Publication
Title
Nutrients and energy in proleptic branches and leaves of poplar under a short-rotation coppice
Author
Abstract
Renewable energy is often generated from biomass, produced in short-rotation coppice (SRC) cultures. These cultures are frequently established on former agricultural land with ample availability of plant nutrients as nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Nevertheless, little is known about the annual recycling of these nutrients through the leaves, as well as about the amounts that are removed at harvest. We therefore quantified soil nutrient concentrations, as well as nutrient concentrations and the gross calorific value of the proleptic branches and of the leaves of 12 poplar (Populus) genotypes in the second rotation of an operational SRC (with two-year rotations). For the produced leaf biomass, we also quantified the standing energy stock and the nutrient stock of each genotype. After four years the P, K, Ca and Mg soil concentrations had not significantly changed, while the N concentration at 3060 cm of soil depth had significantly increased. On average, the standing aboveground woody biomass of the 12 genotypes in 2013 was 13.75 Mg ha−1 and the total leaf biomass was 3.54 Mg ha−1. This resulted in an average standing energy stock in the leaves of 64.8 GJ ha−1. Nutrient concentrations were lower in the proleptic branches as compared to the leaves, but the proleptic branches and leaf nutrient concentrations significantly varied among the genotypes.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Biomass and bioenergy. - London
Publication
London : 2016
ISSN
0961-9534
DOI
10.1016/J.BIOMBIOE.2015.12.016
Volume/pages
85 (2016) , p. 271-277
ISI
000368435800033
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
System analysis of a bio-energy plantation: full greenhouse gas balance and energy accounting. (POPFULL)
ICOS Flanders: Ecosystem Infrastructure for Integrated Carbon Observing System.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 07.01.2016
Last edited 09.10.2023
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