MiscanMod: a model for estimating biomass production from Miscanthus throughout Europe

Policy makers involved in developing the exploitation of biomass crops are increasingly interested in simulating potential yields over large geographical domains. Direct measurements of yields are generally few and far between, but decision-making needs to be based on estimates of the spatial variability in yield over large areas at spatial resolutions which are finer than that provided by observed data alone. Also, following the assessments of the UN International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which have predicted significant changes in climate over future centuries, global resource managers are interested in the effects of climate change on future crop yields. Such macro-scale questions require a simple model that can be scaled up to a large geographic regions. A number of field trials throughout Europe have now confirmed the potential for high biomass production from Miscanthus; a giant perennial rhizomatous grass with C4 photosynthesis [1]. Most trials have been conducted with a single clone of Miscanthus called M. x giganteus (GREEF et DEU) [2]. Reports of over-winter plant losses in some climates have motivated more recent field trials on other hybrid Miscanthus genotypes [3]. However, where no over-wintering problems have occurred, M. x giganteus has proven to be among the most productive genotypes [4] and a study in the UK has shown that M. x giganteus reaches near to the theoretical radiation use efficiency for plants with C4 photosynthesis [5]. Therefore,