A review of the suitability of eucalypts for short rotation forestry for energy in the UK

Leslie, Andrew; Mencuccini, Maurizio; Perks, Mike; Wilson, Edward R.

doi:10.1007/s11056-019-09717-w

Cited by 16 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 58 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The Eucalyptus genus stands out as one of the most widely planted exotic genera in tropical and Mediterranean climate regions and, together with Pinus, represents 98% of the world's forestry production [22,23]. Within the genetic improvement programmes of this genus, it is possible to associate desirable characteristics of different species by synthesizing interspecific hybrids [24] and, together with the cloning technique, to generate homogeneous plantations that are highly productive and resistant to pests and diseases [25,26]. Therefore, it is necessary to incorporate simple tools in the evaluation methods of a genetic improvement program in order to evaluate the genotypes and that these tools be applicable on a large scale (i.e., that they measure easily and quickly).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability and Plasticity in Cuticular Transpiration and Leaf Permeability Allow Differentiation of Eucalyptus Clones at an Early Age

Carignato

Vázquez‐Piqué

Tapias

et al. 2019

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background and Objectives. Water stress is a major constraining factor of Eucalyptus plantations’ growth. Within a genetic improvement program, the selection of genotypes that improve drought resistance would help to improve productivity and to expand plantations. Leaf characteristics, among others, are important factors to consider when evaluating drought resistance evaluation, as well as the clone’s ability to modify leaf properties (e.g., stomatal density (d) and size, relative water content at the time of stomatal closure (RWCc), cuticular transpiration (Ec), specific leaf area (SLA)) according to growing conditions. Therefore, this study aimed at analyzing these properties in nursery plants of nine high-productivity Eucalyptus clones. Material and Methods: Five Eucalyptus globulus Labill. clones and four hybrids clones (Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake × Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden, 12€; Eucalyptus urograndis × E. globulus, HE; Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden–E. grandis × E. globulus, HG; Eucalyptus saligna Sm. × Eucalyptus maidenii F. Muell., HI) were studied. Several parameters relating to the aforementioned leaf traits were evaluated for 2.5 years. Results: Significant differences in stomatal d and size, RWCc, Ec, and SLA among clones (p < 0.001) and according to the dates (p < 0.001) were obtained. Each clone varied seasonally the characteristics of its new developing leaves to acclimatize to the growth conditions. The pore opening surface potential (i.e., the stomatal d × size) did not affect transpiration rates with full open stomata, so the water transpired under these conditions might depend on other leaf factors. The clones HE, HG, and 12€ were the ones that differed the most from the drought resistant E. globulus control clone (C14). Those three clones showed lower leaf epidermis impermeability (HE, HG, 12€), higher SLA (12€, HG), and lower stomatal control under moderate water stress (HE, HG) not being, therefore, good candidates to be selected for drought resistance, at least for these measured traits. Conclusions: These parameters can be incorporated into genetic selection and breeding programs, especially Ec, SLA, RWCc, and stomatal control under moderate water stress.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability and Plasticity in Cuticular Transpiration and Leaf Permeability Allow Differentiation of Eucalyptus Clones at an Early Age

Carignato

Vázquez‐Piqué

Tapias

et al. 2019

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The second example of a FEM problem is a fast-growing plantation under a shortrotation coppice regime that produces biomass or pulpwood [73,74]. We call it the Plantation-Coppice example.…”

Section: Problem Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A General Rule-Based Framework for Generating Alternatives for Forest Ecosystem Management Decision Support Systems

Nobre,

McDill,

Estraviz Rodriguez

et al. 2023

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Linear programming formulations of forest ecosystem management (FEM) problems proposed in the 1960s have been adapted and improved upon over the years. Generating management alternatives for forest planning is a key step in building these models. Global forests are diverse, and a variety of models have been developed to simulate management alternatives. This paper describes iGen, a forest prescription generator that employs a rule-based system (AI-RBS), an AI technique that is often used for expert systems. iGen was designed with the goal of being able to generate management alternatives for virtually any FEM problem. The prescription generator is not designed for, adapted to, focused on—and ideally not limited to—any specific region, landscape, forest condition, projection method, or yield function. Instead, it aims to maximize generality, enabling it to address a broad range of FEM problems. The goal is that practitioners and researchers who do not have and do not want to develop their own alternative generator can use iGen as a prescription generator for their problem instances. For those who choose to develop their own alternative generators, we hope that the concepts and algorithms we propose in this paper will be useful in designing their own systems. iGen’s flexibility can be attributed to three key features. First, users can define the state variable vector for management units according to the available data, models (production functions), and objectives of their problem instance. Second, users also define the types of interventions that can be applied to each type of management unit and create a rule base describing the conditions under which each intervention can be applied. Finally, users specify the equations of motion that determine how the state vector for each management unit will be updated over time, depending on which, if any, interventions are applied. Other than this basic structure, virtually everything in an iGen problem instance is user-defined. iGen uses these key elements to simulate all possible management prescriptions for each management unit and stores the resulting information in a database that is structured to efficiently store the output data from these simulations and to facilitate the generation of optimization models for ultimately determining the Pareto frontier for a given FEM problem. This article introduces iGen, illustrating its concepts, structure, and algorithms through two FEM example problems with contrasting forest management practices: natural regeneration with shelterwood harvests and plantation/coppice. For data and iGen source programs, visit github.com/SilvanaNobre/iGenPaper.

show abstract

“…These plantations have been realized mainly in northern regions (Lombardy and Veneto) using fast-growing species such as clones of poplar and willow, black locust, and plane tree (Becenetti et al 2016). Recently, the importance of SRF plantations has begun to decline due to the threat from damage by exotic pests or diseases (Hardcastle 2006;Koch et al 2011;Leslie et al 2020) and to the economic-environmental performance worse than expected from these systems (Pari and Suardi 2011;Becenetti et al 2016). For these reasons, in many Italian regions SRF plantations realized in the last years are more sustainable systems managed with extensively approach through the reduction in tree density and longer rotation periods.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of abandoned Short Rotation Forestry (SRF) plantations in plant carbon storage: a case study in Central Italy

Paletto

Ceotto

Becagli

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

At the end of the last century, European Union (EU) energy policy encouraged the use of dedicated (Short Rotation Forestry or SRF) plantations in member countries in which fast-growing woody species are grown for energy purposes. Recently, in Italy some SRF plantations developed in the 90s have been abandoned or managed more extensively for economic and environmental reasons. However, these abandoned plantations can play a key role in biodiversity conservation and carbon storage. The present study is aimed to investigate the role of abandoned SRF plantations in climate change mitigation through the estimation of the plant carbon stock (C-stock) and fluxes (C-sequestration) in a case study in Central Italy. The C-stock and C-sequestration were estimated in three different 20-years SRF plantations (hybrid poplar, willow, black locust) located on the same site and unmanaged for 15 years. The results show a C-stock considering three of five C pools) equal to: 47.30 MgC ha− 1 for hybrid poplar (65.3% in biomass and 34.7% in deadwood respectively), 23.02 MgC ha− 1 for willow (77.6% and 22.4% respectively), and 80.41 MgC ha− 1 for black locust (95.9% and 4.1% respectively). The average C-sequestration for the period 2008–2021 is estimated in 2.22 MgC ha− 1 yr− 1 for hybrid poplar, 1.91 MgC ha− 1 yr− 1 for willow, and 3.29 MgC ha− 1 yr− 1 for black locust plantations. Outcomes of the present research offer support for the forest restoration practices of similar abandoned SRF plantations. The application of extensive management techniques and the development of the naturalization process will ensure the role of “stepping stone” of these plantations, helping their evolution toward semi-natural systems mainly oriented to biodiversity conservation, habitats provision and C sink.

show abstract

A review of the suitability of eucalypts for short rotation forestry for energy in the UK

Cited by 16 publications

References 58 publications

Variability and Plasticity in Cuticular Transpiration and Leaf Permeability Allow Differentiation of Eucalyptus Clones at an Early Age

Variability and Plasticity in Cuticular Transpiration and Leaf Permeability Allow Differentiation of Eucalyptus Clones at an Early Age

A General Rule-Based Framework for Generating Alternatives for Forest Ecosystem Management Decision Support Systems

The role of abandoned Short Rotation Forestry (SRF) plantations in plant carbon storage: a case study in Central Italy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About