The role and significance of woody biomass plantations in Swedish agriculture

1993 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 687-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Christersson ◽  
L. Sennerby-Forsse ◽  
L. Zsuffa
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Short Fiber ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Ground Water Pollution ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Alternative Crops ◽  
Energy Plantations

The low profitability of agriculture, the greenhouse effect, acidification, the energy supply, ground water pollution, waste disposal and depopulation of the countryside are some of the problems in urgent need of solution not only in Sweden but in many other western countries. Naturally, there is no single solution to all these complex problems. However, by establishing plantations of fast-growing deciduous tree species on abandoned or surplus arable land it is possible to address many of these problems in a positive way. More than 15 years of research and development within the National Swedish Energy Forestry Program (NSEFP) have resulted in a new agricultural crop with a high potential for sound ecological and economic outcome. The further utilization of biomass plantations for environmental clean-up programmes and waste cycling is now developing on a regional and local basis. As a complement to pure energy plantations, mixed forest stands are discussed as multipurpose production systems for wood chips, short fiber and veneer. Key words: alternative crops, biomass plantations, energy crops, energy forestry, Salix, short-rotation forestry

scholarly journals Carbon Footprint of Different Harvesting Work Systems in Short Rotation Energy Plantations

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-126
Author(s):  
András Polgár ◽  
Adrienn Horváth ◽  
Katalin Szakálosné Mátyás ◽  
Attila László Horváth ◽  
János Rumpf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Work Systems ◽  
The Third ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Energy Plantations ◽  
Rotation Energy

Abstract Almost half of the total area of Hungary is arable land. Nearly one-third of this area is poor-quality arable land where agriculture would be uneconomical. Energy plantations can be grown extremely well on poor-quality land. Currently, the carbon neutrality of wood as a raw material must also be justified, considering several factors. Environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) was developed as a tool for sustainable, decision-supporting, environmental management, which is an outstanding tool for the well-established analysis of environmental impacts, although the application of it in forestry remained a challenge for the LCA community. No sector specific LCA and life cycle inventory methodology has been developed in forestry; thus, implementing such a methodology remains a big challenge. Calculated on a common functional unit (100 m3/ha wood chips, 100% energy purpose), we have performed a comparative environmental life cycle assessment for harvesting technologies of short rotation energy plantations (technology related to stands of 3 ha of poplar, 5–10 ha of willow, 20 ha of willow), specifically for the third year harvesting work system. Research results on global warming potential show the carbon footprint of harvesting work systems, the knowledge of which has a strong influence on the environmental consideration of raw material (wood chips) and also on the more precise definition of carbon sequestration capacity. The typical values of carbon balance ratio (1.37–1.46) indicate a positive carbon sequestration potential and a magnitude well within the system boundaries of the third year harvesting work system submodule. The results obtained enable the estimation and prediction of environmental impacts for the whole lifecycle of the plantation.

Changing the face of short fiber –a review of the eucalyptus revolution

TAPPI Journal ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 353-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
PETER W. HART ◽  
RICARDO B. SANTOS
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Wood Quality ◽  
Short Fiber ◽  
Fiber Volume ◽  
Private Industry ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Paper Manufacturing ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Eucalypt Plantations ◽  
Eucalyptus Plantations

Eucalyptus plantations have been used as a source of short fiber for papermaking for more than 40 years. The development in genetic improvement and clonal programs has produced improved density plantations that have resulted in fast growing, increased fiber volume eucalypts becoming the most widely used source of short fibers in the world. High productivity and short rotation times, along with the uniformity and improved wood quality of clonal plantations have attracted private industry investment in eucalypt plantations. Currently, only a handful of species or hybrids are used in plantation efforts. Many more species are being evaluated to either enhance fiber properties or expand the range of eucalypt plantations. Eucalyptus plantations are frequently planted on nonforested land and may be used, in part, as a means of conserving native forests while allowing the production of high quality fiber for economic uses. Finally, eucalypt plantations can provide significant carbon sinks, which may be used to help offset the carbon released from burning fossil fuels. The development and expansion of eucalypt plantations represents a substantial revolution in pulp and paper manufacturing.

Energieholzproduktion in Mittel- und Nieder-wäldern der Schweiz | Energy Wood Production in Coppice With Standards and Coppice Forests in Switzerland

1999 ◽  
Vol 150 (4) ◽  
pp. 142-147
Author(s):  
Bettina Bally
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Wood Production ◽  
Fuel Production ◽  
Energy Wood ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Energy Plantations ◽  
Coppice With Standards

Coppice with standards and coppice forests are the result of silvicultural systems widely applied until the mid-twentieth century, mainly for fuel production. Similar to energy plantations in Scandinavia and Germany the above-mentioned systems are characterised by a short rotation. The present paper tries to show that, owing to efficient logging methods, energy wood can be produced from coppice and coppice with standards forests so cheaply that it proves to be highly competitive compared to oil. The economic value of coppice and coppice with standards was calculated on the basis of models and compared to high forest cultivation. Contrary to high forests, the coppice with standards system is cost-covering on poor, well developed and easily accessible sites.

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

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Sabbatini ◽  
N. Arriga ◽  
T. Bertolini ◽  
S. Castaldi ◽  
T. Chiti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Hybrid Poplar ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Net Ecosystem Exchange ◽  
Short Rotation Coppice ◽  
Co2 Uptake ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Balance ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Ch4 And N2o

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 CO2 (FCO2), whereas chambers were used to measure N2O and CH4 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 (FMAN) 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 (FEXP) were also considered. Suitability was finally assessed by comparing the GHG budgets of the two sites. CO2 uptake was 3512 ± 224 g CO2 m−2 at the SRC site in 2 years, and 1838 ± 107 g CO2 m−2 at the REF site. FEXP was equal to 1858 ± 240 g CO2 m−2 at the REF site, thus basically compensating for FCO2, while it was 1118 ± 521 g CO2 m−2 at the SRC site. The SRC site could offset 379.7 ± 175.1 g CO2eq m−2 from fossil fuel displacement. Soil CH4 and N2O fluxes were negligible. FMAN made up 2 and 4 % in the GHG budgets of SRC and REF sites respectively, while the SOC loss was 455 ± 524 g CO2 m−2 in 2 years. Overall, the REF site was close to neutrality from a GHG perspective (156 ± 264 g CO2eq m−2), while the SRC site was a net sink of 2202 ± 792 g CO2eq m−2. In conclusion the experiment led to a positive evaluation from a GHG viewpoint of the conversion of cropland to bioenergy SRC.

Resource use and environmental impacts from Australian export lamb production: a life cycle assessment

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Wiedemann ◽  
M.-J. Yan ◽  
C. M. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Fresh Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Consumption ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Land Occupation ◽  
Fossil Fuel Energy

This study conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) investigating energy, land occupation, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, fresh water consumption and stress-weighted water use from production of export lamb in the major production regions of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. The study used data from regional datasets and case study farms, and applied new methods for assessing water use using detailed farm water balances and water stress weighting. Land occupation was assessed with reference to the proportion of arable and non-arable land and allocation of liveweight (LW) and greasy wool was handled using a protein mass method. Fossil fuel energy demand ranged from 2.5 to 7.0 MJ/kg LW, fresh water consumption from 58.1 to 238.9 L/kg LW, stress-weighted water use from 2.9 to 137.8 L H2O-e/kg LW and crop land occupation from 0.2 to 2.0 m2/kg LW. Fossil fuel energy demand was dominated by on-farm energy demand, and differed between regions and datasets in response to production intensity and the use of purchased inputs such as fertiliser. Regional fresh water consumption was dominated by irrigation water use and losses from farm water supply, with smaller contributions from livestock drinking water. GHG emissions ranged from 6.1 to 7.3 kg CO2-e/kg LW and additional removals or emissions from land use (due to cultivation and fertilisation) and direct land-use change (due to deforestation over previous 20 years) were found to be modest, contributing between –1.6 and 0.3 kg CO2-e/kg LW for different scenarios assessing soil carbon flux. Excluding land use and direct land-use change, enteric CH4 contributed 83–89% of emissions, suggesting that emissions intensity can be reduced by focussing on flock production efficiency. Resource use and emissions were similar for export lamb production in the major production states of Australia, and GHG emissions were similar to other major global lamb producers. The results show impacts from lamb production on competitive resources to be low, as lamb production systems predominantly utilised non-arable land unsuited to alternative food production systems that rely on crop production, and water from regions with low water stress.

scholarly journals Comparison of the Effect of Perennial Energy Crops and Arable Crops on Earthworm Populations

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feledyn-Szewczyk ◽  
Radzikowski ◽  
Stalenga ◽  
Matyka
Keyword(s):  
Winter Wheat ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Species Number ◽  
Organic System ◽  
Perennial Energy Crops

The purpose of the study was to compare earthworm communities under winter wheat in different crop production systems on arable land—organic (ORG), integrated (INT), conventional (CON), monoculture (MON)—and under perennial crops cultivated for energy purposes—willow (WIL), Virginia mallow (VIR), and miscanthus (MIS). Earthworm abundance, biomass, and species composition were assessed each spring and autumn in the years 2014–2016 using the method of soil blocks. The mean species number of earthworms was ordered in the following way: ORG > VIR > WIL > CON > INT > MIS > MON. Mean abundance of earthworms decreased in the following order: ORG > WIL > CON > VIR > INT > MIS > MON. There were significantly more species under winter wheat cultivated organically than under the integrated system (p = 0.045), miscanthus (p = 0.039), and wheat monoculture (p = 0.002). Earthworm abundance was significantly higher in the organic system compared to wheat monoculture (p = 0.001) and to miscanthus (p = 0.008). Among the tested energy crops, Virginia mallow created the best habitat for species richness and biomass due to the high amount of crop residues suitable for earthworms and was similar to the organic system. Differences in the composition of earthworm species in the soil under the compared agricultural systems were proven. Energy crops, except miscanthus, have been found to increase earthworm diversity, as they are good crops for landscape diversification.

scholarly journals Environmental Life-Cycle Assessment of Arable Crop Production Technologies Compared to Different Harvesting Work Systems in Short Rotation Energy Plantations

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-68
Author(s):  
András Polgár ◽  
Zoltán Kovács ◽  
Veronika Elekné Fodor ◽  
András Bidló
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Environmental Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Arable Crop ◽  
Production Technologies ◽  
Energy Plantations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Rotation Energy

Abstract Environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) was developed as a tool for sustainable, decision-supporting environmental management. Applying agricultural sector-LCA in order to achieve both internal (comparative) and external (efficiency enhancing) benefits is a priority. Since the life-cycle assessment of products and processes attracts great interest, applying the method in agriculture is relevant. Our study undertakes a comparative environmental life-cycle assessment (LCA) of local arable crop production technologies used for the main cultivated plants: maize, sunflower, lucerne, cereals, and canola (environmental data in the territorial approach calculated on a 1 ha unit and in the quantitative approach calculated on 1 t of produce). We prepared an environmental inventory of the arable crop production technologies, constructed the life-cycle models, and executed the impact assessment. We also compiled an environmental ranking of technologies. In the impact interpretation, we compared the results with the values of short rotation energy plantations in each impact category. We analysed carbon footprints closely. The obtained results help better assess environmental impacts, climate risks, and climate change as they pertain to arable crop production technologies, which advances the selection of appropriate technologies adjusted to environmental sensitivities.

scholarly journals Crotalaria species in succession to soybean for the management of Pratylenchus brachyurus

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thays Torquato Cruz ◽  
Guilherme Lafourcarde Asmus ◽  
Rodrigo Arroyo Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
High Capacity ◽  
Suppressive Effect ◽  
Nematode Population ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Root Lesion Nematode ◽  
Soil Pathogens ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Pratylenchus Brachyurus ◽  
Lesion Nematode

ABSTRACT: Soybean is the main agricultural crop in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. It is primarily cultivated in a crop succession system, in wich soybean is grown in spring/summer, followed by corn or graminaceous pastures in autumn/winter as a second crop. Due to the intensive cultivation, new phytosanitary problems have arisen, among them the root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus brachyurus, which besides causing damage to plant roots, can be important gateway for other soil pathogens. The recent occurrence of high nematode population densities has brought great concern due to the limited resistant soybean genotypes available. Besides, the use of nematicides only reduces nematodes populations temporarily. A viable alternative for the control of soil nematodes could be the use of Crotalaria spp. in succession or rotation with soybean. Crotalaria is immune or a bad host to the nematode, besides having high capacity of biological nitrogen fixation. Thus, the objective of the present research was to define the best way of insertion of this legume as a second crop in soybean production systems to reduce the population density of the root-lesion nematode. Two experiments were carried out: one in the field, in an infested area, and other in a greenhouse. In both experiments, the treatments were: 1) Zea mays, 2) Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés,, 3) Z. mays + Crotalaria spectabilis, 4) Z. mays + C. ochroleuca, 5) B. brizantha cv. Xaraés + C. spectabilis, 6) B. brizantha cv. Xaraés + C. ochroleuca, 7) C. spectabilis, and 8) C. ochroleuca. The effect of the treatments was evaluated by estimating the number of nematodes in the roots of autumn/winter crops, as well as in the roots of the soybean cultivated in the sequence. The cultivation of both Crotalaria species provided suppression of the nematode population. However, when intercropped with corn or Xaraés palisade grass, the suppressive effect of Crotalaria was supplanted by corn and Xaraés palisadegrass susceptibility to the root-lesion nematode.

scholarly journals Willow Short-Rotation Coppice as Model System for Exploring Ecological Theory on Biodiversity–Ecosystem Function

Diversity ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Weih ◽  
Carolyn Glynn ◽  
Christel Baum
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Function ◽  
Trophic Interactions ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Short Rotation Coppice ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Great Opportunity ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Plant Environment ◽  
Plant Plant

Plantations of willow (Salix spp.) are today grown as short-rotation coppice (SRC) for the sustainable production of biomass. While developing these production systems in the past, much ecological knowledge on plant–plant, plant–environment and trophic interactions has been generated. This knowledge can contribute to the further development of biodiversity–ecosystem function (BEF) theory, which frequently lacks a sound understanding of the complex mechanisms behind the observed patterns of diversity-productivity relationships. Thus, willow SRC systems are suitable models to explore BEF theory; they are simple enough to allow the study of the complex ecological mechanisms involved and they have many similarities to grassland systems in which much of recent BEF theory development has been achieved. This paper briefly reviews the current observational and mechanistic knowledge on diversity–productivity relationships in willow SRC, as well as the most important above- and below-ground trophic interactions that are likely to affect them. If the available knowledge is integrated and combined with further experimental work targeting mechanisms behind patterns, research on willow SRC as a model offers a great opportunity for filling the gaps in the understanding what presently hampers the development of predictive BEF theory.

scholarly journals Productivity and chemical composition of wood tissues of short rotation willow coppice cultivated on arable land

2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 413-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Szczukowski ◽  
J. Tworkowski ◽  
A. Klasa ◽  
M. Stolarski
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Field Trial ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
High Heat ◽  
Salix Viminalis ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Cutting Frequency ◽  
Heat Value ◽  
One Year

In the period 1996–1999 field trial was performed in Obory near Kwidzyn on heavy textured Fluvisols. The experiment was aimed to determine yield, chemical composition, heat value of wood of six genotypes of willow coppice in relation to cutting frequency and on determining the costs and profitability of willow production on arable land for purposes of energy generation. Yield of wood dry matter in one-year cutting cycle amounted to 14.09 t/ha/year 1 and significantly increased to 16.05 and 21.55 t/ha/year when harvesting was performed in two and three years cycle, respectively. The highest yield was found for Salix viminalis 082 form cut in three years cycle and it amounted to 26.44 t/ha/year 1. Stems of Salix sp. cut every three years showed the lowest water content (46.05%), high heat value 19.56 MJ/kg dry matter and the highest content of cellulose (55.94%), lignins (13.79%) and hemicelluloses (13.96%). High yielding potential of Salix sp. and high content of cellulose and lignin in wood make this crop very prosperous as a feedstock for bioenergy production. The highest profit from the willow plantation was obtained in case of harvest every three years at 578.76 EUR/ha/year.

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