The hardy perennial grass Miscanthus X Giganteus could be more than two and a half times more productive than corn or switchgrass in producing ethanol, according to research at the University of Illinois. In addition to being more productive, Miscanthus does not need to be planted every year like corn. It also thrives in poor soil conditions and was found to leaf out earlier than corn.
With the US looking to replace 20% of gasoline with ethanol, planting Miscanthus would only take up 9.3% of food production cropland to grow, compared to 25% being required to grow corn or switchgrass to produce equal amounts of ethanol, according to Popular Science.
However, Popular Science warns, "Miscanthus science is young, so scientists are hopeful that the plant’s yields will eventually be even higher, and that it might be possible to grow this distant cousin of switchgrass on non-croplands."
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Is 'Miscanthus X Giganteus' A Miracle Crop?
Trend Themes
1. Miscanthus X Giganteus as Biofuel Source - The exploration for innovative and sustainable ways to produce biofuels can lead to opportunities to commercialize Miscanthus X Giganteus as a feasible substitute for corn and switchgrass.
2. Exploration of Non-croplands for Biofuel Crops - As the researches for Miscanthus X Giganteus could potentially yield higher efficiency and feasibility in non-croplands, there are innovative opportunities to explore and map these areas for biofuel crop production.
3. Reduction in Land Use for Biofuel Production - The potential of Miscanthus X Giganteus to produce more ethanol than corn or switchgrass while taking up less land from food production cropland can lead to disruptive innovations that reduce the overall impact of biofuel production on food production.
Industry Implications
1. Biofuel Production - The biofuel production industry can benefit from exploring and testing Miscanthus X Giganteus as a source of biofuel and developing innovative ways to grow and harvest the crop.
2. Agriculture - The agriculture industry can explore ways to scale up and optimize the production of Miscanthus X Giganteus with the goal of cultivating it in non-croplands and introducing it to the biofuel production market.
3. Environmental Sustainability - The potential of Miscanthus X Giganteus to produce more ethanol while using less land and thriving in poor soil conditions can lead to disruptive innovations that reduce the negative impact of traditional biofuel production on the environment and food production.