Land availability and potential biomass production with poplar and willow short rotation coppices in Germany

Abstract

Several factors influence land availability for the growth of short rotation coppices (SRC) with fast-growing tree species, including the nationwide availability of agricultural land, economic efficiency, ecological impacts, political boundaries and environmental protection regulations. In this study, we analysed the growing potential of poplar and willow SRC for bioenergy purposes in Germany without negative ecological impacts or land use conflicts. The potential biomass production using SRC on agricultural land in Germany was assessed taking into account ecological, ethical, political and technical restrictions. Using a geographic information system (GIS), digital site maps, climate data and a digital terrain model, the SRC biomass production potential on cropland and grassland was estimated using water supply and mean temperature during the growing season as parameters. From this analysis, a yield model for SRC was developed based on the analysed growth data and site information of 62 short rotation plantations in Germany and France. To assess the technical, ethical and ecological potential of SRC, restrictions in protected areas, technical constraints and competition with food and feed production were investigated. Our results revealed that approximately 18% (2.12 Mio. ha) of cropland and 54% (2.5 Mio. ha) of grassland in Germany were highly suitable for SRC plantations, providing favourable water supplies and mean temperatures during the growing season. These identified sites produced an average yield of more than 14 tons of dry matter per hectare per year. Due to local climate and soil conditions, the federal states in northern and eastern Germany had the highest theoretical SRC potential for agricultural land. After considering all ecological, ethical, political and technical restrictions, as well as future climate predictions, 5.7% (680 000 ha) of cropland and 33% (1.5 Mio. ha) of grassland in Germany were classified as suitable for biomass production with fast-growing tree species in SRC.

Short-term boosting of biomass energy sources – Determination of biomass potential for prevention of regional crisis situations

“…Some currently used and some new varieties of poplars can achieve higher yields (10%) in 5-6-year rotation than in 3-year rotation for which our model yield of fast-growing trees were calculated. The same conclusions were found in similar conditions in Germany [24].…”

“…Tan et al [22] and [23] are far better (and more accurate). In a study of the potential of short rotation coppice (SRC) in Germany [24] the methodology used was created on the basis of long-term monitoring of yield in experimental plots (in Germany and France) that were related to soil and climate conditions, especially availability of water and the average annual temperature. Also, the authors analyze the question of using less-favored areas for the cultivation of SRC and thus leaving quality soils for conventional agriculture.…”

Two Herbivore-Induced Cytochrome P450 Enzymes CYP79D6 and CYP79D7 Catalyze the Formation of Volatile Aldoximes Involved in Poplar Defense

“…The aim of this study was to investigate the herbivore-induced formation of volatile aldoximes in western balsam poplar (Populus trichocarpa). As fast-growing trees, poplars play an important role in forestry and as energy crops (Beringer et al, 2011;Aust et al, 2013). During recent years, an extensive arsenal of resources has been developed for functional genomics and genetic studies of poplars.…”

Simulation of environmental impact scores within the life cycle of mixed wood chips from alternative short rotation coppice systems in Flanders (Belgium)

“…This is the case in Sweden, France, Germany or the UK, all of which have a long history of SRC-related initiatives [9,[25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. In recent years Belgium has also moved towards the implementation of an intensive SRC activity, and has recently disseminated numerous findings describing the performance of SRC growth systems, as well as their potential for bioenergy production [33][34][35][36].…”