Model Boat Mayhem

Mess Deck: General Section => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: andrewh on November 02, 2012, 01:36:04 PM

Title: Can anyone identify this crop?
Post by: andrewh on November 02, 2012, 01:36:04 PM

Hello Mayhemmers
I am sure that someone will immediately tell me what this stuff is. 
 
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd159/andrewh_photo/DSC06610.jpg)
 
It grows in very large quantities around the Leicester area.  It seems to be a spring planting harvested when completely dry about 18 months later.
 
I would be surprised if it is not of the grass family - but that is not tying it down very much
Energy Crop? Esparto grass?
 
tia
andrew

Title: Re: Can anyone identify this crop?
Post by: barriew on November 02, 2012, 01:50:20 PM

Could be bamboo grown for use as a fuel.


Barrie

Title: Re: Can anyone identify this crop?
Post by: Martin [Admin] on November 02, 2012, 01:59:03 PM

Any chance of a close up?

Title: Re: Can anyone identify this crop?
Post by: sailorboy61 on November 02, 2012, 02:01:38 PM

looks like sugar cane, but probably not in Leicestershire!

Title: Re: Can anyone identify this crop?
Post by: john44 on November 02, 2012, 03:45:48 PM

Is it sweetcorn?

john

Title: Re: Can anyone identify this crop?
Post by: flashtwo on November 02, 2012, 05:23:59 PM

Is it Elephant Grass?
 
Elephant grass, to my knowledge, is grown around the Graffham Water Reservoir - 1. to be used as a fuel crop and 2. to absorb the soil nitrates to prevent them entering the water system and causing algal blooms.
 
Ian.

Title: Re: Can anyone identify this crop?
Post by: ardarossan on November 02, 2012, 05:43:47 PM

Miscanthus
Miscanthus x Giganteus or "Elephant Grass" is a the sterile hybrid between M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus. It has risen to prominence since the early 1980's as a potential biofuel on account of its high dry weight annual yield that can reach 25t/ha (10t/acre).
See: http://www.ukagriculture.com/crops/miscanthus.cfm (http://www.ukagriculture.com/crops/miscanthus.cfm)

(http://s11.postimage.org/9yajdg16n/miscanthus_young_plants.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/9yajdg16n/) (http://s11.postimage.org/lyre0fj7j/miscanthus_plants.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/lyre0fj7j/) (http://s11.postimage.org/v59onpofz/miscanthus_harvesting.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/v59onpofz/)

All just a 'Google' away...

Andy

Title: Re: Can anyone identify this crop?
Post by: andrewh on November 02, 2012, 10:18:28 PM

Thank you all. 
This is about as tall as it grows here - must be miscanthus giganteus pigmaeus
Thanks andy, I will follow the link. 
andrew

Title: Re: Can anyone identify this crop?
Post by: dreadnought72 on November 03, 2012, 12:14:52 AM

Did you see any elephants in it?  :embarrassed:

Andy

Title: Re: Can anyone identify this crop?
Post by: Rottweiler on November 03, 2012, 12:56:04 AM

Or  Pygmys? I only know of one tribe of Pygmys who live in this type of grass,the fugary tribe.they are so small,that they can hardly be noticed,and have to jump up and down telling everyone " we're the Fugary"
sorry Martin,you can slap my wrist at Warwick!

Title: Re: Can anyone identify this crop?
Post by: Neil on November 03, 2012, 09:36:32 PM

I believe that, from a song I used to sing at school.....the Ooomygoooly tribe inhabit it!!! {-) {-) {-) {-) {-) {-)

Title: Re: Can anyone identify this crop?
Post by: nemesis on November 03, 2012, 09:45:08 PM

Hi neil, showing your age my friend, nemesis