Fast-growing Tree Research Articles

Development, characterization, functional annotation and validation of genomic and genic-SSR markers using de novo next generation sequencing in Melia dubia Cav.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02858-w.

Rapid functional shifts across high latitude forests over the last 65years.

Global environmental changes have strongly affected forest demographic rates, particularly amplified tree mortality in high latitude forests (e.g., two to five times greater mortality probability over the half-century). Although forest functional composition is critical for multitrophic biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, it remains unclear how functional composition has changed over time across large high latitude regions, which have been warming twice the rate of the globe as a whole. Using extensive spatial and long-term forest inventory data (17,107 plots monitored 1951-2016) across Canada, we found that after accounting for stand age-dependent functional shifts, functional composition shifted toward fast-growing deciduous broadleaved trees and higher drought tolerance over time. The temporal shift toward deciduous broadleaved trees was consistent across the baseline climate. However, over the study period, drought tolerance increased (or shade tolerance decreased) by 300% in colder boreal regions, while drought tolerance did not shift significantly in warmer temperate climates. A further analysis accounting for temporal changes in atmospheric CO2 , temperature, and water availability indicated that the functional composition of colder regions shifted toward drought tolerance more rapidly with rising CO2 than warmer regions, suggesting the greater vulnerability of boreal forests than temperate forests under ongoing global environmental changes. Future ecosystem management practices should consider spatial differences in functional responses to global environmental change, focusing on high latitude forests experiencing higher rates of warming and compositional changes.

Identification of Extractives from Various Poplar Species

Fast-growing poplar trees from plantations are the source of inexpensive wood that is intended mainly for chemical processing in the pulp and paper industry. Their potential as raw material for biofuel manufacturing is widely discussed as well. The detailed chemical composition of this raw material is therefore an important question. Five species of poplars were investigated: Populus alba, P. maximowiczii, P. trichocarpa, P. nigra, andP. tremula. Wood is a material consisting mainly of lignocellulose, but there are also many extractives. In temperate zone climate they typically represent up to 5% of wood mass. Their identification is difficult, due to various classes of compounds and great number of individual ones. These compounds can affect the properties of wood—its resistance to biotic agents and suitability to enzymatic treatment towards biofuels. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer (GC-MS) was used to analysis of extractives in various species of poplar wood. Compounds from several classes were identified like phenols, fatty acids, and their derivatives, sterols. Their identification was discussed along with estimation of their content in wood of investigated species.

Hydrological Processes in Eucalypt and Pine Forested Headwater Catchments within Mediterranean Region

Mediterranean headwater catchments have experienced major land-use changes in recent centuries, namely characterized by afforestation with fast-growing tree species (e.g., pine and eucalyptus). This paper investigates differences in the hydrological response of two forested catchments with distinct Pinus pinaster Aiton (PIN) and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (EUC) covers over 6 hydrological years, from 2010 to 2016. The study was developed in paired catchments located in North–Central Portugal, under wet Mediterranean climate and schist bedrock. Based on rainfall and streamflow measurements, the hydrological responses were analyzed through the water-balance calculations, rainfall-runoff event analyses, and correlations between rainfall characteristics, evapotranspiration, soil moisture, overland flow, and land-cover parameters. The study period recorded a wide range of annual rainfall, between 984 and 2127 mm per years. The annual streamflow displayed greater inter-annual variation, from 208 to 1430 mm for PIN and from 217 to 1291 mm for EUC. The runoff coefficient was higher in the wettest years, with a maximum of 58% for PIN and 61% for EUC, and decreased substantially in the driest year, representing only 17% of the rainfall in PIN and 22% in EUC. Rainfall was predominant during the winter season (41%), followed by autumn (30%) and spring (24%). The streamflow displayed a seasonal behavior in both catchments, with higher runoff coefficient for EUC that for PIN. Half of the annual streamflow occurs during the winter, with the highest average runoff coefficient attained for EUC and PIN respectively being 68% and 64% of the rainfall amount. Annual evapotranspiration was relatively constant through the six years of study and showed higher average values in PIN (907 mm) than EUC (739 mm), highlighting the importance of forest type and showing that mature pine plantations lead to higher water consumption than eucalypt stands. Annual rainfall amount affects evapotranspiration rate (%), the percentage of ET increasing from 37% to 78% for PIN and from 34% to 73% for EUC between the wettest and the driest years, which raises concerns regarding the impact of climate changes on water availability in the mountain areas of the Mediterranean region.

Isolation of active Averrhoa bilimbi phytocompounds corresponding to brown adipocytes stimulation

Averrhoa bilimbi is a fast-growing tree widely found in countries of tropical Asia. Due to easy accessibility and traditional knowledge, various parts of this plant are adopted as folk medicine and a natural health remedy. Recently, beneficial effects of bilimbi in combating obesity including its potential antihyperlipidemic and hypoglycemic activities have been discovered. This paper reports the successive isolation and purification of bioactive compounds from the leaf of bilimbi that corresponds to brown adipocyte activation. Bilimbi ethanolic extract underwent bioassay-guided partitioning and fractionation. The n-hexane partition exhibited highest brown adipogenesis potential via adipomyocytes differentiation. Further isolation of this active partition yielded 10 fractions. Active fractions with the highest brown adipogenesis potential were further evaluated via the adipomyocytes assay. Chemical structures of the constituents were elucidated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Major phytocomponents in the n-hexane partition include hexadecanoic acid, phytol, 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)- and squalene.

Older Eastern White Pine Trees and Stands Accumulate Carbon for Many Decades and Maximize Cumulative Carbon

Pre-settlement New England was heavily forested, with trees exceeding 2 m in diameter. The forests have regrown since farm abandonment, representing what is arguably the most successful regional reforestation on record and identified recently in the “Global Safety Net.” Temperate “old-growth” forest and remnant stands demonstrate that native tree species can live several hundred years and continue to add to forest biomass and structural and ecological complexity. Forests globally are an essential natural climate solution that accumulate carbon and reduce annual increases in atmospheric CO2by approximately 30%. Some studies emphasize young, fast-growing trees and forests while others highlight carbon storage and accumulation in old trees and intact forests. We addressed this directly within New England with long-term, accurate field measurements and volume modeling of individual trees and two stands of eastern white pines (Pinaceae:Pinus strobus) and compared our results to models developed by the U.S. Forest Service. Within this sample and species, our major findings complement and clarify previous findings and are threefold: (1) beyond 80 years, an intact eastern white pine forest can accumulate carbon above-ground in living trees at a high rate and double the carbon stored in this compartment in subsequent years; (2) large trees dominate above-ground carbon and can continue to accumulate carbon; (3) productive stands can continue to accumulate high amounts of carbon in live trees for well over 150 years. Because the next decades are critical in addressing the climate emergency, and most New England forests are less than 100 years old, a major implication of this work is that maintaining and accumulating carbon in some existing forests—proforestation—is a powerful regional climate solution. Furthermore, older and old-growth trees and forests are rare, complex, highly dynamic and biodiverse: dedication of some forests to proforestation will produce large carbon-dense trees and also protect ecosystem integrity, special habitats, and native biodiversity long-term. In sum, strategic policies to grow and protect suitable existing forests in New England will optimize a proven, low cost, natural climate solution that also protects and restores biodiversity across the landscape.

Perspectives of plantation forests in the sustainable forest development of China

Modern forestry is gradually moving towards man-made forests on a large scale. Plantations with advanced forestry system have been introduced with the goal of sustainable forestry development and to enhance social, ecological, and economic benefits. Forest plantations with native and exotic species have been established in China and worldwide with shorter rotation cycles than natural forests. In this paper, we discuss the role and perspectives of plantation forests in the Chinese sustainable forest development, the evolution of various plantation programs, the ecological effects of plantations, and the measures to improve plantation forestry. The Chinese government has given substantial importance to nurturing plantation forest resources through various large scale afforestation programs. In 2019, the total area covered by plantations in China reached 79.54 million ha, with a stock volume of 3.39 billion m³ (59.30 m³ per ha); coniferous forests (26.11 million ha, 32.83%) and broad-leaved forests (26.45 million ha, 33.25%) are the dominant types. Plantations have been primarily distributed in the central and southern parts of the country. Plantations with fast-growing and high-yielding tree species facilitated Chinese afforestation activities and improved the administration of forest production, which effectively boosted the forest industry. Plantation forest resources offer many potential productive, economic, and social advantages, though they are also associated with a loss of biodiversity and climate change makes them likely susceptible to disease and insect attack. Appropriate forest management practices during planning, execution, and maintenance of plantations can contribute to the conservation, promotion, and restoration of biodiversity, with the final aim of attaining a balance between having forest plantations and natural forests.

Fast Preparation of High-Performance Wood Materials Assisted by Ultrasonic and Vacuum Impregnation

In the absence of high-quality hardwood timber resources, we have gradually turned our attention from natural forests to planted fast-growing forests. However, fast-growing tree timber in general has defects such as low wood density, loose texture, and poor mechanical properties. Therefore, improving the performance of wood through efficient and rapid technological processes and increasing the utilization of inferior wood is a good way to extend the use of wood. Densification of wood increases the strength of low-density wood and extends the range of applications for wood and wood-derived products. In this paper, the effects of ultrasonic and vacuum pretreatment on the properties of high-performance wood were explored by combining sonication, vacuum impregnation, chemical softening, and thermomechanical treatments to densify the wood; then, the changes in the chemical composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of poplar wood before and after treatment were analyzed comparatively by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and mechanical tests. The results showed that with ultrasonic pretreatment and vacuum impregnation, the compression ratio of high-performance wood reached its highest level and the MOR and MOE reached their maximums. With the help of this method, fast-growing softwoods can be easily prepared into dense wood materials, and it is hoped that this new material can be applied in the fields of construction, aviation, and automobile manufacturing.

Demarcation area between juvenile and mature wood in Elaeocarpus angustifolius

Abstract. Rahayu I, Laksono GD, Darmawan W, Maddu A, Prihatini E. 2021. Demarcation area between juvenile and mature wood in Elaeocarpus angustifolius. Biodiversitas 22: 2583-2590. Wood for use in building and industrial materials is generally supplied from plantations and natural forests. Timber demand has been increasing as the population grows, but the availability of timber from natural forests is declining. Therefore, to meet timber needs, wood from community forests is becoming a solution. Community forests are widely planted with fast-growing trees, such as Elaeocarpus angustifolius Blume. It offers the advantages of a short cutting cycle and large-diameter wood. This study aimed to determine the demarcation area between juvenile and mature wood on 6-year-old E. angustifolius based on anatomical, physical, and mechanical properties. The parameters used to determine the demarcation area included the following properties: anatomical (fiber length, cell wall thickness, and microfibril angle [MFA]), physical (moisture content and green density), and mechanical (modulus of elasticity [MOE], modulus of rupture [MOR], and hardness). Those parameters were measured from pith to bark. Data analyses were based on segmented linear regression models using PROC NLIN in SAS. Fiber length, cell wall thickness, green density, MOE, MOR, and hardness values increased from pith to bark. Results from the segmented linear regression models on anatomical properties allowed extrapolating that mature wood would begin at the 18 cm (based on fiber length), the 20 cm (based on cell wall thickness), and the 21 cm (based on MFA) distance from the pith. the proportion of juvenile wood in E. angustifolius was 100%. Fiber length, cell wall thickness, and MFA can be used to determine the transition point of juvenile wood and mature wood in E. angustifolius.

Global genotype by environment trends in growth traits for Eucalyptus dunnii

Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden (Dunn’s white gum) is a fast-growing tall tree with a restricted natural distribution in south-east Australia and favorable wood properties for pulp production. In this study, selected and native forest family seedlots of E. dunnii were evaluated in 17 open-pollinated progeny trials located in Australia, Uruguay, China, Argentina, and Spain for diameter at breast height and total height between the ages of 1 and 7 years. The generality of the factor analytic approach was extended to accommodate unbalance in treatment effects and traits, by modelling each dimension of the genotype covariance matrix as a unique combination of location, age, and trait. Genetic correlations between the two growth traits, between trials and between ages were generally high with only five trials exhibiting average trial-trial correlations below 0.7, indicating genotype by environment interactions were low. Estimated individual seedlot repeatability varied from 0.04 to 0.18 for both traits. The results of this study show that selection and deployment across multiple trials within Australia, Uruguay, China, and Argentina is possible from a single breeding program of E. dunnii, however some environments will require further investigation to determine the drivers of the observed GxE.

Effect of Solid-State Fermentation on Nutritional Quality of Leaf Flour of the Drumstick Tree (Moringa oleifera Lam.)

The drumstick tree is a fast-growing multipurpose tree with a large biomass and high nutritional value. However, it has rarely been exploited as a protein source. This study investigated solid-state fermentation induced by Aspergillus niger, Candida utilis and Bacillus subtilis to obtain high-quality protein feed from drumstick leaf flour. The results showed that fermentation induced significant changes in the nutritional composition of drumstick leaf flour. The concentrations of crude protein, small peptides and amino acids increased significantly after fermentation. The protein profile was also affected by the fermentation process. Macromolecular proteins in drumstick leaf flour were degraded, whereas other high molecular weight proteins were increased. However, the concentrations of crude fat, fiber, total sugar and reducing sugar were decreased, as were the anti-nutritional factors tannins, phytic acid and glucosinolates. After 24 h fermentation, the concentrations of total phenolics and flavonoids were increased. The antioxidant capacity was also significantly enhanced.

Tagasaste, leucaena and paulownia: three industrial crops for energy and hemicelluloses production

BackgroundBurning fast-growing trees for energy production can be an effective alternative to coal combustion. Thus, lignocellulosic material, which can be used to obtain chemicals with a high added value, is highly abundant, easily renewed and usually inexpensive. In this work, hemicellulose extraction by acid hydrolysis of plant biomass from three different crops (Chamaecytisus proliferus, Leucaena diversifolia and Paulownia trihybrid) was modelled and the resulting solid residues were used for energy production.ResultsThe influence of the nature of the lignocellulosic raw material and the operating conditions used to extract the hemicellulose fraction on the heat capacity and activation energy of the subsequent combustion process was examined.The heat power and the activation energy of the combustion process were found to depend markedly on the hemicellulose content of the raw material. Thus, a low content in hemicelluloses resulted in a lower increased energy yield after acid hydrolysis stage.The process was also influenced by the operating conditions of the acid hydrolysis treatment, which increased the gross calorific value (GCV) of the solid residue by 0.6–9.7% relative to the starting material. In addition, the activation energy of combustion of the acid hydrolysis residues from Chamaecytisus proliferus (Tagasaste) and Paulownia trihybrid (Paulownia) was considerably lower than that for the starting materials, the difference increasing with increasing degree of conversion as well as with increasing temperature and acid concentration in the acid hydrolysis.The activation energy of combustion of the solid residues from acid hydrolysis of tagasaste and paulownia decreased markedly with increasing degree of conversion, and also with increasing temperature and acid concentration in the acid hydrolysis treatment. No similar trend was observed in Leucaena diversifolia (Leucaena) owing to its low content in hemicelluloses.ConclusionsAcid hydrolysis of tagasaste, leucaena and paulownia provided a valorizable liquor containing a large amount of hemicelluloses and a solid residue with an increased heat power amenable to efficient valorization by combustion. There are many potential applications of the hemicelluloses-rich and lignin-rich fraction, for example as multi-components of bio-based feedstocks for 3D printing, for energy and other value-added chemicals.

Characterization of a natural surfactant from an essential oil from neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) for textile industry applications

Surfactants are multipurpose active compounds and are ubiquitously present in detergents. Detergent demand spiked due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, further alerting to the need to replace petrochemical synthetic surfactants with natural and renewable surfactants to mitigate further environmental damage. The neem tree ( Azadirachta indica A. Juss) is a fast-growing tree that provides a multitude of commodities, namely neem oil. Neem oil possesses insecticidal and medicinal activity. This work reports the extraction and characterization of a surfactant from neem oil (SNO), displaying a yield of approximately 100%. SNO exhibited suitable detergent characteristics with a high potential to be used as a cleansing agent for textile applications, such as high pH value (10.1), suitable foaming of 1.5 cm and a critical micelle concentration of nearly 0.12 g mL−1. In addition, SNO showed a moderate bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli and bacteriostatic activity against Staphylococcus aureus, both common nosocomial pathogens. Therefore, SNO has a good potential to be used in medical textile applications due to its detergent and bactericidal properties. Finally, an economical overview of the SNO production process was assessed, underscoring its viability.

Estimation of primary forest harvest residues and potential bioenergy production from fast-growing tree species in NW Spain

Around 50% of the wood harvested annually in Spain for industrial purposes is produced in the north-western region of Galicia. In this study, species-specific equations were developed for estimating dry harvest residues (kg) from stem volume (m3) in the fast-growing Pinus pinaster Ait., Pinus radiata D. Don and Eucalyptus spp., which generate around 95% of harvested wood. The presence of heteroscedasticity was taken into account in model fitting. Regional dry harvest residues were estimated using the equations and regional harvested volume records (m3), by assuming a mean harvested tree of diameter at breast height of 45 cm for pines and 25 cm for eucalyptus. A moisture content (M) of 25% was assumed for direct combustion of harvest residues; therefore, wet values were calculated from dry estimates, and a lower heating value (M = 25%) was used. The bioenergy potentially produced from the estimated harvest residues (M = 25%) was 377 ktoe year−1 in the period 2018–2019, equivalent to 4.7% of the total primary energy consumption in Galicia in 2018. Currently 70% of potential bioenergy production is concentrated in a sub-region representing 40% of the whole region. The approach used provides a direct link between regional or local harvested volume (registered or simulated) and accurate estimation of potential bioenergy from direct combustion of harvest residues, thus supporting decision-making related to climate change targets and to decreasing dependence on fossil fuels. However, further research that takes into account environmental, economical and social constraints in removing harvest residues is required.

Investigation on the combustion characteristics of different plant parts of Cassia siamea by DSC-TGA

Plant parts like root, wood, twig and leaf of Cassia siamea, a fast-growing tree in the abandoned mines of Jharkhand, India, have been considered here as a possible fuel source for decentralized power generation. This is a low greenhouse gas emission pathway to cater the electricity need of the adjoining locality. Seasonal availability of the plant parts originated interests of studying the basic combustion characteristics of the plant parts separately. Finding out the roles of cellulose and lignin to regulate the combustion behavior of plant parts was another objective. Cellulose and lignin were extracted from each plant part, and their burning performances were evaluated against those of respective plant parts with the help of DSC-TGA. Cellulose and lignin were found to influence the combustion processes of plant parts differently. Lignin in case of leaf combustion and cellulose for wood combustion regulated the combustion process. Both lignin and cellulose were competitive in regulating the combustion of twig and root. Burning characteristics of cellulose or lignin extracted from different plant parts varied. Higher heating value (HHV) was low for celluloses (~ 16.8 ± 1 MJ kg−1) as compared to lignin (HHV ~ 23.0 ± 1 MJ kg−1). Leaf having substantial lignin and extractives showed the highest HHV around 23.5 MJ kg−1, while the lowest HHV (16.0 MJ kg−1) was observed for wood. Results are interesting for considering each plant part as a single fuel or as a potential component of coal–biomass blended fuel, where locally available low-grade high ash coal may be the other component.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Mitigation Measures within the Forestry and Other Land Use Subsector in Malawi

Analysing past trends of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remains indispensable to the understanding of current GHG emissions, thereby enabling prediction of future emissions as well as development of their mitigative pathways. This study quantified GHG emissions within the Forest and Other Land Use (FOLU) subsector in Malawi for the period 2011 to 2020. Results indicate that Malawi’s GHG emissions in the FOLU subsector fluctuated but decreased by 0.84 MtCO2e (13%) from 2011 to 2020, averaging to −1.3% annually. The GHG emissions of different categories within the subsector were highly significant ( p < 0.001 ) and contributed the highest (99.72%) of the total variation. Forestland contributed the highest (74%) of the subsector category emissions, followed by biomass burning (19%). The uncertainties for the estimated GHG emissions were low (<15%). This shows that the estimated GHG emissions within the FOLU subsector were significantly minimised. Notable interventions that have abated the emissions include afforestation and natural/assisted regeneration; protection and conservation of protected areas through the REDD+ mechanism; establishment of seed banks for raising drought-tolerant tree species; and breeding of fast-growing and drought-tolerant tree species; as well as screening of disease and pest-resistant species and promotion of biological control.

Spread and Severity of Ash Dieback in Switzerland – Tree Characteristics and Landscape Features Explain Varying Mortality Probability

Since the 1990s the invasive fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus has been threatening European ash (Fraxinus excelsior), a tree species with high ecological and economic importance. This pathogen is causing severe crown dieback, leading to high mortality rates across Europe and is present in Switzerland since 2008. In this study, we provide a comprehensive overview of the temporal evolution of crown damage and mortality rates in Switzerland over the 2009–2019 period. Harnessing the power of the annualized design of the Swiss national forest inventory (NFI), we show that annual mortality rates (AMRs) of ash increased significantly since the arrival of the fungus, with stronger effects in small trees [<26 cm diameter at breast height (DBH)]. Mortality modeling confirmed a size and growth-rate dependent mortality probability (MP). It also revealed that stands with higher humidity – either through higher mean annual precipitation or more humid soil conditions – showed also increased MP. Decreasing host abundance with increasing elevation was also associated with lower MP. Special ash surveys performed over the last 10 years still show a large percentage of ash trees with very low defoliation. This gives hope to finding possible tolerant or resistant trees for (inter-)national breeding programs. In the mean-time our results reinforce previously published management guidelines to promote not only healthy big trees, but also healthy and fast-growing young trees in more open stands for long-term conservation of ash in Europe.

Nitrogen Pools in Tropical Plantations of N2-Fixing and Non-N2-Fixing Legume Trees under Different Tree Stand Densities

We investigated the nitrogen pools in monocultures of legume species widely used in reforestation in Brazil that have contrasting growth and nitrogen acquisition strategies. The plantations were established with the slow-growing and N2-fixing tree Anadenanthera peregrina var. peregrina, and the fast-growing and non-fixing tree Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum. The measurements of N pools in the tree biomass and the soil followed standard methods and were carried out on 54 experimental plots. The N2 fixation pools were evaluated by abundance natural of 15N and the N accretion methods. The soil N content was of similar magnitude between species and stand densities. The species showed similar amounts of N in the biomass, but divergent patterns of N accumulation, as well as the 15N signature on the leaves. S. parahyba accumulated most N in the stem, while A. peregrina accumulated N in the roots and leaves. However, the N accumulation in biomass of A. peregrina stand was less constrained by environment than in S. parahyba stands. The percentage of N derived from N2 fixation in A. peregrina stands decreased with the increase of stand density. The biological N2 fixation estimates depended on the method and the response of tree species to environment.

Effect of fortification of Pasta with natural immune booster Moringa Oleifera leaves powder (MLP) on Cooking Quality and Sensory analysis

Malnutrition is a worldwide escalating severe problem, impacting majority of the Indian population. Currently, it is difficult to meet, the nutritional requirements with a limited type of stored food as compared to the variety of freshly available food. In such a scenario incorporating, the immune-boosting nutritional ingredients in a commonly consumed food can be adopted as one of the nutritional approaches. Hence, as an alternate to fresh food, the usage of a fortified high-nutrient food products can be one of the approaches e.g., the inclusion of fortified pasta in meals. Moringa oleifera is a fast-growing underutilized tree with high nutritional value. Its leaves are rich sources of bioactive components, vitamin A, vitamin C and Iron. Fortification of pasta products with Moringa oleifera leaf powder can be one of the cost-effective approaches and, a best immunity booster supplement for enhancing the nutritional value of pasta-based products which can be stored for several months. In current study, the preparation of pasta fortified with varying concentrations of Moringa oleifera leaf powder (MLP) was attempted, followed by its cooking quality analysis (cooking time, cooking weight, cooking loss and water absorption) and sensory attributes evaluation (based on 9 points hedonic scale including the colour, taste, texture, flavour and overall acceptability). The results from the qualitative as well as quantitative analysis suggest that the fortification of pasta with Moringa oleifera leaves differentially modified the sensory characteristics of the pasta in a concentration-dependent manner. The present study indicates that the fortification of pasta with Moringa oleifera leaf powder can act as a natural immune booster, and has the potential to reduce the probability of microbial infections. Keywords: Bioactive Components, Fortification, Moringa oleifera, Pasta.

Life Cycle Assessment of Agricultural Wood Production\u2014Methodological Options: a Literature Review

In Europe, poplar and other fast-growing tree species are considered valuable resources for meeting the required wood demand of the rising bioeconomy. The agricultural technique of short rotation coppice (SRC) has gained relevance to ease the pressure of the demand for wood from forests. Previous studies have implemented the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate such systems’ potential environmental impacts. These studies present different outcomes, though a general pattern on the potential benefit of SRC is observed. The variation of relevant methodological options, such as goal and scope, system boundary, functional unit, reference system, data source, characterization models, and impact categories assessed can significantly affect the results. A consequence of this discrepancy is its effect on results’ interpretation, making the absolute comparison of case studies challenging and hindering the understanding of the potential impacts of SRC LCAs in support of developing a sustainable bioeconomy. Therefore, the current research attempts to understand the methodological implementation of LCA in assessing SRC value chains. Through literature research, studies are analyzed based on the four LCA phases. One of the results of this study shows how most of the articles focus on assessing the impact category related to climate change, while other environmental issues that are particularly relevant for agricultural woody biomass systems are seldomly evaluated. By discussing the state of the art of SRC LCA, this review paper attempts to suggest improvements that will allow future LCA studies to reach a more comprehensive understanding of the overall environmental impact of SRC systems.