Title:
Hybrid Aspen as a Promising Species for Biomass Production: Estimation of Post-Storm Recovery Potential
Author(s):
Gradeckas, A., Žiauka, J., Kuusienė, S., Šilininkas, M.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
The purpose of this work was to study the potential of hybrid aspen natural recovery after an unusual storm which hit Lithuania in August, 2010. The object of the study was a stand of micropropagated clones of a selected hybrid aspen tree (Populus tremuloides Michx. × P. tremula L.), established in unprepared forest soil in 2003. In 2010, the aforementioned storm turned it into windfalls almost completely. Next spring, the windfalls were removed, and a massive appearance of new root sprouts was observed. The growth of hybrid aspen root sprouts was further observed through the three following years. It was found that, on the sites with moderately damaged soil surface, where sprout density amounted to 20 thousand plants per ha, the estimated dry above-ground biomass from three-year old sprouts was 16.9 tonnes per ha (in comparison, the biomass of primary trees, planted at the density of 1.7 thousand saplings per ha, was approximately 4.9 tonnes per ha six years after planting, before the stand being hit by the storm). Thus, the ability of hybrid aspens, once planted, to regenerate very effectively from root sprouts even after a thoroughly damaging natural disaster was demonstrated.
Keywords:
biomass, short rotation forestry (SRF), aspen
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Short rotation forestry and short rotation coppice
Event:
22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1CV.4.46
Pages:
339 - 341
ISBN:
978-88-89407-52-3
Paper DOI:
10.5071/22ndEUBCE2014-1CV.4.46
Price:
FREE
