Abstract
This study had three main objectives: (1) to evaluate the aboveground biomass and volume yield of three unrelated hybrid poplar clones in 9 year-old riparian buffer strips located on four farms of southern Québec, Canada; (2) to compare yield data at 9 years with previous data (at 6 years); (3) to evaluate how soil fertility, measured using three different soil testing methods (soil nutrient stocks, soil nutrient concentrations, soil nutrient supply rates), is related to yield. Across the four sites, hybrid poplar productivity after 9 years ranged from 116 to 450 m3ha−1, for stem wood volume, and from 51 to 193 megagrams per hectare (Mg ha−1), for woody dry biomass. High volume and woody dry biomass yields (26.3 to 49.9 m3ha−1yr-1, and 11.4 to 21.4 Mg ha−1yr-1) were observed at the three most productive sites. From year 6 to 9, relatively high yield increases (8.9−15.1 m3ha−1yr−1) were observed at all sites, but the productivity gap between the less fertile site and the three other sites was widened. Clone MxB-915311 was the most productive across the four sites, while clone DxN-3570 was the least productive. However, at the most productive site, clone MxB-915311 experienced severe stem and branch breakages. Independently of the soil testing method used, available soil P was always the first soil factor explaining volume yield.
Highlights
To estimate the woody biomass and stem volume of those harvested trees, we developed a relationship between the ground level diameter (GLD) and the diameter at breast height (DBH) of clone MxB-915311, to obtain a DBH value: DBH = 0.7959 (GLD) − 0.091
Yield results from this study highlight the very high potential of riparian buffers to produce substantial wood volumes and biomass during a short time period, even if the study sites are located in extensive farmland
The Site effect was by far the largest effect detected by the ANOVA followed by the Clone effect (Figure 3, Table 5), while the Site × Clone interaction for biomass and volume production was not statistically significant
Summary
Wood and woody biomass production on the farm using natural or planted short-rotation woody crops or coppices in the riparian zone of agroecosystems is an idea gaining acceptance worldwide [1,2,3,4,5,6].Within this perspective, streamside plantations and agroforestry systems composed of fast-growing species, such as Populus spp. and their hybrids, may be used to create more diversified and resilient farmland ecosystems [3,7,8].On the one hand, riparian zones are keystone elements for providing ecosystem services (water quality protection, soil stabilization, carbon sequestration, refuges for biodiversity, storm and flood protection, etc.) [9,10,11,12,13]. Wood and woody biomass production on the farm using natural or planted short-rotation woody crops or coppices in the riparian zone of agroecosystems is an idea gaining acceptance worldwide [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Producing woody biomass and timber in planted buffer strips might be a way to partially offset economic losses associated with cropland or pasture conversion to woody vegetation, and establishment and maintenance costs This is a major issue for biomass production, in more intensive farming landscapes where land value is high because of its excellent agricultural potential [19]. Along with the lack of markets that account for ecosystem services, are other factors that contribute to reduce the feasibility of on-farm conservation practices, such as woody riparian buffer implementation [20]
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