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Measuring Harvestable Biomass in Short-Rotation Willow Bioenergy Plantations Using Light Attenuation

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Abstract

Routine monitoring of above ground biomass within purpose-grown willow biomass energy production systems is important for timing harvest and other operations to maximize profit and increase plantation productivity. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of an elegant nondestructive mensurative technique for providing reliable estimates of harvestable biomass for six willow varieties during a 3-year rotation. The LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyser was used to measure the stem area index of growing willow and relate it to harvestable biomass at four locations within Saskatchewan, Canada over a 3-year period. Given the highly significant relationship (R 2 = 0.95; P < 0.0001) between measured stem area index and harvestable willow biomass, independent of variety, age, or location, this simple mensurative technique is a promising alternative for estimating above ground biomass in short-rotation willow plantations.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and NSERC Strategic Grants Program for funding; B. Brewster (Grandfather), G. Harrison (Pacific Regeneration Technologies), and S. Heidinger (SaskPower, Shand Greenhouse) for providing the study locations; T. Volk (SUNY-ESF) for the plant material; X. Guo (Department of Geography and Planning, University of Saskatchewan) and P. Comeau (Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta) for the use of their LAI-2000 units; T. Demetriades-Shah (LI-COR Inc.) and S. Walsh (SAS Institute Inc.) for their technical assistance; B. Amichev, D. Greenough, L., R., and R. Hangs, J. Hyszka, D. Jackson, T. King, S. Konecsni, and C. Stadnyk for their logistical support; and two anonymous reviewers for their critical comments and suggestions that improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A2, Canada

    R. D. Hangs, J. J. Schoenau & K. C. J. Van Rees

  2. 142 Rogers Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 3T6, Canada

    F. C. Stevenson

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  1. R. D. Hangs
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  2. F. C. Stevenson
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  3. J. J. Schoenau
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  4. K. C. J. Van Rees
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Correspondence to R. D. Hangs.

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Hangs, R.D., Stevenson, F.C., Schoenau, J.J. et al. Measuring Harvestable Biomass in Short-Rotation Willow Bioenergy Plantations Using Light Attenuation. Bioenerg. Res. 6, 83–90 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-012-9238-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-012-9238-7

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