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Spartina cordgrasses are C4 saltmarsh wetland plants which tolerate cool conditions well. A number of species have been trialed for biomass the most promising being prairie cordgrass a non-saltmarsh species which originates from the eastern USA occurring in fresh water marshland and dryland habitats. The plant has an extensive and dense root and rhizome system that stabilises land. Although prairie cordgrass has been grown in the UK for a number of years, no field trials have been undertaken in Wales. Agronomy Praire cordgrass can be sown as seed but has been demonstrated to establish
more rapidly by planting rhizomes. It has the same poor first year growth
as switchgrass and like switchgrass requires absolute weed control during
the establishment year. Yields have been reported to reach 20 t/ha/y
dry matter (Potter et al., 1995). However, time of harvest can greatly
effect production in subsequent years. Scott et al., (1990) reported
that production levels fell by half over a three year period with summer
harvests. Prairie cordgrass can grow on a variety of soils, producing
low yields in the first season but reaching potential yields by the second.
Bullard et al., (1995) have shown higher yields from peat dominated loams
than clay (second year harvests, 14 and 7.8 t/ha, respectively). Potter
et al., (1995) demonstrated higher yields from clay soils that lighter
fertile soils. Averaged over a seven year trial in Eastern England for
all soil types, yields averaged 12 and 14 t/ha/y dry matter for unfertilised
and fertilised plots, respectively.
Harvesting occurs in winter once the above ground part of the plant is dead and dry. Material can be cut with a standard mower conditioner and baled to an appropriate size. Consideration may have to be given to the difficulties of lodged crops (blown flat by the wind). Fertilisation is not generally required although in the long term a replacement of nutrients may have to be made. Its tolerance to wet conditions and poor soils may make it a possible future biomass crop on marginal land in Wales.
Potter, L., Bingham, M.J., Baker, M.G. & Long, S.P. (1995) The potential of two perennial C4 grasses and a perennial C4 sedge as lignocellulosic fuel crops in N.W.Europe. Crop establishment and yields in E.England. Annals of Botany XXX Scott, R., Callaghan, T.U. & Jackson, G.J. (1990) Spartina as a biofuel. In: Gray, A.J. and Benham, P.E.M. (eds), Spartina anglica: A research review, ITE publication No 2, NERC, Swindon, UK.
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