An Experimental Study of Short Rotation Forestry for Energy

Summary

The work done in the first year of a contract with the CEC is reported. The programme has three sections; assessment of above- ground biomass produced by forest trees, establishment of trials of short rotation forest energy plantations, and preparation of specifications for equipment for harvesting forest biomass for energy.

The first section is complete. The dry matter production of ten tree species has been examined across a range of ages and yield classes for total biomass and partitioning between stem, branches and foliage. Mathematical relations between stand dry matter production and mensurational parameters have been developed. A set of tables (for conifers) which can be used to predict dry matter production from crop basal area is now available.

Three trial short rotation forest energy plantations were planted with the same ten tree species in the spring 1981. These were on marginal farmland, scrub woodland and the site of a young plantation in the north east of Scotland.

A survey of harvesting equipment and systems is in progress. The development of a tractor-mounted machine for harvesting coppice for energy is proceeding under a sub-contract.

• determination of production of biomass above-ground from young plantations of single-stemmed trees,

• establishment of trials of short ratation forest energy plantations in typical locations in Britain,

• preparation of specifications for equipment and systems suitable for harvesting forest biomass for energy.