Primary Mechanical Modification to Improve Performance of Miscanthus as Stand-Alone Growing Substrates

Selecting proper mechanical processing can improve performance of miscanthus substrates. We studied the effects methods on substrate morphology, hydrological properties, pH, and nitrogen immobilization. Miscanthus × giganteus biomass was processed into field chips (FC, forage harvester), shreds (S5, fraying machine through a 5-mm screen) (C15, C10, C5 C3, hammermill with screen size 15, 10, 5, or 3 mm). Processed materials were also tested as propagation substrates for Chinese cabbage seedlings. Results showed that particle distribution formed four groups in ascending order size: C3 < (C10, C15, S5) FC. The finer had higher water holding capacity following same groupings size. hydrophobicity low reversible, increasing risk C15 S5, All similar pH buffering capacity. Nitrogen immobilization among seedlings germination rates but lower compared to those grown peat coir. Primary modification offers opportunities different sizes few changes physical chemical properties this work.