A study on biomass potentials of perennial gramineous energy plants

Takeing Panicum virgatum. as a control, the morphological properties and biomass characteristics of Miscanthus sacchariflora, Miscanthus sinensis, Arundo donax, Phragmites australis, Miscanthus sinensis Zebrinus, Glyceria maxima were studied in Nanjing. The results showed that annual dry matter yield (32.11 and 29.96 tha-1), calorific value (17.692 and 18.202 MJkg-1) and standard coal equivalent (19.42 and 18.64 tha-1) of M.sinensis and M.sacchariflorawere were higher compared with other materials, while their ash contents (29.7 and 23.8 gkg-1) were lower. The measured indicators of all materials, except calorific value, moisture and hemicellulose, were significantly different with those of P.virgatum (switchgrass). Thus, native Miscanthus plants compared to switchgrass were excellent biomass energy plants for China. The calorific values of bioenergy plants were negatively correlated with ash contents. Biomass yield, ash content and caloric value are two effective targets for screening the appropriate biomass linear regression relation energy plants.