Planting costs for Miscanthus giganteus

There are a number of key costs involved in establishing Miscanthus giganteus and the economics are comparable to those of top fruit crops, albeit with much simpler agronomy.

Cultivation usually begins in the autumn and requires investment in equipment and labour for land preparation, usually ploughing. Testing the soil for neutral pH is important and corrective action to achieve this may be necessitated. Pre-emergence herbicide is usually required to clear existing vegetation at least one month before planting.

Planting requires specialised machinery operated by a team of four and a medium-sized tractor to pull it. The main cost is the planting material, Miscanthus rhizomes, and given their importance it is wise to select the variety with the highest yield, shortest establishment time and best emergence.

After planting, further herbicide applications may be required to control weed competition. However, once established, Miscanthus requires low ongoing maintenance costs (essentially cutting, baling and bale chasing, and transport, no chemical inputs are required), making it a long-term, cost-effective option for biomass production.

Rhizome prices

The prices are inclusive:

• rhizomes from gentotype Terravesta ATHENA TM high performance Miscanthus
• extra vigorous for fast establishment and returns from year two
• yields up to 50% higher than wild Miscanthus x giganteus
• lifted from second or third crop of Miscanthus
• axe cut & hand selected, excluding “stem type” rhizomes & dead pieces
• packed in < 12 kg bags of a min. 400 rhizomes for easy handling
• stored temperature & humidity controlled until delivered to the field
• planting density of 17,000 rhizomes / hectare
• target emergence of > 12,000 plants or 1.2 plants per square metre (m²)
• semiautomatic Miscanthus planting machine delivered to the field margins
• planting machine set-up, use and safety training
• farm and field inspection in autumn and 2 weeks before planting
• drone survey for emergence measurement after 24 months from planting
• Rhizomes must not be split or lifted.

* Number of rhizomes indicates the minimum delivered. Weight indicates the maximum delivered.

Testimonials

Adam Bradshaw

Lincolnshire, arable farmer

Miscanthus has been good for our risk management strategy. Those fields now have no cultivations, no machinery costs and no inputs. It reduces risk, we’ve got less money tied up and once we’ve paid back the capital establishment for the crop, everything else is a bonus for 20 years.

Mark Wiseman

Oxfordshire, mixed arable & livestock

When the battle against blackgrass had been lost and yields of wheat were in decline, finding an alternative was crucial. Miscanthus was the obvious solution. Its high canopy literally swamps the black grass and blocks out the light. We grow it on heavy clay land prone to flooding, and it thrives.

Richard Gothard

Somerset, maize & grassland

Its sustainability is fantastic in that it just keeps on growing every year. Its self-sufficient and reduces our carbon footprint. In all my greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting, the emissions are 12 times lower than the DECC’s target. My agronomist described Miscanthus as the grass of the future.