The effect of liming and nitrogen application on common osier and black poplar biomass productivity and determination of biofuel quality indicators

Abstract

Experiments with two short rotation woody energy crops, common osier (Salix viminalis L.) and black poplar (Populus nigra L.) were carried out in Western Lithuania (55°43′ N, 21°27′ E) on a naturally acid moraine loamy Retisol. According to the results averaged over the two successive growing rotations (2008–2012 and 2013–2016), the dry matter (DM) yield of common osier amounted to 74.76 t ha−1 and 71.63 t ha−1, respectively and that of black poplar totalled 42.28 and 54.24 t ha−1. Nitrogen fertilization significantly increased the number of stems and DM yield for both crops, while stem height was increased only for osier. High-quality chaff of common osier and black poplar was produced using a screw chopper. Our study evidenced that common osier and black poplar biomass feedstock meets the requirements for high quality solid biofuel. When chopped by a screw chopper, wet chaff (40–55% moisture content) may be burned in high and medium power boilers equipped with combustion devices suitable for the incineration of wet chopped woody plants.