## 5 Cultivation Techniques  
**Biomass sorghum** (_Sorghum bicolor_ L.) has recently become a crop of extreme interest for bioenergy production because of the high yields that it can reach and the relatively simple cultivation technique that it requires. This species belongs to the family Poaceae, like grain crops and sugar cane, and is suitable for cultivation in temperate zones, with a spring-summer cycle. From the morphological point of view, between biomass and sugar sorghum there are no substantial differences. However, in terms of composition, the two varieties are quite different, and this justifies their different uses [101]. In the fiber type, the production of structural carbohydrates, and in particular cellulose, prevails; whereas in the sugar type, at least 30% of all the accumulated dry matter consists of simple sugars (sucrose, glucose, and fructose). Sorghum is native to central-eastern Africa (Sudan, Ethiopia), but it is currently widespread in Africa and the USA, although still little diffused in Europe. It has a minimum temperature for germination of 13 \({}^{\circ}\)C and an optimal growth temperature range of 24-25 \({}^{\circ}\)C. It prefers medium-textured soils and is moderately tolerant of salinity. Fiber (biomass) sorghum is a variety characterized by high efficiency in the use of water and can be grown in semi-arid and Mediterranean environments in conditions of limited water supply. Experimental tests have shown some variability in biomass yield, from 15 to over 40 t ha\({}^{-1}\) of dry matter [102]. In the Mediterranean area, medium-late-cycle hybrids (emergence-flowering period of more than 90 days) are preferred as they provide maximum yield with a smaller amount of grain at the time of collection. The harvest can be carried out 10-20 days before the flowering phase--when the accumulation of dry matter and cellulose in the culm is highest [101]. **Sugar sorghum** (_Sorghum bicolor_ L. var. saccharatum) belongs to the Poaceae family. The composition of the plant diverges considerably, as mentioned above, from the fiber types. The marrow in sugar types is rich in sucrose (15%-20%), but the presence of free glucose and fructose hinders the crystallization of sucrose, making it technically impossible to use sugar sorghum for the production of crystallized sugar. Sugar sorghum is usually used as fodder or for the production of molasses [101]. The pedoclimatic requirements and the main cultivation techniques are very similar to those of fiber sorghum. The high content of sugars and the high water content of the plant stems cause major problems for the storage of the collected biomass (e.g., fermentation). The fresh matter yield is around 80 t ha\({}^{-1}\)[101]. Bio-ethanol, bio-ETBE, biogas, and biomethane can be obtained from this plant in yields similar to those of other common energy crops (Table 4). **Common cane** (_Arundo donux_ L.), also known as common reed, is a perennial species of the Poaceae and is typical of the Mediterranean regions. It can grow spontaneously and is cultivated in small areas, mainly for the production of supports for vines or vegetable crops [64]. It grows evergreen in different environments, but it is sensitive to low temperatures, which can also compromise the vitality of the rhizomes when they grow near the surface [101]. This species is not an aquatic plant and does not particularly like stagnant water. Regarding soil, it is widely adaptable, although it prefers deep, sandy soils that are rich in organic matter, alkaline, and rich in calcium. Clay, shallow, and impermeable soils are not appropriate for this species. Yields exceeding 40 t ha\({}^{-1}\) of dry matter can be obtained from the second cropping year [101]. Propagation and implantation represent two aspects of the agronomic techniques that have not yet been optimized and which greatly influence the economics of the crop. Some studies are in progress to identify suitable solutions for the collection of rhizomes [64].