Establishment and two-year growth of a bio-energy plantation with fast-growing Populus trees in Flanders (Belgium): Effects of genotype and former land use

• Published in: Biomass & bioenergy Vol. 42; pp. 151 - 163
• Main Authors: Broeckx, L.S., Verlinden, M.S., Ceulemans, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; genotype; growing season; growth performance; Huber value; land use; Leaf area index; parentage; pastures; planting; Populus; Production. Biomass; Short Rotation Coppice; Stem cuttings; tree mortality; trees; Volume index; Weed control; weeds; Belgium; Europe; Belgium, Flanders; Weed control; Stem cuttings; Volume index; Huber value; Short Rotation Coppice; Leaf area index; Short rotation coppice; Growth rate; Rapid process; Genotype; Hardwood; Energy plantation; Land use; Salicaceae; Cutting(agronomy); Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Populus
• ISSN: 0961-9534; 1873-2909
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2012.03.005

In April 2010, a large-scale Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) plantation was established with mainly poplar (Populus spp.) on a former agricultural site (cropland and pasture) in Flanders. The 12 selected genotypes planted were assessed on establishment and production characteristics during the first two years of growth and were found highly productive, with a volume index ranging between 1.00 (±0.68) and 1.93 (±0.97)dm³ in growing season 1 (GS1) and between 2.75 (±1.70) and 11.91 (±6.33)dm³ in growing season 2 (GS2). Despite high survival rates of the cuttings after planting, competitive weeds and management operations increased tree mortality during the growing season from 3.4 % up to 18.2 % averaged over the entire plantation. Weed control therefore turned out to be the key factor in the establishment success. Only a minor influence of former land use was observed during GS1, which is explained by the non-limiting nutrient conditions on both former cropland and pasture, and which disappeared during GS2. These productive soils also explained the high growth rates, with an average tree height of 247cm and 445cm and stem diameter (at 22cm height) of 25.21mm and 40.73mm after GS1 and GS2, respectively. Genotypic and parentage variations were found to be less pronounced during GS1, and increased during GS2 as expected. The maximum leaf area index and total leaf area duration were shown to be good indicators of production and growth performance. The results of this paper confirm the high potential of SRC with poplar on agricultural land for bio-energy purposes.
► We studied two-year growth of 12 poplar genotypes in a newly established SRC. ► Weed management was a key factor in the establishment success of an SRC with poplar. ► First-year growth and establishment were independent of former land use type. ► Genotypic and species variation were expressed mainly in the second growth year. ► High growth performance indicates a high potential of SRC on agricultural land.