Stem Biomass Production of Paulownia elongata × P. fortunei under Low Irrigation in a Semi-Arid Environment

Abstract

Abstract:In semi-arid regions, afforestation with fast-growing species cultured with low irrigation can be an effective approach for environmental protection. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the stem biomass production of Paulownia in a semi-arid climate and clay soils under contrasting low-irrigation and fertilization treatments. The stem biomass at the stand level was estimated by applying allometric equations fitted in sample resprouts and inventory data. The results show that biomass production improved when either irrigation or fertilizer was added, but the combination of a higher dose of irrigation and fertilization did not lead to the highest biomass production; thus water availability was the main factor controlling biomass production. Under the higher dose of irrigation, the absence of a fertilizer effect would be due in part to the fertile soil, which could supply sufficient nutrients for Paulownia growth at the higher level of soil moisture. The stem OPEN ACCESSForests 2014, 5 2506 biomass estimated ranged from 2.14 to 4.50 t⋅ha −1 (lower irrigation dose without fertilization, and higher irrigation with fertilization). The greater production was similar to other studies in the Mediterranean area receiving more irrigation. Thus, this study permitted us to understand the potential of Paulownia to provide biomass in semi-arid environments with low irrigation due to water use restrictions.

Improving sustainability in the remediation of contaminated soils by the use of compost and energy valorization by Paulownia fortunei

“…(Senelwa and Sims, 1999). The maximum biomass produced in the containers would be equivalent to 3.3 t ha -1 , which is within the range of 2.14 to 4.50 obtained for one-year old Paulownia plants under different water regimes in non-contaminated Mediterranean soils (García-Morote et al, 2014). …”

“…Under natural field conditions, biomass production is likely to be lower, due to water limitations during the summer season. However, different studies have shown that this species shows a relatively high tolerance to water stress, and that a relatively high yield can be obtained even under a low irrigation regime (García-Morote et al, 2014). Thus, the costs of the water inputs in P. fortunei plantations would be likely lower than those in other energy crops with greater water requirements, such as sugar beet or switchgrass.…”

“…Recent studies have shown that some Paulownia species show a relatively high tolerance to the presence of high concentrations of trace elements in the soil (Jiang et al, 2012;Madejón et al, 2014). Species in the Paulownia genus are highly adaptive to a wide range of climate and soil conditions (Yadav et al, 2013), and their use has been proposed for the afforestation of semi-arid areas, given their relatively good performance even under low water irrigation regimens (García-Morote et al, 2014). As Paulownia biomass is characterized by a high cellulose content and a relatively high gross heating value, its use as an energy crop in Europe and North America has been promoted in the last decade (López et al, 2012).…”

Aboveground Dendromass Estimation of Juvenile Paulownia Sp.

“…DISCUSSION / DISKUSIJA and successfully modeled all below and aboveground biomass compartments of 15-20 year old Paulownia tomentosa in Nepal. Other studies, known to model the stem biomass of Paulownia elongata × P. fortunei hybrids (Martínez García et al, 2010;García-Morote et al, 2014), use the general allometric equation (Huxley, 1972), by relating the dry biomass weight to a power function of tree diameter at a certain height above ground. García-Morote et al (2014) examined an expanded model, which included dummy variables to encounter for possible variability due to designed irrigation and fertilization treatments.…”

“…Other studies, known to model the stem biomass of Paulownia elongata × P. fortunei hybrids (Martínez García et al, 2010;García-Morote et al, 2014), use the general allometric equation (Huxley, 1972), by relating the dry biomass weight to a power function of tree diameter at a certain height above ground. García-Morote et al (2014) examined an expanded model, which included dummy variables to encounter for possible variability due to designed irrigation and fertilization treatments. However, the authors found that the dummy variables were non-significant and a strong direct allometric relationship between stem biomass and basal tree diameter was derived regardless of treatment, because diameter is the reflection of vigor and productivity of trees (García-Morote et al, 2014).…”