Long-term effects of white-tailed deer overabundance, hybrid poplar genotype and planting stock type on tree growth and ecosystem services provision in bioenergy buffers

Truax, Benoît; Fortier, Julien; Gagnon, Daniel

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118673

Cited by 3 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…The LHV of freshly harvested hybrid poplar wood observed for genotype DN × M-915508 across the three diameter classes (18.61 MJ/kg) was similar to values reported on a whole-stem basis for 8-year-old trees of genotype D × N-3570 (18.65 MJ/kg) and genotype M × B-915311 (18.69 MJ/kg) grown at the same site [9]. This contrasts with the range of higher heating values observed between several genotypes in a short rotation coppice in Chile (17.7-20.8 MJ/kg) [43].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Conversely, P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations were the highest for hybrid poplar firewood, suggesting that its combustion may produce more ashes than the native species studied. Still, these conclusions are based on comparisons with a single hybrid poplar genotype, and do not reflect the wide genotypic variability in stem nutrient concentrations of hybrid poplars [9,28].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…These multifunctional buffers were established with the objective of reducing non-point source pollution from upslope fields, increasing carbon sequestration and producing firewood for the biomass furnaces that provide heat to the Abbey buildings. After eight years, the firewood volume production capacity of the bioenergy buffers ranged from 20.5-29.3 m 3 /ha/yr, depending on genotype, planting stock type and deer protection treatments [9].…”

Section: Site Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In regions where agriculture dominates the landscape, rural communities are more than ever facing major environmental challenges related to water quality decline, stream habitat protection, forest habitat loss and fragmentation, and climate change [5][6][7]. The large-scale implementation of bioenergy buffers along agricultural riparian zones, and field margins could be a solution to rapidly address these challenges, as it would reduce firewood harvesting pressure in woodlots and increase forest patch connectivity, while creating opportunities for carbon sequestration, agricultural pollutants removal, stream habitat improvement and hydrological regulation [8][9][10][11][12][13]. In Northeastern America, hybrid poplars (Populus × spp.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Northeastern America, hybrid poplars (Populus × spp.) are especially promising for the design of bioenergy buffers, as they create a forest canopy within a decade, and provide high woody biomass yields even on more marginal land [9,14,15]. In this context, it is important to validate that firewood of satisfactory quality can be produced in hybrid poplar buffers in order to stimulate their adoption by the farming community.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Natural Drying and Chemical Characteristics of Hybrid Poplar Firewood Produced from Agricultural Bioenergy Buffers in Southern Québec, Canada

Fortier¹,

Truax²,

Gagnon³

2021

Forests

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Implementing bioenergy buffers on farmland using fast-growing tree species could reduce firewood harvest pressure in woodlots and increase forest connectivity, while improving carbon sequestration, phytoremediation, stream habitats, soil stabilization and hydrological regulation. The objective of the study was to evaluate the natural drying and chemical characteristics of hybrid poplar firewood produced from bioenergy buffers, and to compare these characteristics with those of native species harvested in adjacent woodlots. In Trial A, 110 cm-long unsplit logs (a feedstock for biomass furnaces) were produced to evaluate the effect of log diameter class on firewood quality. In this trial, hybrid poplar firewood characteristics were also compared with Populus tremuloides, Acer rubrum and Fraxinus americana. In Trial B, the effect of hybrid poplar genotype and cover treatment was evaluated on the moisture content of short split logs (40 cm long). Firewood of satisfactory quality was produced on a yearly cycle for short split logs, and on a biannual cycle for long unsplit logs. Covering short split log cords with metal sheeting lowered the final moisture content (from 20.7% to 17.3%) and reduced its variability, while genotype did not significantly affect final moisture content. In Trial A, larger-diameter logs from hybrid poplar had lower element concentrations, but slightly higher moisture content after two years. A two-fold variation in N concentration was observed between diameter classes, suggesting that burning larger poplar logs would minimize atmospheric N pollution. Heating value, carbon and calcium concentrations increased following the seasoning of hybrid poplar firewood. After the first seasoning year outdoors, hybrid poplar had the highest moisture content (33.1%) compared to native species (24.1–29.5%). However, after the second seasoning year in an unheated warehouse, the opposite was observed (14.3% for hybrid poplar vs. 15.0–21.5% for native species). Heating value, carbon and nitrogen concentrations were similar between tree species, while high phosphorus and base cation concentrations characterized hybrid poplar, suggesting higher ash production. Poplar bioenergy buffers could provide a complementary source of firewood for heating in the fall and in the spring, when the heat demand is lower than during cold winter months.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Site Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Natural Drying and Chemical Characteristics of Hybrid Poplar Firewood Produced from Agricultural Bioenergy Buffers in Southern Québec, Canada

Fortier¹,

Truax²,

Gagnon³

2021

Forests

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Bark content variations and the production of Populus deltoides as a source of bioenergy under temperate climate conditions

Eslamdoust

2022

J. For. Res.

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Thinning and Gap Harvest Effects on Soil, Tree and Stand Characteristics in Hybrid Poplar Bioenergy Buffers on Farmland

Fortier

Truax

Gagnon

et al. 2022

Forests

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Linear bioenergy buffers planted with fast-growing trees along field edges are increasingly used to address challenges related to sustainable biomass production, climate change mitigation (i.e., carbon storage and microclimate regulation), water quality protection, and forest habitat connectivity in agricultural landscapes. This study assessed: (1) the extent to which 15 m wide hybrid poplar bioenergy buffers (1666 stems/ha) with closed canopy responded to thinning (diamond pattern of tree removal); (2) the regrowth of poplars from cut stumps following gap harvesting; (3) the effects of harvesting treatments on soil microclimate and nutrient availability; and (4) the spatiotemporal pattern of tree growth in unthinned plots. After three post-thinning years, results showed a strong growth response of seven-year-old hybrid poplar trees to thinning (12% increase in diameter and 30% increase in individual stem volume), accompanied by a slight decline in stand productivity. Gap harvesting was not an effective treatment to regenerate the stand from shoots growing from cut stumps because of the high deer browsing. Overall, thinning had marginal effects on soil nutrients and microclimate, compared with gap harvesting, which increased soil temperature, soil moisture, and the availability of several macro and micronutrients. However, harvest effects on soil nutrients were mostly observed during the first postharvest year, with the exception of soil nitrate, which was lowest in the gap treatment during the second postharvest year. Finally, the spatial pattern observed in tree growth between the buffer rows suggests that other more operational thinning patterns (row or corridor thinning) need to be evaluated in linear buffers.

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Long-term effects of white-tailed deer overabundance, hybrid poplar genotype and planting stock type on tree growth and ecosystem services provision in bioenergy buffers

Cited by 3 publications

References 55 publications

Natural Drying and Chemical Characteristics of Hybrid Poplar Firewood Produced from Agricultural Bioenergy Buffers in Southern Québec, Canada

Natural Drying and Chemical Characteristics of Hybrid Poplar Firewood Produced from Agricultural Bioenergy Buffers in Southern Québec, Canada

Bark content variations and the production of Populus deltoides as a source of bioenergy under temperate climate conditions

Thinning and Gap Harvest Effects on Soil, Tree and Stand Characteristics in Hybrid Poplar Bioenergy Buffers on Farmland

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