Title:
Intensive Short Rotation Coppice under Mediterranean Climate: Present and Future Perspectives
Author(s):
Navarro, A., Campi, P., Palumbo, A.D., Facciotto, G., Mastrorilli, M.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
This paper illustrates the results of a 4-year experiment on short rotation coppice (SRC) carried out in Southern Italy, under Mediterranean climate. Poplar (Populus L. spp. - five hybrid clones), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus bridgesiana R. Baker) were tested at two intensity levels in a marginal area (a lito-soil, with poor soil water availability). The high intensity level (H) consisted in high plant densities (3 x 0.5 m) and 2-year harvesting cycle, while wider spaced plants (3 x 2 m) and longer harvesting cycle (4 years) were retained in for the low intensity level (L) treatment. Wood dry biomass was the criterion used for evaluating the productivity. In the case of high intensity level, the 4-year biomass production (resulting from two successive 2-year cutting intervals) was 36, 13 and 7 t ha-1 for eucalyptus, black locust and poplar clones, respectively. Results show that eucalyptus and black locust could be regarded as an alternative agricultural practice employing high-density plantations on marginal lands of the Mediterranean, because of their fast growth rate in combination with good warm hardiness. However, for evaluating the effects of the cutting intervals, field researches of longer duration are required.
Keywords:
eucalyptus, poplar, plant density, black locust, cutting intervals, southern italy
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Short rotation forestry and short rotation coppice
Event:
22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1CV.4.50
Pages:
346 - 351
ISBN:
978-88-89407-52-3
Paper DOI:
10.5071/22ndEUBCE2014-1CV.4.50
Price:
FREE
