Limits in propagation are hampering the diffusion of giant reed cultivation for biomass. The objective of this study was to compare rhizomes and micropropagated plants with stem cuttings obtained in spring vs late winter (with and without side shoots, respectively) and immediately planted. A three-years field trial was carried out, assessing how rapidly giant reed establishes, and how its yield components (i.e. crop height, stem density, stem diameter) and its rhizomes develop over years depending on the propagation method adopted.

Long-lasting variations in yield components depending on propagation were found. In the three years, biomass yield was steadily higher in rhizome-propagated stands (+64% than the average of the other propagation materials), while no significant interactions with the year of study were observed. Stems were thicker in rhizome-propagated and thinner in micropropagated plants, while cutting-propagated ones showed intermediate values. Micropropagation led to a significantly lower ratio between the biomass of rhizomes and the number of rhizome buds. Moreover, micropropagated plants were shorter (crop height: 34%), while stem density was nearly doubled: an inverse relationship between tillering and elongation was highlighted. Plants obtained from winter cuttings were taller than those obtained in spring, although the height difference was mostly achieved towards the end of the vegetative season. At initial growth stages, winter cuttings were slower than spring cuttings in increasing sprout density. Immediately-planted cuttings showed potential to replace micropropagated plants. In particular, cuttings obtained in spring, showed suitability for on-farm propagation, by means of collection from existing stands followed by direct planting.

繁殖的限制阻碍了用于生物质的巨型芦苇栽培的扩散。本研究的目的是比较根茎和微繁植物与在春季和晚冬（分别有和没有侧枝）获得并立即种植的茎插条。进行了为期三年的田间试验，评估了巨型芦苇的建立速度，以及其产量构成（即作物高度、茎密度、茎直径）及其根状茎的生长情况，具体取决于所采用的繁殖方法。

发现了取决于繁殖的产量成分的长期变化。在这三年中，根茎繁殖林分的生物量产量稳步提高（比其他繁殖材料的平均水平高 64%），但没有观察到与研究年份的显着相互作用。根茎繁殖的茎更粗，微繁殖的茎更细，而扦插繁殖的茎则显示中间值。微繁殖导致根茎生物量与根茎芽数之间的比率显着降低。此外，微繁植株更短（作物高度：34%），而茎密度几乎翻了一番：分蘖和伸长率之间的反比关系被突出显示。冬季插条获得的植物比春季获得的植物高，尽管高度差异主要是在植物生长季节结束时实现的。在初始生长阶段，冬季插条在增加芽苗密度方面比春季插条慢。立即种植的插条显示出替代微繁植物的潜力。特别是在春季获得的插条, 通过从现有林分收集然后直接种植，表现出适合农场繁殖。