Production of Miscanthus giganteus planting material: yield and quality under different agrotechnological conditions of cultivation

Purpose. To determine the survival rate and yield of planting material of Miscanthus × giganteus under the effect of elements of cultivation technology in the central part of the Left-Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. A field experiment was conducted in 2018–2024 on podzolised chernozem soils using a randomised plot design. The influence of three factors was studied: rhizome weight (< 30 g, 31–50 g, > 50 g); planting design (30 cm × 30 cm, 45 cm × 45 cm, 60 cm × 60 cm, and 75 cm × 75 cm); and treatments [control; pre-planting treatment of rhizomes with the mycorrhizal preparation Mikofrend C (5 g/rhizome) combined with the adhesive-moisture retaining agent Akvadar (5 g/rhizome); rhizome treatment combined with annual spring foliar application of fertilisers Kristalon Osoblyvyi (3 kg/ha)]. ‘Osinnii Zoretsvit’ cultivar of Miscanthus × giganteus was used in the study. Results. It was found that rhizome size, pre-planting treatment, and planting design significantly influenced the survival rate of the planting material. On average, it ranged from 74.5% to 85.7% across the experiment. Both increasing and decreasing the planting density, as well as using smaller rhizomes, led to a significant reduction in survival rate in all years of the study. The highest rhizome sprouting rate (over 80%) was obtained at a planting design of 60 cm × 60 cm combined with pre-planting treatment of medium and large rhizomes. Annual spring foliar application of fertiliser Kristalon Osoblyvyi on mother plants at the three to four leaf stage increased rhizome yield by 84.4%−91.4%, compared to control treatments. The area that can be established with the obtained planting material varies depending on the planting design and foliar application of fertiliser on mother plants. Specifically, the 30 cm × 30 cm planting design provides 81.7–95.4 ha of new energy plantations, 45 cm × 45 cm – 46.0–52.0 ha, 60 cm × 60 cm – 32.7–40.1 ha, and 75 cm × 75 cm – 27.9–33.4 ha. Conclusions. The higher survival rate (>80%) of planting material and yield of Miscanthus × giganteus were obtained at a 60 × 60 cm planting design and application of Mikofrend C in combination with the adhesive-moisture retaining agent Akvadar for pre-planting treatment of medium and large rhizomes with and foliar application of chelated fertiliser Kristalon Osoblyvyi on mother plants at the three to four leaf stage.