Crops Reed canary-grass (Phalaris arundinaceae)

Reed canary-grass is a robust perennial grass, widely distributed across temperate regions of Europe, Asia and also North America, where it has been developed as a useful forage crop on land subject to periodic flooding. A breeding programme has now been instituted in Sweden following its evaluation there as a potential source of fibre (for pulping) and fuel.

Root mat with stolons

It spreads naturally from creeping rhizomes but beds may be raised from seed. Stems may attain 2 m in height; the leaves are usually light green, broad and pointed, and persist through winter even though dead.

Plants in flower

The compact flower-heads appear from June to August. Yields of up to 12 t per ha of dry matter have been obtained, usually on the basis of 2 or 3 cuts per year, productivity tending to increase in successive years with careful management. The crop responds well to nitrogen and phosphate; plantings may be used in a bed system to remove nutrients from waste water, as well as to stabilise areas at risk of soil erosion.

This entry forms part of the publication Crops for Industry and Energy in Europe

References:

Anthony, K R M, Meadley, J & Robellen, G (Eds) (1993) New Crops for Temperate Regions. London: Chapman & Hall

Chisholm, C J (Ed) (1994) Towards a UK Research Strategy For Alternative Crops. Silsoe: Silsoe Research Institute.

Hubbard, C E (1968) Grasses (2nd Edn). Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltd.

Langer, R H M & Hill, G D (1991) Agricultural Plants (2nd Edn) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Industrial Crops and Products. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science B V

Relevant EC funded projects:
AIR-2465
FAIR-0512