INFLUENCE OF CROP MANAGEMENT ON SWITCHGRASS (PANICUM VIRGATUM L.) AND MISCANTHUS (MISCANTHUS X GIGANTEUS GREEF ET DEUTER) PRODUCTIVITY AS ENERGY CROPS IN A MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT

摘要

Biomass has attracted attention as a promising mean to develop local, sustainable energy sources andother biobased products. Here we focus on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and miscanthus (Miscanthus xgiganteus), two perennial rhizomatous grasses (PRGs). In order to favour the development of a sustainable biomasschain and to understand how biomass yield varies depending on crop management, two experiments were establishedin 2010, in Central Italy: (i) Experiment 1 compared miscanthus and switchgrass in two different soil types, underthree fertilization rates and two harvest times; (ii) Experiment 2 compared miscanthus and switchgrass under twoirrigation levels, and under three nitrogen fertilization rates and two harvest times. Both crops showed a significantpositive response to soil type, irrigation, nitrogen fertilization and date of harvest. Switchgrass yield resulted not to beinfluenced by the soil type, while miscanthus yield did. Moreover, for both the species dry yield responded positivelyto fertilization, although regardless of the dose of fertilizer. In conclusion, our results showed a good adaptability ofthese species in the Mediterranean environment; however it remains necessary to analyze their responses in long-termperspective.