OPTIMISC - DEVELOPING MISCANTHUS PRODUCTION SYSTEMS FOR MARGINAL LANDS

摘要

Land can be characterized marginal either under economic or biophysical limitations. In the EU projectrnOPTIMISC (Optimizing Miscanthus Biomass Production) miscanthus production systems for biophysically marginalrnproduction conditions, such as water limitations, chilling temperatures, frost and salinity are developed by screeningrnelite germplasm under controlled conditions and trialling it over a range of sites across central Europe, Ukraine,rnRussia and China, analysing the key traits that currently limit the potential of Miscanthus. To reduce the risks andrncosts of growing Miscanthus under marginal site conditions specific establishment methods and harvest and logisticrnsystems were developed. By the application of life cycle assessments (LCA) and cost analyses miscanthus-basedrnvalue chains with the highest income and area-related GHG saving for different site conditions were identified.rnCompared to other crops, miscanthus-based value chains can be economically feasible under marginal site conditionsrnbecause miscanthus benefits from the perennial growth and the availability of stress-tolerant genotypes.