MISCANTHUS GIGANTEUS TERRAVESTA ATHENA™

RHIZOMES FOR SALE

 

Our Terravesta Athena™ rhizomes deliver bigger, quicker, more consistent yields, unbeatable quality and higher calorific value for a growing number of markets.

Miscanthus x giganteus Terravesta Athena™ hybrid

The best performing, commercially available Miscanthus variety

Terravesta Athena™, the preferred second generation lignocellulosic biomass and biofuel crop has undergone rigorous selection and development to ensure increased and stable yields, suitability for a wide range of climatic and soil conditions and tolerance to extreme conditions.

• • Higher yields
  • Earlier harvest – in year two
  • Improved biomass quality
  • Higher calorific value
  • Low ash content

Terravesta Athena™ yields

Field-scale commercial trials conducted in various European destinations, climates and soil conditions show that Miscanthus x giganteus Terravesta Athena™ yields are on average higher than the standard Miscanthus x giganteus variety.

Terravesta Athena™ Product specifications

Variety Name:	Terravesta Athena™
Species:	Miscanthus x giganteus
Plant Type:	Hardy perennial, C4 grass type
Life Cycle:	20 + years
Height:	3 – 4 m
Width:	1 m
Nutrition requirement:	No fertiliser needed
Harvest time:	Late winter/early spring, first harvest in year 2 onwards

Interested? Get in touch with us by clicking here!

 

Terravesta Athena™ environmental benefits

Miscanthus carbon

The first dedicated, independent, peer-reviewed study into the Miscanthus carbon life cycle shows that the crop is net carbon negative, capturing net 2.35 tonnes CO e per hectare, per year in the soil at the very least.

Miscanthus biodiversity

Minimal herbicide application, zero fertiliser, no cultivation over a long period of time and ample leaf litter generated by the crop encourages biodiversity, providing habitat for a wide range of wildlife, including invertebrates, mammals, and birds.

Terravesta Athena™ rhizome origin

Our Miscanthus x giganteus Terravesta Athena™ rhizomes are propagated in large nurseries in Europe at carefully selected locations with optimum conditions. Current capacity for sale is 80 million Miscanthus rhizomes annually (for planting 4,000ha of land). We work with and seek commercial partners to develop large-scale, strategic, long-term planting projects across Europe.

Miscanthus rhizome quality assurance

We guarantee continuous nursery rotation, and our rhizomes for sale and planting are never more than three years old in their propagation cycle. We have a strict quality control procedure for monitoring production of Miscanthus rhizomes to ensure optimum condition.

We do not source from third parties and each delivery is traceable to the field of origin. Our temperature controlled Miscanthus x giganteus Terravesta Athena™ rhizomes are backed by a planting promise to ensure a specified crop establishment success rate.

Miscanthus rhizome packaging and delivery

Miscanthus rhizomes are packed in small bags of 400 for easy unloading, handling and feeding to planting equipment. A full pallet contains 64 small bags, giving a total of 25,600 rhizomes per pallet or about 1.5 ha of planting.

We load up to 700,000 rhizomes (for planting around 39ha) onto a standard temperature-controlled refrigerated lorry.

Final packaging and storage

Terravesta offers a proven packaging protocol with

• 400 rhizomes / small bag
• 64 small bags / pallet (= 25,600 rhizomes or 1.5 ha)/pallet
• 26 pallets / truck (665.600 rhizomes or 39 ha)
• 1 pallet = 1.5ha at 17K/ha density
• pallet dimensions/weight: 1.2 x 1.0 m footprint, height 2.0 m, approx. 750kg

The rhizomes shall be kept at a storage temperature at -1 to 2 degrees Celsius.

Miscanthus x giganteus Terravesta Athena™ delivery

Our rhizomes are planted for propagation on demand. For spring 2024 planting, the order deadline is 15th December 2023.

Miscanthus x giganteus Terravesta Athena™ planting

Miscanthus is grown from rhizomes planted by our specially designed semi-automatic mechanical planter which plants rhizomes with precision, increasing yield potential through safe and gentle handling.

The average planting rate is 17,000 rhizomes per hectare, or 1.7 rhizomes per M2. This leaves plenty of room for the rhizome to spread and grow without encouraging competition between species. For optimum establishment, planting should be in four rows, 75 cm apart.

Miscanthus x giganteus Terravesta Athena™ Miscanthus will grow on all land types, but the strongest yields are achieved on wet, sandy soils.

The soil pH ideally needs to be in the region of 6-7.5. It takes longer to establish in heavier clay soils, but yields are more consistent due to greater moisture retention.

Miscanthus invasiveness

Miscanthus x giganteus Terravesta Athena™ is non-invasive

Currently, available cultivars and lines for Miscanthus x giganteus Terravesta Athena™ do not produce viable seed and, as such, are non invasive.

Our more than a decade long planting experience confirms that once established, the Terravesta Athena™ rhizome covers a maximum area of around one square metre and once it has reached that size it does not spread further. The non-invasiveness of this hybrid is also determined by the genetic purity of the parental lines which our nursery protocol guarantees. Opposing opinions on Miscanthus available on the internet usually refer to varieties of Miscanthus sinensis, which is a garden plant and is not available from Terravesta and is considered unsuitable as a biomass crop.

Terravesta market advantage

Our experience

Miscanthus x giganteus Terravesta Athena™ grows best in temperate and continental climates and we have experience planting in: Scotland, England, France, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Italy, Slovakia, Croatia, Moldova, Netherlands, Belgium and Ukraine.

Miscanthus markets

Miscanthus is primarily used as biomass for combustion in renewable energy power plants to generate electricity and heat homes (CHP – combined heat and power). There are also alternative markets, including:

• domestic fuel alternatives, bio-refining
• animal bedding, horticultural mulch and growing media,
• construction materials such as concrete or fibreboard
• sanitary wipes, paper production, packaging
• soil phytoremediation of polluted soils.

In the UK, Terravesta has signed long-term contracts with biomass power stations. In addition, Terravesta procures growers and land, manages the agronomy, harvesting and logistics of the biomass

Terravesta is currently working on several projects across Europe that bring together biomass farmers, logistics companies and industrial users. Terravesta is interested in developing new markets in partnership for a better and greener future.

Get in touch with Terravesta