Developing establishment agronomy to decrease risks at planting on marginal land: increase plug plant resilience by hardening treatments and precise application of soil amendments.
Leader: Aberystwyth University
The objective of WP2 is to develop improved establishment methods for increased plug plant resilience in miscanthus hybrids on marginal, contaminated and industrially damaged land. Current establishment methods, e.g. application of transparent mulch film, work well on arable land, but establishment on marginal land is more challenging due to increased and multiple stress conditions. Establishment phase is the most critical period during miscanthus cultivation and higher establishment risks are a major barrier to unlock the production potential of such sites. We will use hardening treatments and precise application of soil amendments to potentiate establishment for increased resilience and biomass yield.