Propagation method and planting density influence canopy developmental transition and biomass productivity in Miscanthus × giganteus

Journal Article · Sat Jan 17 00:00:00 EST 2026 · Industrial Crops and Products

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.122611· OSTI ID:3016138

Lee, Jung Woo ^[1]; Vittore, Kayla Marie ^[1]; Namoi, Nictor ^[1]; Hwang, Soonho ^[1]; Lee, DoKyoung ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)
2. Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States); Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Understanding how establishment practices influence the mechanisms underlying Miscanthus × giganteus (miscanthus) productivity and canopy development is critical for optimizing management. Data was collected during the juvenile (2011–2013) and mature (2024) phases of a long-term field experiment established in Urbana, Illinois, to evaluate the effects of propagation method (plug propagation [PP] and rhizome propagation [RP]), planting density (1.0, 0.75, and 0.25 plants m⁻²), and nitrogen application (0 and 67 kg N ha⁻¹) on end-of-season biomass yield, tiller mass, tiller density, and tiller height. Linear regression models identified the dominant predictors of yield across stand ages and management regimes. Planting density, nitrogen (N) application, and propagation method significantly influenced early yield and canopy development. During the juvenile phase, biomass yield was driven by tiller density due to canopy expansion; in the mature phase, yield became driven by tiller mass. The PP plots produced higher tiller density than the RP plots, resulting in faster canopy closure and higher juvenile-phase yields. Rhizome-propagated (RP) plots produced lower tiller density, but individual tillers were 3.3–6.4 g tiller⁻¹ heavier than PP tillers. After the canopy reached equilibrium, the PP and RP yields were similar because greater RP tiller mass compensated for its lower tiller density. Higher planting density resulted in greater yield and tiller density during the second year (2012), but this effect was absent from the third year (2013) onward. In the juvenile phase, N fertilization enhanced yield by 1.6–3.4 Mg ha⁻¹. Initiating fertilization in 2013 on unfertilized plots produced biomass similar to that in fertilized plots, suggesting yield recovery in the mature phase. These findings revealed that establishment strategies, including propagation method and planting density, influence juvenile miscanthus canopy development and productivity, transitioning from tiller-density- to mass-dominated yields, but not mature phase productivity.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0018420
• OSTI ID: 3016138
• Journal Information: Industrial Crops and Products, Journal Name: Industrial Crops and Products Vol. 240; ISSN 0926-6690
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Miscanthus x giganteus
bioenergy crop
biomass
planting density
propagation