Short-Rotation Woody Crops for Energy

Abstract

The production of dendromass as feedstock for energy generation on short-rotation woody crops (SRWC) plantations is still being developed. SRWC plantations should be set up on poor marginal soils. SRWC plantations harvested in 3–4-year rotations can be harvested in one or two stages. The yield of SRWC is affected by a number of interrelated factors (i.e., species, cultivar, clone, soil and weather conditions, planting density, agricultural procedures, cultivation, protection measures, and harvest cycle). As global experience has shown, there is considerable discrepancy between the yields as affected by these factors, from a few to over 20Mgha−1year−1 d.m.