Title:
Hybrid Aspen and Silver Birch Stands as Potential Short Rotation Energy Forests in Hemiboreal Conditions
Author(s):
Lutter, R., Tullus, A., Tullus, T., Kraav, J., Tullus, H.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
The importance of woody biomass for producing energy is increasing rapidly in the Baltic Sea region. Short rotation forestry with fast-growing deciduous trees is considered as a potential energy wood resource, offering also alternative land use for abandoned agricultural areas. We studied above-ground biomasses (stems and branches) in 12- to 13- year-old hybrid aspen and silver birch plantations, 14- to 20-year-old naturally regenerated silver birch stands and one vegetative root sucker stand of hybrid aspen (age 2 years). The highest biomasses were estimated in natural birch stands (mean: 53, max: 90 t DM ha-1), followed by hybrid aspen plantations (mean: 48, max: 67 t DM ha-1) and silver birch plantations (mean 46, max: 63 t DM ha-1). The highest mean annual increment was recorded in vegetative aspen stand (4.2 t DM ha-1 yr-1). All reported biomasses can be considered very high at the given age in the region. We conclude that depending on the market situation, all the studied stand types can be successfully managed in rotations shorter than 20 years for the production of energy wood. They can be also managed in longer rotations for the production of higher quality assortments at final felling and offering energy wood from thinnings.
Keywords:
biomass, poplar, short rotation forestry (SRF)
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Short rotation forestry and short rotation coppice
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1DO.2.3
Pages:
277 - 282
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-1DO.2.3
Price:
FREE
