Yield Comparison between Switchgrass and Miscanthus Based on Multi-Year Side by Side Comparisons in Europe

Energy crops are expected to provide a significant amount of biomass to achieve the European targets on renewable energy. Here we focus on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and Miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus Greef & Deuter) two rhizomatous perennial grasses which have received particular interest during the last decade as bioenergy crops. Although the two grasses have been recently investigated deeply in U.S.A. and Europe, a significant uncertainty still exists in literature on measured or predicted potential yields. In order to understand the role these species can play, a study was carried out aimed at collecting measured side by side data on Miscanthus and switchgrass yields across Europe. Biomass productivity of the two crops significantly varied depending on location, however the relative yield (RY), i.e. Miscanthus to switchgrass yields ratio, was rather constant across Europe (78% ± 9.2), thus indicating parallel yield variation by switchgrass and Miscanthus at different locations. By assessing RY a more reliable economic and LCA comparison and then choice among crops could be provided.