Terravesta’s miscanthus harvest breaks record

In the United Kingdom, Terravesta is reporting their biggest ever harvest this year. Largely due to improved crop performance from their new performance hybrid Terravesta Athena, better planting techniques, more planting and a fantastic growing season, the tonnage figure is 15% up on last year.

Terravesta Athena produces higher yields in year two of the crop’s 20-year life cycle, an average mature yield double that of original Miscanthus giganteus, a calorific value increase of 8%, resulting in a 180% increase in energy per hectare (megajoules), and a significant ash content reduction, all of which benefits the end market considerably.

Trial results show that on average year two yields are 62% above the standard Miscanthus giganteus variety, producing up to 8 t/ha for the first harvest and 12.5 t/ha in year three. Extensive testing for Terravesta Athena™ took place on 270ha of varied UK soil types, as well as different geographic and climatic conditions.