Direct sowing of Miscanthus seed could lower crop establishment costs, and increase the rate of grower uptake and biomass supply for the emerging bio‐economy. A replicated field trial was conducted at two contrasting UK sites: Aberystwyth (ABR) in mid‐Wales and Blankney (BLK) in Lincolnshire. These sites encompass the west–east meteorological gradient in the United Kingdom where the growing season at ABR is cooler and wetter while BLK is warmer and drier. Primed and unprimed Miscanthus sinensis seeds were sown directly onto the soil surface with and without a clear biodegradable mulch film, at nine dates interspersed from May to October. Average daily mean soil surface temperatures measured over the first 2 months after sowing under the mulch film were higher than control plots (2.7°C ABR and 4.2°C BLK). At both sites, the film covering also affected soil volumetric moisture relative to uncovered control plots (−3% ABR and 8% BLK), demonstrating the negative impact of mulch film when sowing on dry soil. Over nine sowings, seed germination at ABR under film varied between −28% and +18% of germination under control conditions. Seedlings from the first three sowings at both sites under film had sufficient physiological maturity to survive the first winter period. At BLK, mulch film significantly increased tiller count and height in both the first and second years after sowing. At ABR, where temperatures were lower, film covering significantly increased tiller height but not count. Water priming had no significant effect on seed viability or germination in the field tests. Base temperatures for germination of primed and unprimed seeds on a thermal gradient plate were 7.0°C and 5.7°C, respectively, with a ± 1.7°C confidence interval. Based on our results for M. sinensis in the United Kingdom, we recommend the sowing of unprimed seed in May under film and only when the soil is moist.

中文翻译：

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评估种子引发、播种日期和地膜，以改善英国直播芒草的发芽和成活。

直接播种芒草种子可以降低作物种植成本，并提高种植者的吸收率和新兴生物经济的生物量供应。在英国两个截然不同的地点进行了重复现场试验：威尔士中部的阿伯里斯特威斯 (ABR) 和林肯郡的布兰克尼 (BLK)。这些地点涵盖了英国的东西向气象梯度，其中 ABR 的生长季节凉爽且湿润，而 BLK 则温暖且干燥。将已处理和未处理的芒草种子直接播种到土壤表面，有或没有透明的可生物降解地膜，在五月至十月的九个日期散布。在地膜下播种后的前 2 个月内测量的日平均土壤表面温度高于对照地块（ABR 2.7°C BLK 4.2°C）。在这两个地点，相对于未覆盖的对照地块（-3% ABR 和 8% BLK），薄膜覆盖还影响土壤体积湿度，这表明在干燥土壤上播种时覆盖薄膜的负面影响。在九次播种中，膜下 ABR 种子发芽率变化范围为对照条件下发芽率的 -28% 至 +18%。两个膜下地点前三轮播种的幼苗都具有足够的生理成熟度，可以度过第一个冬季。在 BLK，地膜在播种后的第一年和第二年都显着增加了分蘖数和高度。在 ABR，温度较低，薄膜覆盖显着增加了分蘖高度，但没有增加。在田间试验中，水引发对种子活力或发芽率没有显着影响。热梯度板上引发和未引发的种子发芽的基础温度分别为 7.0°C 和 5.7°C，置信区间为 ± 1.7°C。根据我们在英国对中华芒草的研究结果，我们建议仅在土壤湿润的情况下于五月在薄膜下播种未打底的种子。