The Experts below are selected from a list of 11874 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Iris Lewandowski - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Methane Yield Potential of Miscanthus ( Miscanthus × giganteus (Greef et Deuter)) Established under Maize ( Zea mays L.)
Energies, 2019Co-Authors: Moritz Von Cossel, Yasir Iqbal, Anja Mangold, Iris LewandowskiAbstract:This study reports on the effects of two rhizome-based establishment procedures ‘Miscanthus under maize’ (MUM) and ‘reference’ (REF) on the methane yield per hectare (MYH) of Miscanthus in a field trial in southwest Germany. The dry matter yield (DMY) of aboveground biomass was determined each year in autumn over four years (2016–2019). A biogas batch experiment and a fiber analysis were conducted using plant samples from 2016–2018. Overall, MUM outperformed REF due to a high MYH of maize in 2016 (7211 m 3 N CH 4 ha −1 ). The MYH of Miscanthus in MUM was significantly lower compared to REF in 2016 and 2017 due to a lower DMY. Earlier maturation of Miscanthus in MUM caused higher ash and lignin contents compared with REF. However, the mean substrate-specific methane yield of Miscanthus was similar across the treatments (281.2 and 276.2 l N kg −1 volatile solid −1 ). Non-significant differences in MYH 2018 (1624 and 1957 m 3 N CH 4 ha −1 ) and in DMY 2019 (15.6 and 21.7 Mg ha −1 ) between MUM and REF indicate, that MUM recovered from biotic and abiotic stress during 2016. Consequently, MUM could be a promising approach to close the methane yield gap of Miscanthus cultivation in the first year of establishment.
-
Improving the Ecological Performance of Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deuter) through Intercropping with Woad (Isatis tinctoria L.) and Yellow Melilot (Melilotus officinalis L.)
Agriculture, 2019Co-Authors: Moritz Von Cossel, Yasir Iqbal, Iris LewandowskiAbstract:Miscanthus is a promising high-yielding and low-input perennial biomass crop. However, as Miscanthus does not produce nectar, it provides less support for pollinators than other perennial biomass crops, such as cup plant, Virginia mallow, or wild plant mixtures. This study discusses whether Miscanthus could be intercropped with flower-rich biennial wild plants to further enhance its ecological functioning. In 2017, a demonstration plot was established in southwest Germany with two Miscanthus intercropping regimes: woad (WAM) and yellow melilot (YAM). Both woad and melilot reached full bloom in 2018, the second year of cultivation. The flowering period of woad started and ended earlier than that of melilot. Woad remained harvestable until spring 2019, whereas the aboveground melilot was destroyed by brown hare in autumn 2018. However, the shed seeds of melilot reemerged homogeneously in 2019. The Miscanthus developed better in YAM than WAM. This was most likely due to (i) stronger competition for water, nutrients, and light in WAM and (ii) nitrogen fixation advantage in melilot. These results indicate that the ecological performance of Miscanthus could be improved by intercropping with melilot. Thus, we propose to further investigate the effects of intercropping on both the productivity and quality of Miscanthus biomass.
-
How to Generate Yield in the First Year—A Three-Year Experiment on Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus (Greef et Deuter)) Establishment under Maize (Zea mays L.)
Agronomy, 2019Co-Authors: Moritz Von Cossel, Yasir Iqbal, Iris Lewandowski, Anja Mangold, Jens Hartung, Andreas KieselAbstract:Miscanthus is one of the most promising perennial herbaceous industrial crops worldwide mainly due to its high resource-use efficiency and biomass yield. However, the extent of Miscanthus cultivation across Europe is still lagging far behind its real potential. Major limiting factors are high initial costs and low biomass yields in the crop establishment period, especially the first year. This study explores the possibility of establishing Miscanthus under maize to generate yields from the first year of cultivation onwards. A field trial with mono-cropped maize and two Miscanthus establishment procedures, ‘under maize’ (MUM) and ‘standard’ (REF), was established in southwest Germany in 2016. Annual aboveground biomass was harvested in autumn (2016–2018). In 2016 and 2017, the Miscanthus dry matter yield (DMY) was significantly lower in MUM than REF. However, the accumulated DMY of Miscanthus and maize was as high in MUM as in maize cultivation alone. In 2018, there was no significant difference between the Miscanthus DMY of REF (7.86 ± 0.77 Mg ha−1) and MUM (6.21 ± 0.77 Mg ha−1). The accumulated DMY over the three years was 31.7 Mg ha−1 for MUM, of which 10.1 Mg ha−1 were Miscanthus-based, compared to 17.7 Mg ha−1 for REF. These results indicate that Miscanthus establishment under maize could compensate for its lack of yield in the first year.
-
Characterization of Miscanthus cell wall polymers
Global change biology. Bioenergy, 2018Co-Authors: Judith Schäfer, Melinda Sattler, Yasir Iqbal, Iris Lewandowski, Mirko BunzelAbstract:Efficient utilization of lignocellulosic Miscanthus biomass for the production of biochemicals, such as ethanol, is challenging due to its recalcitrance, which is influenced by the individual plant cell wall polymers and their interactions. Lignocellulosic biomass composition differs depending on several factors, such as plant age, harvest date, organ type, and genotype. Here, four selected Miscanthus genotypes (Miscanthus sinensis, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Miscanthus × giganteus, Miscanthus sinensis × Miscanthus sacchariflorus hybrid) were grown and harvested, separated into stems and leaves, and characterized for their non-starch polysaccharide composition and structures, lignin contents and structures, and hydroxycinnamate profiles (monomers and ferulic acid dehydrodimers). Polysaccharides of all genotypes are mainly composed of cellulose and low-substituted arabinoxylans. Ratios of hemicelluloses to cellulose were comparable, with the exception of Miscanthus sinensis that showed a higher hemicellulose/cellulose ratio. Lignin contents of Miscanthus stems were higher than those of Miscanthus leaves. Considering the same organs, the four genotypes did not differ in their Klason lignin contents, but Miscanthus × giganteus showed the highest acetylbromide soluble lignin content. Lignin polymers isolated from stems varied in their S/G ratios and linkage type distributions across genotypes. p-Coumaric acid was the most abundant ester-bound hydroxycinnamte monomer in all samples. Ferulic acid dehydrodimers were analyzed as cell wall cross-links, with 8-5-coupled diferulic acid being the main dimer, followed by 8-O-4-, and 5-5-diferulic acid. Contents of p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and ferulic acid dimers varied depending on genotype and organ type. The largest amount of cell wall cross-links was analyzed for Miscanthus sinensis.
-
Miscanthus establishment and management on permanent grassland in southwest Germany
Industrial Crops and Products, 2017Co-Authors: Shuai Xue, Iris Lewandowski, Olena KalininaAbstract:Abstract The intensification of livestock farming and use of arable forage crops has led to a decrease in the area of grassland used for animal husbandry. One potentially profitable use of this grassland is the production of biomass for bioenergy. The C4 grass Miscanthus ( Miscanthus spp.) is considered an important biomass resource for bioenergy production; however, its cultivation is currently limited by the shortage of suitable agricultural land. The establishment of Miscanthus on permanent grassland, at low densities and without destruction of the existing vegetation, could be an interesting option to consider. In this way, the expansion of Miscanthus cultivation could be combined with grassland maintenance. Conventional tilling practices in Miscanthus establishment (ploughing and herbicide application) on meadows can lead to loss of biodiversity. The aim of this study was to investigate efficient no-till practices for establishment and maintenance of several Miscanthus genotypes on permanent grassland in Germany, focusing on the methods to improve establishment success and biomass production potential of Miscanthus-supplemented grassland. A field trial was conducted at two sites to assess the effect of genotype, grassland pre-treatment (through temporary suppression of existing vegetation to reduce initial competition) and management (harvest frequencies) on Miscanthus establishment and growth in grassland stands. An additional experiment with two Miscanthus genotypes was set up to assess the effect of propagation method (rhizomes or pre-grown plantlets) on Miscanthus establishment on grassland. Successful Miscanthus establishment was achieved with no-till planting and grassland pre-treatment. Overall, Miscanthus genotypes with tall, thick shoots performed better on grassland than those with short, thin shoots. Higher establishment rates were achieved through the transplanting of rhizome-derived (pre-grown) plantlets than with direct planting of rhizomes. Cutting the grassland vegetation to a stubble height of 5 cm and spraying herbicide in narrow strips before introducing Miscanthus had beneficial effects on its establishment, without significant negative impact on grassland productivity. In the first three years of the study, two biomass harvests per growing season allowed a good total biomass yield from grassland to be achieved without significant impact on Miscanthus growth.
John Clifton-brown - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Long-Term Yields and Soil Carbon Sequestration from Miscanthus: A Review
Perennial Biomass Crops for a Resource-Constrained World, 2016Co-Authors: Michael Jones, Jesko Zimmermann, John Clifton-brownAbstract:Perennial rhizomatous grasses such as Miscanthus have been assumed to give sustainable biomass yields for at least 20 years, but there have been few productivity trials that have tested this assumption. In addition, it has been suggested that soil carbon sequestration increases linearly over time. Here, we review field trials of Miscanthus, established on former grassland and tilled land, that have been harvested annually for up to 20 years and changes in soil organic matter content have been measured. Yields of Miscanthus follow an establishment phase, a ceiling phase and then a phase of decline. The lengths of these phases are strongly influenced by climate, soils and management, but it is likely that Miscanthus plantations can produce commercially acceptable yield beyond 20 years. Net soil carbon sequestration depends on previous land use and is strongly influenced by the soil carbon stocks at the time of planting. Under Miscanthus a large fraction of the accumulated carbon is labile and would be rapidly lost if Miscanthus plantations were reconverted to cropland. Currently, it is not possible to derive a reliable default sequestration rate for land use change from cropland to Miscanthus energy crop.
-
Progress on optimizing Miscanthus biomass production for the european bioeconomy
Frontiers in Plant Science, 2016Co-Authors: Iris Lewandowski, John Clifton-brown, Luisa M. Trindade, Van Der Gerard C. Linden, Kai Uwe Schwarz, Karl Müller-sämann, Alexander Anisimov, C.-l. Chen, Oene Dolstra, Iain S. DonnisonAbstract:This paper describes the complete findings of the EU-funded research project OPTIMISC, which investigated methods to optimize the production and use of Miscanthus biomass. Miscanthus bioenergy and bioproduct chains were investigated by trialing 15 diverse germplasm types in a range of climatic and soil environments across central Europe, Ukraine, Russia, and China. The abiotic stress tolerances of a wider panel of 100 germplasm types to drought, salinity, and low temperatures were measured in the laboratory and a field trial in Belgium. A small selection of germplasm types was evaluated for performance in grasslands on marginal sites in Germany and the UK. The growth traits underlying biomass yield and quality were measured to improve regional estimates of feedstock availability. Several potential high-value bioproducts were identified. The combined results provide recommendations to policymakers, growers and industry. The major technical advances in Miscanthus production achieved by OPTIMISC include: (1) demonstration that novel hybrids can out-yield the standard commercially grown genotype Miscanthus x giganteus; (2) characterization of the interactions of physiological growth responses with environmental variation within and between sites; (3) quantification of biomass-quality-relevant traits; (4) abiotic stress tolerances of Miscanthus genotypes; (5) selections suitable for production on marginal land; (6) field establishment methods for seeds using plugs; (7) evaluation of harvesting methods; and (8) quantification of energy used in densification (pellet) technologies with a range of hybrids with differences in stem wall properties. End-user needs were addressed by demonstrating the potential of optimizing Miscanthus biomass composition for the production of ethanol and biogas as well as for combustion. The costs and life-cycle assessment of seven Miscanthus-based value chains, including small- and large-scale heat and power, ethanol, biogas, and insulation material production, revealed GHG-emission- and fossil-energy-saving potentials of up to 30.6 t CO2eq C ha−1y−1 and 429 GJ ha−1y−1, respectively. Transport distance was identified as an important cost factor. Negative carbon mitigation costs of –78€ t−1 CO2eq C were recorded for local biomass use. The OPTIMISC results demonstrate the potential of Miscanthus as a crop for marginal sites and provide information and technologies for the commercial implementation of Miscanthus-based value chains. This paper describes the complete findings of the EU-fundedresearch project OPTIMISC,which investigated methods to optimize the production and use of Miscanthus biomass. Miscanthus bioenergy and bioproduct chains were investigated by trialing 15 diverse germplasm types in a range of climatic and soil environments across central Europe,Ukraine,Russia,and China. The abiotic stress tolerances of a wider panel of 100 germplasm types to drought,salinity,and low temperatures were measured in the laboratory and a field trial in Belgium. Asmall selection of germplasmtypes was evaluated for performance in grasslands on marginal sites in Germany and the UK. The growth traits underlying biomass yield and quality were measured to improve regional estimates of feedstock availability. Several potential high-value bioproducts were identified. The combined results provide recommendations to policymakers,growers and industry. The major technical advances in Miscanthus production achieved by OPTIMISC include: (1) demonstration that novel hybrids can out-yield the standard commercially grown genotype Miscanthus x giganteus; (2) characterization of the interactions of physiological growth responses with environmental variation within andbetween sites; (3) quantification of biomass-quality-relevant traits; (4) abiotic stress tolerances of Miscanthus genotypes; (5) selections suitable for production on marginal land; (6) field establishment methods for seeds using plugs; (7) evaluation of harvesting methods; and (8) quantification of energy used in densification (pellet) technologies with a range of hybrids with differences in stem wall properties. End-user needs were addressed by demonstrating the potential of optimizing Miscanthus biomass composition for the production of ethanol and biogas as well as for combustion. The costs and life-cycle assessment of seven Miscanthus-based value chains,including small- and large-scale heat and power,ethanol,biogas,and insulation material production,revealed GHG-emission- and fossil-energy-saving potentials of up to 30.6 t CO 2eq C ha −1 y −1 and 429 GJ ha −1 y −1 ,respectively. Transport distance was identified as an important cost factor. Negative carbon mitigation costs of –78€ −1 CO 2eq C were recorded for local biomass use. The OPTIMISC results demonstrate the potential of Miscanthus as a crop for marginal sites and provide information and technologies for the commercial implementation of Miscanthus-based value chains.
-
Miscanthus : European experience with a novel energy crop
Biomass and Bioenergy, 2000Co-Authors: Iris Lewandowski, John Clifton-brown, J. M. O. Scurlock, W. HuismanAbstract:Abstract Miscanthus is a tall perennial rhizomatous grass with C 4 photosynthesis which originated in East Asia. This article provides an overview of the most important results and experience gained with Miscanthus in Europe over the past 10 years. Field trials have been established throughout Europe from the Mediterranean to southern Scandinavia. Most reported trials have used a vigorous sterile clone Miscanthus x giganteus , which has been propagated vegetatively either by rhizome cutting or in vitro culture. Yields in autumn have been reported in excess of 30 t ha −1 (12 t acre −1 ) for irrigated trials in southern Europe. Without irrigation autumn yields of 10–25 t ha −1 (dry matter) can be expected. The quality of Miscanthus biomass for combustion is in some respect comparable to woody biomass and normally improves by delaying harvesting until the spring, although harvestable yields are thus reduced by 30–50% compared with autumn yields. Different technical options for establishment, harvesting and handling of Miscanthus have been developed and these significantly effect production costs. Miscanthus production is characterized by low fertilizer and pesticide requirements making it a relatively benign crop environmentally. The main limitations to Miscanthus production from M. x giganteus are the high establishment costs, poor over-wintering at some sites and insufficient water supply in southern regions of Europe. New agronomic techniques and new genotypes with improved characteristics are being developed and screened over the wide range of ecological conditions in Europe. Against this background of European experience the prospects for growing Miscanthus in North America are discussed.
Trevor R. Hodkinson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Chloroplast DNA markers (cpSSRs, SNPs) for Miscanthus, Saccharum and related grasses (Panicoideae, Poaceae)
Molecular Breeding, 2010Co-Authors: Mariateresa De Cesare, Trevor R. Hodkinson, Susanne BarthAbstract:Miscanthus and Saccharum are closely related perennial C4 grasses. Miscanthus has recently attracted interest as a non-food crop for energy and fibre production. However, molecular genetic tools for the selection of new Miscanthus genotypes and study of its genetic resources are limited. We have identified six chloroplast (plastid) marker loci,containing both microsatellites (cpSSRs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and developed primers to amplify and sequence these regions. The primers were designed using the complete chloroplast genome sequence of sugarcane and were tested on a collection of 164 Miscanthus genotypes and 14 related species of the subfamily Panicoideae. The cpSSR markers were highly polymorphic, with the number of alleles ranging from 10 to 16 per locus. Within the six cpSSR marker loci, the hybrid M. ×giganteus exhibits virtually no cpDNA variation compared with its putative parents M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus. These SNP markers enable the differentiation of most Miscanthus species and detect infraspecific variation suitable for defining cytoplasmic genepools of Miscanthus for breeding purposes.
-
phylogenetics of Miscanthus saccharum and related genera saccharinae andropogoneae poaceae based on dna sequences from its nuclear ribosomal dna and plastid trnl intron and trnl f intergenic spacers
Journal of Plant Research, 2002Co-Authors: Trevor R. Hodkinson, Mark W Chase, Dolores M Lledo, Nicolas Salamin, Stephen A RenvoizeAbstract:DNA sequences were used to assess the monophyly and inter-relationships of Miscanthus, Saccharum and related genera in the Saccharum complex. Three DNA regions were sequenced, including the trnL intron and the trnL-F intergenic spacer of the plastid genome and the ITS region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA). Because it was more variable, the ITS region proved most suitable for phylogenetic reconstruction at this level, and the results indicate that Miscanthus s.l. and Saccharum s.l. are polyphyletic. A set of species from Saccharum section Ripidium (clade a) do not group closely with any members of Saccharum s.l.. A number of Miscanthus species from eastern or south-eastern Asia represent a monophyletic group with a basic chromosome number of 19 (clade b), but the other species from Africa and the Himalayas are clearly excluded. There is support for a monophyletic Saccharum s.s. clade including S. officinarum and S. spontaneum that is sister to Miscanthus s.s (clade c). There is no evidence to support the division of some Saccharum s.l. into the genera currently known as Erianthus and Narenga. Saccharum contortum (=Erianthus contortus), S. narenga (=Narenga porphyrocoma) and Erianthus rockii, group more closely with Miscanthus fuscus, a species from the Himalayas and also with the African Miscanthus s.l. species (=Miscanthidium, clade d).
Stephen A Renvoize - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
phylogenetics of Miscanthus saccharum and related genera saccharinae andropogoneae poaceae based on dna sequences from its nuclear ribosomal dna and plastid trnl intron and trnl f intergenic spacers
Journal of Plant Research, 2002Co-Authors: Trevor R. Hodkinson, Mark W Chase, Dolores M Lledo, Nicolas Salamin, Stephen A RenvoizeAbstract:DNA sequences were used to assess the monophyly and inter-relationships of Miscanthus, Saccharum and related genera in the Saccharum complex. Three DNA regions were sequenced, including the trnL intron and the trnL-F intergenic spacer of the plastid genome and the ITS region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA). Because it was more variable, the ITS region proved most suitable for phylogenetic reconstruction at this level, and the results indicate that Miscanthus s.l. and Saccharum s.l. are polyphyletic. A set of species from Saccharum section Ripidium (clade a) do not group closely with any members of Saccharum s.l.. A number of Miscanthus species from eastern or south-eastern Asia represent a monophyletic group with a basic chromosome number of 19 (clade b), but the other species from Africa and the Himalayas are clearly excluded. There is support for a monophyletic Saccharum s.s. clade including S. officinarum and S. spontaneum that is sister to Miscanthus s.s (clade c). There is no evidence to support the division of some Saccharum s.l. into the genera currently known as Erianthus and Narenga. Saccharum contortum (=Erianthus contortus), S. narenga (=Narenga porphyrocoma) and Erianthus rockii, group more closely with Miscanthus fuscus, a species from the Himalayas and also with the African Miscanthus s.l. species (=Miscanthidium, clade d).
Benoit Gabrielle - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
-
Modeling the comparative advantages of two lignocellulosic crops for biofuel production
2019Co-Authors: Monia El Akkari, Fabien Ferchaud, Loic Strullu, Aurélie Perrin, Jean-louis Drouet, Pierre-alain Jayet, Benoit GabrielleAbstract:Crop yields and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions during feedstock production are important items in the life-cycleimpacts and energy efficiency of second-generation biofuels, which results in uncertainties and scientific debatesregarding their climate mitigation potential. Several studies have been conducted to find the most promising cropsfrom this point of view, among which perennial grasses such as Miscanthus and switchgrass feature prominently.Since greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions strongly depend on crop management and pedoclimatic conditions,it is important to compare feedstocks under similar conditions to quantify their respective performances andguide crop selection. Beyond field trials representing particular sets of such conditions, agro-ecosystem modelsoffer a prime route to generalize trends over large area relevant to supply a full-scale biofuel production plant.Only few such models are currently available, and they have been little tested or used from this perspective thus far.Here we set out to test whether one of these models was specific enough to capture differences between Miscanthusand switchgrass in France, and to simulate their performance at regional level. The biophysical model CERESEGC was compared to field observations obtained in long-term trials in Estrées-Mons (Northern France), tworegions that carried experiments and have quantified yields for both crops. The trials involved different treatmentsfor both crops, in terms of fertilizer input rates and harvesting date. Regional simulations were subsequently runin Southern France using a soil map and near-term future climate data from a meso-scale climate simulation model.In Estrées-Mons the deviation between simulated and observed biomass yields for Miscanthus varies be-tween 1 t dry matter (DM) ha-1 (for the early harvest without fertilization) and 4 t DM ha-1 (late harvest withfertilization). However for switchgrass the simulated yields are overestimated by less than 1 t ha-1 compared tothe experiments. The yield of Miscanthus remains higher than switchgrass for all treatments. The model tended toover-estimate N2O emissions in spring and autumn, resulting in a 20% over-estimation on an annual basis.According to the regional averages calculated for the two crops in the French regions under Mediterraneanclimates (Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur and Occitanie), the yield differences between the two crops ranges from1.5 to 6 t DM ha-1, with Miscanthus outperforming switchgrass overall. Applying a fertlizer input rate of 60 kg Nha-1 increased Miscanthus yields by up to 5 t ha-1 and only 3 t ha-1 for switchgrass.considering the regional scale we note that switchgrass emits up to 60% more N2O when fertilised compared toMiscanthus. knowing that miscantus produces more than switchgrass we conclude that probably Miscanthus ismore intersting for producing biofuels.The ranking and differences between crops reflected those observed in 3 local trials in these regions. Howeverin both cases some irrigation appeared necessary in years with long drought episodes – evidencing the relevantof using models to select the most appropriate crops and management in the medium-term, accounting for futureclimate changes.
-
Changes in isotopic signatures of soil carbon and CO2 respiration immediately and one year after Miscanthus removal
Global Change Biology - Bioenergy, 2016Co-Authors: Julia Drewer, Karine Dufosse, Ute Skiba, Benoit GabrielleAbstract:The removal of perennial bioenergy crops, such as Miscanthus, has rarely been studied although it is an important form of land use change. Miscanthus is a C4 plant, and the carbon (C) it deposits during its growth has a different isotopic signature (12/13C) compared to a C3 plant. Identifying the proportion of C stored and released to the atmosphere is important information for ecosystem models and life cycle analyses. During a removal experiment in June 2011 of a 20-year old Miscanthus field (Grignon, France), vegetation was removed mechanically and chemically. Two replicate plots were converted into a rotation of annual crops, two plots had Miscanthus removed with no soil disturbance, followed by bare soil (set-aside), one control plot was left with continued Miscanthus cultivation, and an adjacent field was used as annual arable crops control. There was a significant difference in the isotopic composition of the total soil C under Miscanthus compared with adjacent annual arable crops in all three measured soil layers (0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm). Before Miscanthus removal, total C in the soil under Miscanthus ranged from 4.9% in the top layer to 3.9% in the lower layers with δ13C values of −16.3 to −17.8 while soil C under the adjacent arable crop was significantly lower and ranged from 1.6 to 2% with δ13C values of −23.2. This did not change much in 2012, suggesting the accumulation of soil C under Miscanthus persists for at least the first year. In contrast, the isotopic signals of soil respiration 1 year after Miscanthus removal from recultivated and set-aside plots were similar to that of the annual arable control, while just after removal the signals were similar to that of the Miscanthus control. This suggests a rapid change in the form of soil C pools that are respired.
