Holder et al. (2025): Genotypic Differences in Soil Carbon Stocks Under Miscanthus: Implications for Carbon Sequestration and Plant Breeding
Amanda J. Holder, Rebecca Wilson, Jeanette Whitaker, Paul Robson, IN: GCB Bioenergy, https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.70076
Biomass crops provide renewable material for bioproducts and energy generation with the potential for negative greenhouse gas emissions through bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. Miscanthus spp. is a perennial crop with rapid biomass production and low inputs. However, uncertainty exists over impacts on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in conversion from agricultural grasslands, and the interaction between divergent Miscanthus species and SOC sequestration. As a C4 plant (in contrast to C3 temperate grassland species) the fate of Miscanthus derived carbon can be traced in the soil through its isotopic signature. Taking advantage of this, the authors use soil cores (pre and post conversion) to investigate species groupings and genotypic effect on SOC stocks in a rare long-term field trial located in the UK.