Field Evaluation of Willow Under Short Rotation Coppice for Phytomanagement of Metal-Polluted Agricultural Soils

Abstract

Short rotation coppice (SRC) of willow and poplar might be a promising phytoremediation option since it uses fast growing, high biomass producing tree species with often a sufficient metal uptake. This study evaluates growth, metal uptake and extraction potentials of eight willow clones (Belders, Belgisch Rood, Christina, Inger, Jorr, Loden, Tora and Zwarte Driebast) on a metal-contaminated agricultural soil, with total cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) concentrations of 6.5 +/- 0.8 and 377 +/- 69 mg kg(-1) soil, respectively. Although, during the first cycle, on average generally low productivity levels (3.7 ton DM (dry matter) ha(-1) y(-1)) were obtained on this sandy soil, certain clones exhibited quite acceptable productivity levels (e.g. Zwarte Driebast 12.5 ton DM ha(-1) y(-1)). Even at low biomass productivity levels, SRC of willow showed promising removal potentials of 72 g Cd and 2.0 kg Zn ha(-1) y(-1), which is much higher than e.g. energy maize or rapeseed grown on the same soil Cd and Zn removal can be increased by 40% if leaves are harvested as well. Nevertheless, nowadays the wood price remains the most critical factor in order to implement SRC as an acceptable, economically feasible alternative crop on metal-contaminated agricultural soils.

Simulation of environmental impact scores within the life cycle of mixed wood chips from alternative short rotation coppice systems in Flanders (Belgium)

“…For the latter, clones can be grown for specific SRC purposes and then imported and planted at their final destination areas [12,15]. Moreover, it has been observed that the inclusion of native species in SRC plantations can increase the biodiversity and the supply of ecosystem services at regional scale [16][17][18], allowing an effective phytoremediation of metalcontaminated areas [19][20][21][22][23]. Hence, solutions exist to provide synergic ecological benefits to the main energy-oriented goal of the SRC.…”

Management with willow short rotation coppice increase the functional gene diversity and functional activity of a heavy metal polluted soil

“…In the last decade, the use of agro-forestry practices such as short rotation coppice (SRC) with high biomass producing tree clones has attracted great attention by HMCS owners, managers and policy makers because it can combines bioenergy production, risks attenuation, and restoration of soil fertility and ecosystem services (van Slycken et al, 2013b). Fast growing woody plants such as Eucalyptus sp., Populus spp.…”

Plant‐associated bacteria and their role in the success or failure of metal phytoextraction projects: first observations of a field‐related experiment

“…Taking into consideration (i) that the metal accumulation capacity of various clones of plants of the same species can be significantly different (Table ; Van Slycken et al ., ) and (ii) that plant‐associated bacteria play an important role during metal phytoextraction (Weyens et al ., ,c), the question arises if the differences in metal accumulation capacity between these clones might, at least partly, be related to differences in their associated bacterial population.…”