 'HOFFMAN') were tested. Plots were harvested in late winter (e.g. February/March) and total biomass yield, inflorescence and plant height, stem diameter and leaf:stem ratios were determined.