Short-rotation forestry – operations, productivity and costs based on experience gained in the UK

Mitchell, C. P.; Stevens, E.A; Watters, M. P.

doi:10.1016/s0378-1127(98)00561-1

Cited by 172 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…This is because fast growing tree species such as Salix spp. use high levels of nutrients [12][13][14][15] and some of the nutrients the trees take up will be lost from the soils for future use when the biomass is extracted [5,10]. However, some of the biologically mediated processes identified above may increase nutrient sequestration and availability and therefore, rapid tree growth does not always result in a reduction of soil nutrients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Effects of Afforestation with Willow (Salix purpurea, “Hotel”) on Soil Carbon and Nutrient Availability

Ens

Farrell

Bélanger

2013

Forests

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Willow (Salix spp.) is currently being researched as a source of biomass energy in Canada. However, it is not certain whether afforestation with willow plantations will enhance or diminish soil C storage and nutrient availability. Trees are known to have pronounced effects on biologically mediated nutrient cycling processes which can increase nutrient availability, but willows are known to be nutrient demanding. In this paper, the net effect of plantation establishment is examined at nine sites across the prairie and southern Ontario regions of Canada. Carbon, N, P, K, Ca and Mg levels in soils and harvestable biomass were compared between willow plantations and paired reference sites at the end of the first three-year rotation. Soils were depleted in total C (−2.22 mg·g −1 , p < 0.05), inorganic N (−3.12 μg·N·g −1 , p < 0.10), exchangeable K (−0.11 cmol c ·kg −1 , p < 0.10) and leachable P (−0.03 mg·g −1 , p < 0.10). Exchangeable Ca was found to be consistently depleted only at the 20-40 depth. Depletion of soil K was more heavily influenced by disturbance, whereas soil N was directly affected by willow N uptake. Sites with greater growth and biocycling stabilized soil P concentrations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Effects of Afforestation with Willow (Salix purpurea, “Hotel”) on Soil Carbon and Nutrient Availability

Ens

Farrell

Bélanger

2013

Forests

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“…SRCs generally have cutting cycles of between two and five years [140] and coppice plantations have a lifespan of approximately 20-25 years. The conventional period for harvesting coppices is between late November and mid March [141], however year-round harvesting is possible albeit with some associated loss in stand yield [142]. The moisture content of coppices generally changes much less than that of Miscanthus over the winter and spring, however leaf loss occurs over this period (although the leaf/stem ratio in coppices are much lower than for Miscanthus).…”

Section: Coppicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role that lignocellulosic feedstocks and various biorefining technologies can play in meeting Ireland's biofuel targets

Hayes

2009

Biofuels Bioprod Bioref

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Modern biorefineries target the production of chemicals and fuels from lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks such as energy crops and biodegradeable wastes. Biofuels produced from such processes are considered "second-generation-biofuels" and are considered to be more sustainable than first-generation-biofuels from food and oil crops. This paper considers the contribution that biorefineries can make in the Republic of Ireland to the mandated 10% biofuel quotient for 2020. This is done by considering eight different technologies and the practical quantities of waste suitable for them. It is concluded that between 3.5 and 5.7% of the 2008 demand for biofuels can be met from the utilisation of wastes and residues in near-term biorefining technologies and that up to 5% of the 2020 petrol and diesel demand can be met via processing a similar quantity of waste in an advanced enzymatic hydrolysis technology. The remaining biofuel requirements can be met by processing energy crops in either this or an advanced thermochemical facility. Between 1.8 and 13.7% of the agricultural area of Ireland is required for the production of these crops, depending on the particular feedstock. The production of a high-yielding Miscanthus crop that is harvested directly after senescence will place the minimum requirement on Irish land.

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“…Studies on the climate mitigation potential of poplar cultivations constitute an important tool in supporting energy and environmental policies on different scales. In recent years researchers have approached poplar SRCs from different perspectives: ecological (Jaoudé et al, 2011;Zhou et al, 2013), economic (Strauss and Grado, 1997;Mitchell et al, 1999;Ceulemans, 2012, 2013), and related to energy production and different environmental aspects (Jungmeier and Spitzer, 2001;Cherubini et al, 2009;Davis et al, 2009;Nassi o Di Nasso et al, 2010;Arevalo et al, 2011;Don et al, 2012;Dillen et al, 2013;. However, these studies often used different approaches, making it difficult to compare their results (Migliavacca et al, 2009;Djomo et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Greenhouse gas balance of cropland conversion to bioenergy poplar short-rotation coppice

et al. 2016

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Abstract. The production of bioenergy in Europe is one of the strategies conceived to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The suitability of the land use change from a cropland (REF site) to a short-rotation coppice plantation of hybrid poplar (SRC site) was investigated by comparing the GHG budgets of these two systems over 24 months in Viterbo, Italy. This period corresponded to a single rotation of the SRC site. The REF site was a crop rotation between grassland and winter wheat, i.e. the same management of the SRC site before the conversion to short-rotation coppice. Eddy covariance measurements were carried out to quantify the net ecosystem exchange of CO 2 (F CO 2 ), whereas chambers were used to measure N 2 O and CH 4 emissions from soil. The measurements began 2 years after the conversion of arable land to SRC so that an older poplar plantation was used to estimate the soil organic carbon (SOC) loss due to SRC establishment and to estimate SOC recovery over time. Emissions from tractors and from production and transport of agricultural inputs (F MAN ) were modelled. A GHG emission offset, due to the substitution of natural gas with SRC biomass, was credited to the GHG budget of the SRC site. Emissions generated by the use of biomass (F EXP ) were also considered. Suitability was finally assessed by comparing the GHG budgets of the two sites. CO 2 uptake was 3512 ± 224 g CO 2 m −2 at the SRC site in 2 years, and 1838 ± 107 g CO 2 m −2 at the REF site. F EXP was equal to 1858 ± 240 g CO 2 m −2 at the REF site, thus basically compensating for F CO 2 , while it was 1118 ± 521 g CO 2 m −2 at the SRC site. The SRC site could offset 379.7 ± 175.1 g CO 2 eq m −2 from fossil fuel displacement. Soil CH 4 and N 2 O fluxes were negligible. F MAN made up 2 and 4 % in the GHG budgets of SRC and REF sites respectively, while the SOC loss was 455 ± 524 g CO 2 m −2 in 2 years. Overall, the REF site was close to neutrality from a GHG perspective (156 ± 264 g CO 2 eq m −2 ), while the SRC site was a net sink of 2202 ± 792 g CO 2 eq m −2 . In conclusion the experiment led to a positive evaluation from a GHG viewpoint of the conversion of cropland to bioenergy SRC.

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Short-rotation forestry – operations, productivity and costs based on experience gained in the UK

Cited by 172 publications

References 13 publications

Early Effects of Afforestation with Willow (Salix purpurea, “Hotel”) on Soil Carbon and Nutrient Availability

Early Effects of Afforestation with Willow (Salix purpurea, “Hotel”) on Soil Carbon and Nutrient Availability

The role that lignocellulosic feedstocks and various biorefining technologies can play in meeting Ireland's biofuel targets

Greenhouse gas balance of cropland conversion to bioenergy poplar short-rotation coppice

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