Advantages of Miscanthus
The Illinois clone of Miscanthus is a high yielding energy plant with low annual nutrient input requirements. Other attributes that make it economically and environmentally useful are:
> Sterile interspecific hybrid - cannot become a pest
> CO2 emissions from using it as fuel are carbon neutral
> High yielding -test beds yields are about 15 tons per acre per year
> Perennial energy crop- no need for annual tillage or planting
> No known pests or diseases
> Rapid growth in spring out-competes weeds - no annual herbicide application
> Stores carbon in soil - soil restoration and carbon sink tool
> Recycles nutrients back to roots in fall - low fertilizer requirements in spring
> Low nutrient content - low ash content -- very clean burning
> High water use efficiency
> 7,500 Btu/lb energy content - about the same as Powder River Basin coal
> Dry down in field - harvest when needed or convenient (Nov.- March)
> Harvested using existing farm equipment
> Harvest stems as they dry - reduces fire hazard - leaves left in field
> Alternative markets: high quality paper, building materials, and fermentation