Short-rotation intensive culture for the production of energy feedstocks in the US: A review of experimental results and remaining obstacles to commercialization

Abstract

Short-rotation intensive culture (SRIC) research has demonstrated that biomass yields can be substantially increased over those for conventional forestry. Moreover, this research has shown that the concept is technically feasible, and that costs of production are potentially competitive. The greatest potential for cost reduction lies in genetics, which appears to have the promise to increase productivity by as much as 40%. The development of innovative harvesting equipment can further reduce production costs by 30% compared with costs now experienced with conventional equipment. Although stand management research is now completed with regard to defining proper practices, there nonethe-less remains the potential for further cost reduction (e.g. refinement of yield-response relationships for various management practices). Many experimental plots are now entering the coppice stage. Productivity gains are almost certainly possible with development of management practices for established rootstocks. The ultimate test of the concept will require the demonstration of much larger monocultural plantations to identify uncertainties and financial risks.