@article{10272/20177,
year = {2021},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10272/20177},
abstract = {The steadily increasing demand for energy and concerns about climate change have
prompted countries to promote the use of renewable energy sources, including lignocellulosic
biomass. In this context, this work aims to assess the biomass production for energy purposes in
crops with short rotation, as well as its effect on soil properties. Deciduous tree species were used,
mainly Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila L.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and a hybrid poplar clone
(Populus × euroamericana (Dode) Guinier, clone ‘AF2’). Four field trials were implemented, under two
different types of Mediterranean climate, where highly productive taxa were tested, in addition to the
mixed planting of a nitrogen-fixing species with a non-fixing one. Short-rotation coppices (SRCs) of
these taxa yield about 12–14 t ha−1 year−1 of high-quality dry woody biomass, when fertilizers and
irrigation water are supplied; generate 205–237 GJ ha−1 year−1 net and earnings of about EUR 1.5 per
EUR 1 invested; and sequester into the soil 0.36–0.83 t ha−1 year−1 of C and 57 kg ha−1 year−1 of N.
Therefore, these species raised as SRCs could improve degraded soils if the crop is properly managed,
resulting in favorable economic, energy and CO2 emission balances. The use of mixed plantations
can bring economic and environmental gains, and the biomass transformation into high-quality chips
or pellets gives it added value},
organization = {This research was funded by the Science and Innovation Ministry (ref. AGL2010-16575)
and the Economy and Competitiveness Ministry of Spain (ref. CTQ2013-46804-C2-1-R and CTQ2017-
85251-C2-2-R), by FEDER funds of the EU, and by the company ENCE, energía y celulosa S.A. (8%, 6%,
6%, 70%, 10%, respectively).
The authors want to thank the Diputación de Granada (Spain) for the donation
of farmland for the establishment of the experimental plots in Los Morales, and for the help in the
cultivation works; the company Tubocás S.L. for its contribution to the sampling and transport of
biomass, as well as to the harvest at the end of each crop rotation; and Biopoplar Ibérica S.L. for the
provision of some plant taxa},
publisher = {MDPI},
title = {Biomass Yield and Economic, Energy and Carbon Balances of Ulmus pumila L., Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Populus × euroamericana (Dode) Guinier Short-Rotation Coppices on Degraded Lands under Mediterranean Climate},
doi = {10.3390/f12101337},
author = {Alesso, Patricia and Tapias Martín, Raúl and Alaejos Gutiérrez, Joaquín and Fernández Martínez, Manuel},
}