EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION, PLANTATION DENSITY AND clonal composition ON WOODY BIOMASS QUALITY FOR BIOENERGY IN A SHORT ROTATION CULTURE SYSTEM WITH WILLOWS (Salix spp.)

Abstract

A short rotation intensive system with willows was analyzed with the following aims: a - to determine the effects of irrigation, genotype and plantation density on wood anatomy, wood density, moisture content, lower heating value, total ash content and energy accumulated in the woody biomass; b - to explore the relationships between anatomical and physical wood properties and the parameters determining their quality as a biofuel. A complete factorial experiment was set up, with three factors and two levels for each factor. The factors were: irrigation, plantation density and clone (genotype). The clones were Salix matsudana Koidz. x Salix alba L. ‘Barrett 13-44 INTA´ (B) and Salix alba L. ‘Yaguareté INTA - CIEF´ (Y). 46 stools of 1 m long were sampled, on which the following determinations were carried out: vessel diameter and frequency, fiber wall thickness and area, wood density, moisture content, ash content and heating values. Clone B had higher wood density than clone Y (0.406 vs. 0.395 g/cm3) and lower moisture content (47.11 vs. 50.53 %). The plantation density did not affect any of the variables analyzed. Irrigation increased the energy yield to 393.2 Gj/ha, compared to 309.15 Gj/ha without irrigation. A system with clone B planted at a lower density (13,000 plants/ha) and under irrigation has the best advantage as an energetic crop over the other alternatives evaluated in this work.

Biomass yield and energy efficiency of willow depending on cultivar, harvesting frequency and planting density

“…Also Stolarski et al (2011) did not show significant differences between the planting densities, and the moisture content ranged from 47.5% to 52.0%. Achinelli et al (2018) found a trend to higher moisture content with a lower planting density. Many studies have shown that the water content in willow stems depends on the genotype (Szczukowski et al 2005, Stolarski et al 2011, Achinelli et al 2018.…”

“…Achinelli et al (2018) found a trend to higher moisture content with a lower planting density. Many studies have shown that the water content in willow stems depends on the genotype (Szczukowski et al 2005, Stolarski et al 2011, Achinelli et al 2018. Moreover, in the present research, a significant variation of this parameter between willow cultivars was observed.…”

Early rooting and flooding tolerance in cuttings from a Populus deltoides full-sib family under greenhouse conditions

“…At the end of D r a f t 7 the experiment, the total above ground dry weight (leaves plus stem, TDW) was determined after drying them to constant weight at 65°C. The basic wood density (BWD) was determined on a 10 cm subsample obtained from the basal part of the stem by fluid displacement as described in Achinelli et al (2018). Before the beginning of the treatment, the latest expanded leaf was tagged with a colored wire.…”

Oxytree Pruned Biomass Torrefaction: Process Kinetics

“…This means the soil influences biomass chemical composition. Similarly, Achinelli et al [25] showed that irrigation has a statistically significant impact on the higher heating value ( HHV ) of biomass (willows). On the other hand, irrigation did not have an impact on ash content, vessel diameter, fiber wall area, and fiber wall thickness [25].…”