Family: Gramineae
Genus: Spartina
Species: anglica
cynosuroides
pectinata
(i) General background on the plant
The cordgrasses Spartina pectinata and S. cynosuroides occur naturally in Western Europe, North America and Africa. Spartina cynosuroides is found on salt or brackish marshes from Massachusetts through Florida to Texas and S. pectinata on marsh shores or wet prairies from as far north as Newfoundland through the prairie states to as far south as Texas (Gleason 1952). They are related to the native esturine species S. anglica and maritima. Cordgrasses spread by means of scaly creeping rhizomes to form clumps and mats.
All species are C4 pathway species and have higher carbon assimilation rates than C3 forage grasses and are more efficient interceptors of radiation receipts. They also have a significantly higher uptake of CO2 and are less sensitive to chilling than annual C4 species.
Spartina pectinata and S. cynosuroides are rhizomatous perennial grasses. S. cynosuroides grows 1 to 3 m tall with leaf blades 8-20 mm wide. Its panicles are dense 10 to 30 cm in length, spikes are numerous 3 - 7 cm long. S. pectinata is 1 to 2 m tall with leaf blades 5-10 mm wide. Its panicles are 20 to 40 cm in length with individual spikes 10 to 20 cm long (Gleason 1952). Dry matter production is maximised in August but declines to maturity as photosynthates are translocated to the underground rhizomes. Dry matter content rises rapidly in the winter to approaching 80% in February (Cromack 1993).
They are primarily used for biomass production with a C-assimilation rate of 70 grammes of dry matter per day in July - exceed maximum rates for C3 forage grasses.
(ii) Details of quality characters
(iii) Current production and yields
The yield potential of these grasses may exceed 10-15 t dry matter/ha.
(iv) Constraints on production
Spartina pectinata and cynosuroides have been shown to be adaptable to a range of growing conditions and to produce higher yields than most natural grasses with a low input on fertiliser. However yields are lower than seem possible from other biomass crops such as Miscanthus. The advantage of these species are the potential to be established from seed, their greater adaptability to adverse soil conditions, low fertiliser requirement and their higher dry matter content earlier in the winter. It is likely that these species will be well suited to mild wet climate areas in Europe.
(v) Markets and market potential
(vi) Other information
The species are tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions form arable soils, cut over peats, waterlogged and brackish soil. Production is greatest on moisture retentive soils. Cordgrasses readily produce germinable seed under northern European conditions. The species are all tolerant of atrazine hence effective weed control can be obtained when applied in spring.
Rainfall has a significant effect on productivity, as is the case with most grasses. Application of fertiliser has a limited response
See the following pages in the NF-2000 Database
(vii) Contacts
(viii) References
Long, S. P; (1989). The Potential of C4 Cord Gasses and Galingale for Low Input Biomass Production in Europe (University of Essex).
Cromack, H.T.H. (1993) Annual report 1992/3 on experiment D103/002 Biomass crops.
Gleason, H.A. (1952) In illustrated flora of north eastern United States and adjacent Canada, in Vol 1. New York Botanical Gardens.