Site impacts nutrient translocation efficiency in intra- and interspecies miscanthus hybrids on marginal lands

Miscanthus, a C4 perennial rhizomatous grass, is capable of growing in varied climates and soil types in Europe, including on marginal lands. It can produce high yields with low nutrient inputs when harvested after complete senescence. Senescence induction and rate depend on complex genetic, environmental, and management interactions. To explore these interactions, we analysed four miscanthus hybrids (two novel seed-based hybrids, GRC 3 (M. sinensis × sinensis) and GRC 14 (M. sacchariflorus × sinensis); GRC 15, a novel M. sacchariflorus × sinensis clone; and GRC 9, a standard M. × giganteus clone) in Italy, Croatia, Germany and the UK.
Over all trial locations and hybrids, the average aboveground biomass of the three-year-old stands in August 2020 was 15 t DM ha-1 with nutrient contents of 7.6 mg N g-1 and 14.6 mg K g-1. As expected, delaying the harvest until spring reduced overall yield and nutrient contents (12 t DM ha-1, 3.3 mg N g-1 and 5.5 mg K g-1). At lower latitudes, the late-r...