Yi Zili

Exploitation and utilization of Miscanthus as energy plant

Miscanthus,as one of the most promising energy plant,has attracted considerable attention in the European and American countries in recent years.China is a distribution center of Miscanthus species and their germplasms are very abundant.Exploiting and utilizing these Miscanthus germplasms can promote the development of bioenergy industry in China.In this article,the classification,distribution and biological characteristics of Miscanthus were introduced;the advantages and the method for using Miscanthus as energy plant,and the related current research situation at home and abroad were reviewed;the prospect for the development of Miscanthus as energy crop in China was also indicated.

Potential distribution of Miscanthus sinensis and M. floridulus in China

Aims In recent years, Miscanthus sinensis and M. floridulus have attracted considerable attention as two of the most promising non-food energy crops in China. We attempt to determine the potential distributions of the two Miscanthus species to provide a reference for developing non-food energy crops using marginal lands in China. Methods We predicted the potential distribution and fundamental niches of M. sinensis and M. floridulus in China based on the maximum entropy (MAXENT) model using distribution data of the two species combined with 19 climatic factors. Important findings The potential distribution area for M. sinensis covers west Sichuan, north Shaanxi, Ningxia, central Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, west Jilin, west Liaoning, southeast Qinghai, etc. Its fundamental niche parameters are: precipitation of warmest quarter of 400–1 000 mm, average precipitation in August of 100–350 mm, average minimum air temperature in July of 15 °C, average precipitation in July of 100–350 mm, average maximum air temperature in November of –10 to 22 °C, mean temperature of driest quarter of –15 to 20 °C and average precipitation in December 100 mm. The potential distribution area for M. floridulus includes Yunnan, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Ningxia, Henan, Shandong, Jilin, Liaoning, west Sichuan, south Gansu and east Inner Mongolia, etc. Its fundamental niche parameters are: precipitation of warmest quarter400 mm, mean precipitation in June of 150–550 mm, average minimum air temperature of 15–30 °C in July and 10 °C in June and average precipitation in April of 50–100 mm. The results show that there are abundant land resources for growing M. sinensis and M. floridulus in China.