United States

Department of 

Agriculture

Forest Service

Northern 

Research Station

General Technical

Report NRS-P-31

Bloomington, Minnesota, USA

August 19-21, 2008

Biofuels, Bioenergy, and 

Bioproducts from Sustainable 

Agricultural and Forest Crops

Proceedings of the Short Rotation 

Crops International Conference
The Editors

Ronald S. Zalesny Jr. is Research Plant Geneticist, Northern Research Station, Institute for 

Applied Ecosystem Studies, 5985 Highway K, Rhinelander, WI 54501.

Rob Mitchell is Research Agronomist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research 

Service, Grain, Forage, & Bioenergy Research Unit, 314 Biochemistry Hall, University of 

Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583.

Jim Richardson is Technical Director, Poplar Council of Canada, 1876 Saunderson Drive, 

Ottawa, ON, K1G 2C5, Canada.

The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this publication is for the information and 

convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official endorsement or approval 

by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Forest Service of any product or service to the 

exclusion of others that may be suitable.

CAUTION:

PESTICIDES

This publication/database reports research involving pesticides. It does not contain 

recommendations for their use, nor does it imply that the uses discussed here 

have been registered. All uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate 

State and/or Federal, agencies before they can be recommended.

CAUTION: Pesticides can be injurious to humans, domestic animals, desirable plants, and fish 

or other wildlife—if they are not handled or applied properly. Use all pesticides selectively and 

carefully. Follow recommended practices for the disposal of surplus pesticides and pesticide 

containers.

Manuscript received for publication 14 April 2008

Cover Photos

Front cover, clockwise from top left: 

Poplar biomass crops in Quebec, Canada with pulp and paper processing facility in the 

background. Photo by Ron Zalesny, U.S. Forest Service.

Each round switchgrass bale in eastern Nebraska will yield about 50 gallons of ethanol. Photo 

by Rob Mitchell, USDA Agricultural Research Service.

Harvesting 3-year-old willow biomass crops in central New York using a Case New Holland 

forage harvester and a specially designed willow cutting head. Photo used with permission, 

Tim Volk, State University of New York.

Harvesting 4 tons of switchgrass per acre in late July in Nebraska. Photo by Rob Mitchell, 

USDA Agricultural Research Service.

Back cover: 

Harvesting 6- to 7-year-old poplar biomass crops in the Pacific Northwest (estimated yield of 5 

to 6 dry tons per acre per year). Photo by Ron Zalesny, U.S. Forest Service.

The findings and conclusions of each article in this publication are those of the 

individual author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture or the Forest Service. All articles were received in digital format and 

were edited for uniform type and style. Each author is responsible for the accuracy and 

content of his or her paper.
Biofuels, Bioenergy, and Bioproducts from 

Sustainable Agricultural and Forest Crops

Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops 

International Conference

Bloomington, Minnesota, USA

August 19-21, 2008

Edited by:

Ronald S. Zalesny, Jr., Rob Mitchell, and Jim Richardson

Published by:

U.S. Forest Service

Northern Research Station

Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
CONTENTS

Preface and Editors’ Note ...........................................................................................................vii

Ronald S. Zalesny, Jr., Rob Mitchell, and Jim Richardson

Conference Organizers ..............................................................................................................viii

Sponsoring Organizations ...........................................................................................................ix

Development of a Willow Biomass Crop Harvester Based on a New Holland Forage 

Harvester and Specially Designed Willow Cutting Head ...........................................................1

Lawrence P. Abrahamson, Timothy A. Volk, Ed Priepke, John Posselius, Daniel J. Aneshansley, 

and Lawrence B. Smart

25×’25: America’s Energy Future .................................................................................................2

R. Bruce Arnold

Pulling It All Together—Planning Guidelines and Design Tools for Creating 

Multi-purpose Landscapes to Support Energy Objectives .......................................................3

Gary Bentrup, Gary Wells, Michele Schoeneberger, and Michael Dosskey

Woody Biomass Crops in the Midwestern United States: Past, Present, and Future ............4

William E. Berguson

Water Perspectives on Large Scale Bioenergy ..........................................................................5

Göran Berndes

Agroforest Management Systems can Produce Biofuel Feedstocks and Improve Key 

Environmental Services on Retired Agricultural Lands in the Western Gulf Region .............6

Michael A. Blazier, Hal O. Liechty, Matthew H. Pelkki, Philip A. Tappe, and Charles P. West

Biofuels are Pest Food, Too! ........................................................................................................7

John J. Brown, R. Andrew Rodstrom, Eugene R. Hannon, Neal T. Kittelson, and Douglas B. Walsh

Economics of Willow Biomass Production and Policy to Enhance Market Penetration ........8

Thomas S. Buchholz, Timothy A. Volk, Michael J. Kelleher, and Lawrence P. Abrahamson

Coppice Culture for Biomass Production in Southeastern United States ...............................9

Mark Coleman and Douglas Aubrey

Swedish Experiences with Applications of Municipal and Industrial Residues on 

Large-scale Short-rotation Coppice Plantations ......................................................................10

Ioannis Dimitriou and Pär Aronsson

Hybrid Aspen Growth Response to Shearing in Minnesota: Implications for 

Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration ...................................................................... 11

Grant M. Domke, Anthony W. D’Amato, Andrew J. David, and Alan R. Ek

Agroforestry and Cellulosic Ethanol from Sustainable Poplar Tree Farms...........................12

Jake Eaton

Intensive Utilization of Harvest Residues in Southern Pine Plantations: Quantities 

Available and Implications for Nutrient Budgets and Sustainable Site Productivity ...........13

Mark H. Eisenbies, Eric D. Vance, W. Michael Aust, and John R. Seiler

Life-cycle Analysis of Small-scale Energy Systems Utilizing Oilseeds Grown in 

the Midwest ..................................................................................................................................14

Seth Fore, Paul Porter, and William Lazarus
Use of Marginal Land and Water to Maximize Biofuel Production .........................................15

Gayathri Gopalakrishnan, M. Cristina Negri, Michael Wang, May Wu, and Seth Snyder

Sustainable Bioenergy Production in Agroforestry Systems .................................................16

Andrew Gordon, Dean Current, Michele Schoeneberger, and Gary Bentrup

Short-rotation Forestry in Germany: Lessons from the Past, Present Research 

Activities, and Future Perspectives ...........................................................................................17

Holger Grünewald and Georg von Wühlisch

Woody Bioenergy Systems in the United States ......................................................................18

Richard B. Hall

The Council for Sustainable Biomass Production ...................................................................19

John Heissenbuttel

Effect of Landscape Positions and their Associated Soil and Terrain Attributes on 

Biomass Crop Yield and Growth Rates .....................................................................................20

Gregg A. Johnson, Ryan T. Thelemann, Haowen Cai, Sudipto Banerjee, Craig C. Sheaffer, 

Hans-Joachim G. Jung, Katie B. Petersen, and Ulrike W. Tschirner

Bioenergy: Agricultural Crop Residues ....................................................................................21

Jane M.F. Johnson

Competition-induced Growth Increases in Poplar ...................................................................22

Jon D. Johnson and Jeff C. Kallestad

Evaluating Willow and Hybrid Poplar Clones for Biomass Volumes .....................................23

Allan Jurgens

Assessing Hybrid Poplar Biomass Feedstock Quality Using Near Infrared 

Spectroscopy and Multivariate Data Analysis ..........................................................................24

Jeff C. Kallestad and Jon D. Johnson

Rye in a Cellulosic Corn System................................................................................................25

Michael Kantar and Paul Porter

Conservation Management Strategies in Ethanol Crop Production: 

A Brazil-U.S. Comparison ...........................................................................................................26

Hazen Kazaks

Effects of a Winter Rye Double Crop after Corn Silage on Biomass Production, 

Water Quality, and Soil Nutrient Status .....................................................................................27

Erik Krueger, Tyson Ochsner, Paul Porter, Donald Reicosky, and John Baker

Important Developments for Short-rotation Intensive Culture of Willow in Different 

Regions of Eastern Canada ........................................................................................................28

Michel Labrecque and Traian Ion Teodorescu

Environmental Services from Agroforest Systems: Sustainable Biofuel Feedstock 

Production in the Gulf South Region of the United States ......................................................29

Hal O. Liechty, Michael Blazier, Philip A. Tappe, and Matthew H. Pelkki

Using a Systems Approach to Improve Bioenergy Sustainability Assessment ....................30

Valerie A. Luzadis, Timothy A. Volk, and Thomas S. Buchholz
Productivity and Energy Content of Native Perennial Grassland Species ............................31

Margaret E. Mangan, Craig C. Sheaffer, Donald L. Wyse, Peter H. Graham, Ulrike W. Tschirner, 

and Sanford Weisberg

Purpose-grown Trees as a Sustainable Renewable Energy Source ......................................32

James Mann

R&D and Adoption Issues for Four Short-rotation Afforestation/Agroforestry 

Technologies: Results of Focus Groups Conducted in Quebec and the 

Canadian Prairies ........................................................................................................................33

Sylvain Masse and Pierre P. Marchand

A Minnesota-based Populus Breeding and Hybrid Poplar Development Program ................34

Bernard G. McMahon, William E. Berguson, Daniel J. Buchman, Thomas E. Levar, Craig C. Maly, 

and Timothy C. O’Brien

Ecological Services Payments Enhance the Economies of Sustainably-grown 

Feedstocks ...................................................................................................................................35

Linda Meschke

Growth and Yield of Poplar and Willow Hybrids in the Central Upper Peninsula of 

Michigan .......................................................................................................................................36

Raymond O. Miller and Bradford A. Bender

Response of Three Salix Varieties to Irrigation with Different Concentrations of 

Solvay Storm Water .....................................................................................................................37

Jaconette Mirck and Timothy A. Volk

Biomass Production from Native Warm-season Grass Monocultures and 

Polycultures Managed for Bioenergy ........................................................................................38

Rob Mitchell and Kenneth Vogel

Herbaceous Biomass: State of the Art ......................................................................................39

Kenneth J. Moore

Use of Selected Hybrid Poplars in Short-rotation Woody Crops Production: 

The European Experience from the Field to the Final Transformer .......................................40

Fabrizio Nardin and Franco Alasia

Prolonged Planting Season in Willow Short-rotation Forestry: Effects on Initial 

Plant Growth and Plant Survival ................................................................................................41

Nils-Erik Nordh, Pär Aronsson, and Theo Verwijst

Strategic Assessment of Biofuels Potential for the Western U.S. ..........................................42

Marcia Patton-Mallory, Richard Nelson, Ken Skog, Bryan Jenkins, Nathan Parker, Peter Tittmann, 

Quinn Hart, Ed Gray, Anneliese Schmidt, and Gayle Gordon

Impact of Growth Environment Variability on Alfalfa Yield, Cellulosic Ethanol Traits, 

and Paper Pulp Characteristics .................................................................................................43

Katie B. Petersen, Ryan T. Thelemann, Hans-Joachim G. Jung, Ulrike W. Tschirner, Craig C. Sheaffer, 

and Gregg A. Johnson

Characterization of Arsenic Uptake under Phosphorus Suffi cient and Defi cient 

Conditions in Shrub Willow (Salix spp.) Clones of Differing As Sensitivities .......................44

Emily E. Pulley and Lawrence B. Smart
Impacts of Paper Sludge, Manure, and Fertilizer Application on Soil Properties and 

Biomass Production in a Short Rotation Willow Cropping System in Central New York.....45

Amos K. Quaye, Timothy A. Volk, Sasha D. Hafner, Don J. Leopold, and Charles D. Schirmer

High Throughput Analysis Methods for Short-rotation Crops ................................................46

Timothy G. Rials and Nicole Labbé

Sugar/Energy Canes as Feedstocks for the Biofuels Industry ...............................................47

Ed Richard, Jr., Thomas Tew, Robert Cobill, and Anna Hale

Production of Biomass for Energy from Sustainable Forestry Systems: 

Canada and Europe .....................................................................................................................48

Jim Richardson

Pacifi c Northwest Poplars: A Resilient Arthropod Community and the Distribution 

of Insect-caused Mortality in Cuttings ......................................................................................49

R. Andrew Rodstrom, John J. Brown, and John R. Rodstrom

Impacts of Biofuel Production on Grassland Birds in Wisconsin ..........................................50

David W. Sample and Christine A. Ribic

Challenges Associated with Short-rotation Biofuel Plantation Establishment in 

the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley ........................................................................................51

Jamie L. Schuler, Matthew H. Pelkki, and H. Christoph Stuhlinger

A National Assessment of Current and Future State of Technology for Woody 

Crops in Meeting Mandated Biofuel Requirements .................................................................52

Anna M. Shamey, Robert D. Perlack, and Lynn L. Wright

Wood-to-Wheels: A Multidisciplinary Research Initiative in Sustainable 

Transportation Utilizing Fuels and Co-products from Forest Resources ..............................53

David R. Shonnard, Jeffrey D. Naber, Qiong Zhang, Ann L. Maclean, Kathleen E. Halvorsen, 

and John W. Sutherland

Genetics of Yield and Biomass Composition of Shrub Willow Bioenergy Crops 

Bred and Selected in North America .........................................................................................54

Lawrence B. Smart, Michelle J. Serapiglia, Kimberly D. Cameron, Arthur J. Stipanovic, 

Timothy A. Volk, and Lawrence P. Abrahamson

Socially Responsible Expansion of Brazilian Ethanol .............................................................55

Gerd Sparovek, Rodrigo Maule, and Göran Berndes

Genetic Improvement of Hybrid Poplar for the Renewable Fuels Industry: 

A Pacifi c Northwest Perspective ................................................................................................56

Brian J. Stanton, Jon D. Johnson, and David B. Neale

Irrigation Effects in a Cottonwood Plantation in the Lower Mississippi River 

Alluvial Valley...............................................................................................................................57

H. Christoph Stuhlinger, Paul F. Doruska, and Matthew H. Pelkki

Ecological Aspects of Cellulosic Biomass Supply from Whole-tree Chipping 

and Slash Removal......................................................................................................................58

Philip A. Tappe, Matthew H. Pelkki, Robert L. Ficklin, and Hal O. Liechty

Canopy Structure, Light Interception, and Light-use Effi ciency in Willow ............................59

Pradeep J. Tharakan, Timothy A. Volk, Chris A. Nowak, and Godfrey J. Ofezu
Building a Cellulosic Biofuels Industry from the Ground Up: 

Tennessee Biofuels Initiative .....................................................................................................60

Kelly Tiller

Poplar and Willow Short Rotation Intensive Culture (SRIC) Crops in Western Canada .......61

Cees (“Case”) van Oosten

Wood Bioenergy Systems in Canada ........................................................................................62

Ken C.J. Van Rees

Regional Site-selection Models for Hybrid Poplars .................................................................63

Robert C. Venette, Michael E. Ostry, and Kathleen M. Ward

Development of Switchgrass into a Biomass Energy Crop ....................................................64

Kenneth Vogel, Rob Mitchell, and Gautam Sarath

Illinois Studies of Miscanthus × giganteus for Biomass Feedstock Production ..................65

Tom Voigt

Commercializing Willow Biomass Crops for Bioenergy and Bioproducts in the 

Northeastern and Midwestern United States ............................................................................66

Timothy A. Volk, Lawrence P. Abrahamson, Thomas E. Amidon, Daniel J. Aneshansley, Kimberly D. 

Cameron, Gregg A. =Johnson, John Posselius, Dennis Rak, Lawrence B. Smart, Eric Spomer, and 

Edwin H. White

Evaluating Effl uent and Canal Water Irrigation for Wood Biomass Production and 

Phytotechnology .........................................................................................................................67

N. Larry White

A Comparative Cost Analysis of Logistics for Herbaceous Energy Crops and 

Short-rotation Woody Crops ......................................................................................................68

Erin G. Wilkerson, Robert D. Perlack, and Anthony F. Turhollow

Multiple Criteria Deciding on Phytoremediation of a Heavy Metal Contaminated 

Agricultural Area Case: The Campine, Belgium .......................................................................69

Nele Witters, Ann Ruttens, and Theo Thewys

Populus Root System Morphology During Phytoremediation of Landfi ll Leachate .............70

Jill A. Zalesny, Ronald S. Zalesny, Jr., David R. Coyle, Richard B. Hall, and Edmund O. Bauer

Potential Chloride and Sodium Uptake for 2- to 11-Year-Old Populus Irrigated with 

Landfi ll Leachate in the North Central United States ...............................................................71

Jill A. Zalesny and Ronald S. Zalesny, Jr.

Biomass Potential of Populus in the Midwestern United States ............................................72

Ronald S. Zalesny, Jr., Richard B. Hall, Jill A. Zalesny, William E. Berguson, Bernard G. McMahon, 

and Glen R. Stanosz

Variation in Lateral and Basal Adventitious Rooting of Populus Irrigated with 

Landfi ll Leachate: Selection of Favorable Genotypes for Environmental Benefi ts ..............73

Ronald S. Zalesny Jr. and Jill A. Zalesny

Evaluation of the Potential of Hybrid Willow as a Sustainable Biomass Energy 

Alternative Crop in Northern and West-Central Minnesota .....................................................74

Diomides Zamora, Dean Current, and Mike Demchik

Author Index ................................................................................................................................75
vii

PREFACE AND EDITORS’ NOTE

Ronald S. Zalesny, Jr., Rob Mitchell, and Jim Richardson

We are pleased to present the proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference: 

Biofuels, Bioenergy, and Bioproducts from Sustainable Agricultural and Forest Crops held in 

Bloomington, MN, in August 2008. For quite some time, there has been a substantial need for an 

international conference integrating biological and social aspects of producing both herbaceous 

and woody crops for biofuels, bioenergy, and bioproducts. Increasing energy prices worldwide 

have made alternative sources economically feasible in recent times. Our conference goal was to 

create an international forum to strengthen old collaborations and create new partnerships to 

attack some of the pressing issues facing the world’s demand for energy. Th is collection of abstracts 

represents many of the extensive eff orts under way to help understand these issues. We hope these 

proceedings may help to spark further conversations among scientists, academicians, regulators, 

and the general public. We encourage you to contact the authors to cultivate such discussions. 

We were thankful to work with a productive team of conference organizers (page viii) representing 

the private and public sectors from a broad range of scientifi c disciplines. Sponsorship of the 

conference was phenomenal (page ix). Th e collective eff orts of organizers and sponsors helped 

create a diverse and balanced program. We are also grateful to Neil Nelson, Tom Schmidt, and Jill 

Zalesny for reviewing earlier versions of this document, as well as Susan Wright, Rhonda Cobourn 

and the rest of the production services team who produced these proceedings with a seemingly 

impossible timeframe. Lastly, we thank the authors for their diligent eff orts in preparing abstracts, 

presentations, and posters, as well as the conference participants for contributing to the networking 

potential and knowledge base of the overall experience.
viii

CONFERENCE ORGANIZERS

Steering Committee: 

Bryce Stokes, Co-Chair; Marilyn Buford, Co-Chair; Michael Abbey, Andrew Arends, Tom Baumann, 

Bill Berguson, Michael Casler, Craig Cox, Dean Current, Rick Dahlman, Michael Demchik, 

Fred Deneke, Mark Downing, Jake Eaton, Alan Ek, Robert Escheman, Robert Fireovid, William Goldner, 

Andrew Gordon, Rick Hall, John Heissenbuttel, Dick Hemmingsen, Richard Hess, Keith Jacobson, 

Gregg Johnson, RaeLynn Jones-Loss, Hans Jung, Andrew Mason, Rob Mitchell, Jennifer Nguyen, 

Nathan Ramsey, Tim Rials, Jim Richardson, Michele Schoeneberger, Steve Shafer, Timothy Volk, 

Steve Yaddof, Mike Young, Jill Zalesny, Ronald Zalesny, Jr.

Registration:

RaeLynn Jones-Loss, Chair; Dean Current, Alan Ek, Jennifer Nguyen

Website:

RaeLynn Jones-Loss, Chair; Dean Current, Alan Ek, Sarah Finley, Jennifer Nguyen

Technical Program & Proceedings:

Rob Mitchell, Co-Chair; Ronald Zalesny, Jr., Co-Chair; Jim Richardson

Field Tours:

Bill Berguson, Co-Chair; Rick Hall, Co-Chair; Gregg Johnson, Hans Jung, Mike Young

Posters:

Jill Zalesny
ix

SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 1

DEVELOPMENT OF A WILLOW BIOMASS CROP HARVESTER 

BASED ON A NEW HOLLAND FORAGE HARVESTER AND 

SPECIALLY DESIGNED WILLOW CUTTING HEAD

Lawrence P. Abrahamsona,*, Timothy A. Volka, Ed Priepkeb, John Posseliusb, 

Daniel J. Aneshansleyc, and Lawrence B. Smarta

a

College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York

b

Case New Holland

c

Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University

Willow shrubs have several characteristics that make them an ideal feedstock for biofuels, 

bioproducts, and bioenergy. Th ey have been tested across the northeast and midwest United States 

and in Canada from Prince Edward Island to Alberta. Th e largest single cost factor for willow 

biomass crops is harvesting and transportation, which can account for up to 60 percent of the 

delivered cost of the biomass. Th e development of a cost-eff ective harvesting system that produces 

consistent sized chips has been a barrier to the deployment of willow biomass crops. SUNY’s College 

of Environmental Science and Forestry has been working with Case New Holland and Cornell 

University for several years to develop an eff ective harvester system based on an FX-series New 

Holland forage harvester. A specially designed hydraulic driven willow cutting head manufactured 

by Coppice Resources Ltd. (CRL) in the United Kingdom has been fi tted to the forage harvester 

for harvesting willow biomass crops. Th e FX45 forage harvester and modifi ed cutting head were 

used during summer and winter of 2006. Th is combination was able to harvest 1.9-2.5 acres/hour 

with 70 percent fi eld effi ciency if stems were <3 inches in diameter and fairly uniform. Case New 

Holland fi tted the CRL willow cutting head to a new FR-series forage harvester during fall of 

2007 and after running trials they found that this series of forage harvester will be a more eff ective 

harvesting system than the previous FX forage harvesters. In limited trials (2007) with the FR 

forage harvester, harvesting rates of 3.6 acres/hour were reached. A forage blower was used to 

automatically unload a fi eld forage wagon of willow chips into a chip trailer for road transport. 

Since fall of 2006 this method of transferring and transporting harvested chips has worked very 

successfully. Th e development of this willow harvesting system is helping to overcome barriers to the 

commercialization of willow biomass crops.

KEY WORDS: SRWC, biomass crops, willow cutting head, forage harvester

*Corresponding author: State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 224 

Illick Hall, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210; Phone: (315) 470-6777; Email: labrahamson@esf.edu
2 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

25×’25: AMERICA’S ENERGY FUTURE

R. Bruce Arnold

Member: National Steering Committee of 25×’25

“25×’25: America’s Energy Future” is a coalition of some 700 partners with diverse interests. Groups 

such as corporations; environmental organizations; farm and forest groups; religious organizations; 

and government, academic and Native American groups are among the partners in this organization. 

Twenty-nine U.S. governors have given their support, and 13 state legislatures have passed 25×’25 

resolutions. Th e mission of 25×’25 is: “By 2025, America’s farms, forests, and ranches will provide 

25 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States while continuing to produce safe, 

abundant, and aff ordable food, feed, and fi ber.” Th is paper will discuss the partner-approved 25×’25 

action plan to move the nation forward to attainment of the stated mission.

KEY WORDS: biomass, energy, action plan

*Contact information: 244 Wencin Terrace, West Chester, PA 19382-1990; Phone: (610) 431-6326; 

Email: brucearnld@aol.com
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 3

PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER—PLANNING GUIDELINES 

AND DESIGN TOOLS FOR CREATING MULTI-PURPOSE 

LANDSCAPES TO SUPPORT ENERGY OBJECTIVES

Gary Bentrupa,*, Gary Wellsb, Michele Schoenebergera, and Michael Dosskeyb

a

USDA National Agroforestry Center, Forest Service, Southern Research Station

b

USDA National Agroforestry Center, Natural Resources Conservation Service

Sustainable bioenergy production requires we plan, design, and manage lands across multiple scales 

and land uses, balancing energy production with the other services we want from these lands. Th is is a 

challenge on private lands, where action is controlled predominantly at the landowner level. “Pulling 

it all together” implies creating policies, programs, planning concepts, and design tools that take into 

account these many services so they can be implemented in concert rather than in confl ict with each 

other. Planning guidelines are needed that better match land-use management to land capability, 

building in greater resiliency and fl exibility on the land to future economic and climate vagaries. 

Tools also must be available for communicating and building support for multi-purpose landscapes. 

A conceptualized watershed supporting a diversifi ed bioenergy platform, as well as production of 

food, feed, livestock, and environmental and social services, is presented. Productive conservation 

systems, especially agroforestry, are an integral part of this watershed. Actual planning and design of 

such a watershed requires a multi-scale planning framework and tools, such as those we have been 

developing at National Agroforestry Center. Th e Conservation Buff ers Guidelines book, synthesized 

from 1,400+ research publications, provides illustrated rules-of-thumb for planning and designing 

buff ers to address multiple objectives, including feedstock production and added conservation to 

mitigate bioenergy production impacts. A number of GIS-based suitability assessments (e.g. buff er 

performance and water quality, agroforestry products, riparian connectivity, and farming suitability) 

can be overlaid to provide guidance for optimally locating systems to meet multiple purposes. Other 

tools include a buff er-width tool for water quality and a cost-benefi t analysis tool for then designing 

the individual practices in a system. CanVis provides photo-realistic scenarios that enable landowners 

to “test-drive” alternatives on the lands. By “Pulling it all together,” landowners, natural resource 

professionals, communities and industry can build a sustainable, multi-purpose bioenergy future.

KEY WORDS: agroforestry, bioenergy, riparian forest buff ers, planning, design

*Corresponding author: USDA FS/NRCS National Agroforestry Center, East Campus-University of NebraskaLincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0822; Phone: (402) 437-5178, ext. 4018; Email: gbentrup@fs.fed.us
4 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

WOODY BIOMASS CROPS IN THE MIDWESTERN UNITED 

STATES: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

William E. Berguson

Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota – Duluth

Hybrid poplar research has a long history in the Midwest beginning with the pioneering work of 

Dave Dawson at the U.S. Forestry Sciences Laboratory in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, in the 1970s. 

Since that time, research has been under way by a number of organizations throughout the region, 

including the US Forest Service, Iowa State, and the University of Minnesota. Th is foundation 

of existing research in the region eventually led to the commercial application of hybrid poplar 

plantations to supply fi ber to a paper mill in central Minnesota. A plantation program was started 

in 1995 by Champion International and is being managed by Verso Paper, the current owner of the 

mill at Sartell, Minnesota. Th is project consists of more than 23,000 acres at this time. Research 

in poplar culture and genetic improvement accelerated in Minnesota with the formation of the 

Minnesota Hybrid Poplar Research Cooperative in 1996, which has carried out an aggressive program 

of breeding and fi eld testing on Verso Paper property as well as other sites throughout Minnesota. 

Results of yield tests in commercially managed stands indicate that yields of current poplar clones can 

be expected to range from a minimum of 3.5 tons ac-1

 yr

-1 to 5.5 tons ac-1

 yr

-1. Large-scale genetics 

fi eld tests show promise for improvement of yield in the future with superior clones oftentimes 

exhibiting yields of 1.5 to 2.0 times that of current commercial hybrids. Th e history of poplar 

research and commercial application will be presented along with a discussion of current activities and 

needs for the future.

KEY WORDS: hybrid poplar, tree improvement, productivity, breeding

*Contact information: 5013 Miller Trunk Highway, Duluth, MN 55811; Phone: (218) 720-4296; 

Email: bberguso@nrri.umn.edu

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 5

WATER PERSPECTIVES ON LARGE SCALE BIOENERGY

Göran Berndes

Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

Long-term climate change is a growing challenge that will change the availability of land and water 

resources and also the pattern of biomass production. Furthermore, the adaptation and mitigation 

response strategies implemented by society can strongly infl uence land and water use: a growing 

global demand for both food and bioenergy is increasing the pressure on land and water resources, 

with implications for their ability to provide ecosystem support functions. Th e recent period of 

increasing food prices and land use changes in various parts of the world can be explained partly by 

the increasing bioenergy demand but also by rapid economic growth and changing food consumption 

patterns.

Th e presentation will review global and regional trends as well as longer-term scenarios for food and 

bioenergy, primarily based on a water perspective. Implications for water availability and use will be 

discussed with some global/regional conclusions. Stressing that the envisaged bioenergy development 

also implies opportunities, the presentation will further discuss the possibility of integrating the 

cultivation of new types of bioenergy crops within expanded agricultural systems in a modifi ed 

water resource context. In the presenter’s view, this is an area that has received too little attention 

in the present bioenergy debate. Th e use of bioenergy for mitigating climate change has been 

widely discussed but the role of bioenergy in agricultural strategies to adapt to climate change is less 

explored.

KEY WORDS: water demand, water resources, bioenergy, competition, synergies

*Contact information: Department of Energy and the Environment, Division of Physical Resource Th eory, 

Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden; Phone: +46 31 772 3148; Email: goran.berndes@chalmers.se

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
6 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

AGROFOREST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS CAN PRODUCE 

BIOFUEL FEEDSTOCKS AND IMPROVE KEY ENVIRONMENTAL 

SERVICES ON RETIRED AGRICULTURAL LANDS IN THE 

WESTERN GULF REGION

Michael A. Blaziera,*, Hal O. Liechtyb, Matthew H. Pelkkib, Philip A. Tappeb, 

and Charles P. Westc

a

Louisiana State University AgCenter

b

School of Forest Resources, University of Arkansas-Monticello

c

Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville

To meet federal and state biofuel mandates in the United States, production of crops used as biofuel 

feedstocks must dramatically increase. Increasing biofuel production capacity will necessitate 

bolstering biofuel production from corn and soybean in the Midwest with crops grown in other 

regions of the country and with crops other than those conventionally used as biofuel feedstocks. 

However, dramatic expansion of lands used for agriculture could degrade environmental quality. 

Clearing forests reduces carbon sequestration and alters wildlife habitat. Increased fertilizer use 

associated with agriculture can lead to nutrient pollution of waterways. Agroforest management 

systems in which crops are harvested annually as biofuel feedstocks are grown in alleys between trees 

and can be used to enhance wildlife habitat and carbon sequestration of forests while producing 

biofuels. Th ese systems have relatively low water and fertilizer requirements due to effi cient allocation 

of growing space and site resources. Agroforest systems diversify farm markets and reduce economic 

risks of entering the biofuel market. Agroforest systems also provide key ecosystem services, such 

as increased carbon sequestration, reduced nitrogen pollution of waterways, and increased wildlife 

diversity. Fertilizer use could be further minimized by using such systems to produce switchgrass, 

a nutrient-effi cient perennial grass with high biomass growth potential, as a biofuel feedstock. Th e 

Western Gulf region of the United States has abundant land that has been retired from agricultural 

and pastoral production due to changing economic or social trends. Producing biofuels on such lands 

with agroforest systems can enhance environmental services currently provided by such lands while 

increasing regional biofuel production. Th e information presented will discuss: (1) designs of these 

ecosystems, with concerns related to establishment, production, and harvesting; (2) likely impacts on 

soil and water quality and carbon sequestration; and (3) the potential infl uence of these systems on 

biodiversity in the Western Gulf region.

KEY WORDS: agroforestry, switchgrass, cottonwood, pine, biodiversity, nutrient cycling

*Corresponding author: Louisiana State University AgCenter Hill Farm Research Station, 11959 Highway 9, 

Homer, LA 71040; Phone: (318) 927-2578; Fax: (318) 927-9505; Cell: (318) 927-7671; 

Email: MBlazier@agcenter.lsu.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 7

BIOFUELS ARE PEST FOOD, TOO!

John J. Brown*, R. Andrew Rodstrom, Eugene R. Hannon, Neal T. Kittelson, 

and Douglas B. Walsh

Washington State University

Biofuel crops are monocultures that insects and diseases will use as an energy resource and they will 

compete with our intended use of these crops. Repeated land use for one cropping system without 

rotating crops will increase the potential for losses due to pest activities, and pest management will 

reduce profi ts. Site preparation to minimize pest populations will be rewarded. Irrigated cropping 

systems will facilitate delivery of pest control chemicals. What are the most serious pest problems 

in biofuel production? How can these pests be controlled? What is the cost/benefi t ratio of control 

measures and what are the factors that defi ne an economic threshold for initiation of control eff orts? 

Many riparian species of insects attack both willow (Salix) and poplar (Populus) hosts. We have 

successfully used a synthetic sex pheromone to control a clearwing moth (Sessidae: Paranthrene 

robiniae) that can cause major damage to irrigated hybrid poplar grown in eastern Oregon and 

eastern Washington. Our eff orts toward reducing populations of a carpenterworm moth (Cossidae: 

Prionoxystus robiniae) below an economic threshold show promise. Our most diffi cult pest problem 

in hybrid poplars is the poplar/willow borer (Curculionidae: Cryptorhynchus lapathi), which, true to 

its common name, attacks Salix, too. Repeated use of imidacloprid delivered through the dip system 

controls aphids (Chaitophorus: Chaitophorus populicola) and cottonwood leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae: 

Chrysomela scripta), and seems to be reducing the poplar/willow borer, too. Likewise, insect pests 

of corn, sugarcane, and rice are known to feed on Miscanthus spp., and nematode and diseases of 

Panicum virgatum can severely reduce biomass production. Introduction of Miscanthus × giganteus has 

potential as a biofuel, but it could serve as an alternate host to corn (Ostrinia nubilalis and Diatraea 

grandiosella) and sugarcane pests (Diatraea saccharalis). With the potential of pest movement between 

crops a “Good Neighbor” pest control strategy may be required.

KEY WORDS: poplar, borers, pest control, sex pheromone, imidacloprid

*Corresponding author: Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6382; 

Email: brownjj@wsu.edu; Phone: (509) 335-8089
8 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

ECONOMICS OF WILLOW BIOMASS PRODUCTION AND POLICY 

TO ENHANCE MARKET PENETRATION

Thomas S. Buchholza, Timothy A. Volka, Michael J. Kelleherb,*, 

and Lawrence P. Abrahamsona

a

College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry, State University of New York (SUNY),

b

SUNY Center for Sustainable and Renewable Energy

Woody biomass has signifi cant potential as a sustainable energy source to provide society with fuel, 

thermal energy, and electrical power. Short-rotation coppice (SRC) willow crops are a promising 

source of biomass for the production of sustainable energy and bioproducts. However, current 

markets for biomass are thinly traded, the economics of willow plantations is little understood, and 

there are potential market barriers to the adoption of willow as a biomass energy crop. We analyze 

how fi nancial incentives infl uence profi tability of SRC willow plantations in upstate New York 

and identify barriers to further expansion. We introduce SRC willow plantation economics under 

diff erent parameters that can impact market penetration, such as biomass productivity, land rent, 

biomass price, fuel costs, and labor costs. We then examine the impact of various incentives on 

profi tability of SRC willow plantations. Financial incentives used include low-cost loans, annual 

subsidy payments, and establishment grants. We also examine the infl uence of nonfi nancial factors, 

such as imperfect information, status quo bias, and land-ownership patterns, on the adoption of 

willow as a biomass energy crop.

Recent studies suggest that a 20-acre SRC willow plantation is economically viable only with a 

biomass productivity above 3 oven-dried-tons (odt)/acre/year and a biomass price of above $50/odt. 

Dependence on start-up loans can obliterate a plantation’s profi tability.

We introduce various incentive scenarios using a mix of the three fi nancial tools. Establishment grants 

are one of the most promising fi nancial tools; a grant for 50 percent of establishment costs, or $549/

acre, would nearly double the internal rate of return in the case study. Results indicate that incentives 

focusing on the early stages of plantation establishment are the most promising ones. We also develop 

policy recommendations to address the nonfi nancial market—structural and ownership parameters 

that may impact SRC willow acreage expansion.

KEY WORDS: short-rotation coppice, willow crops, economic analysis, policy, incentive, market 

barriers

*Corresponding author: State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 

Department of Forest and Natural Resource Management, 220 Bray Hall, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 

13210; Phone: (315) 470-4934; Email: mkellehe@esf.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 9

COPPICE CULTURE FOR BIOMASS PRODUCTION IN 

SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

Mark Coleman* and Douglas Aubrey

U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Savannah River

Coppice culture of hardwood trees is common in cool climates using willow, and in tropical regions 

using eucalyptus. However, coppice culture is rare in the southeastern United States, despite Klaus 

Steinbeck’s successful applications using American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) three decades ago. 

Sycamore, poplar, willow, and eucalyptus are candidate species for coppice culture in the southeastern 

United States. Southern latitude willow varieties are undomesticated, yet widespread distribution 

of the native Salix nigra indicates development potential. Sycamore’s rapid early growth is a great 

advantage during coppicing. However, sycamore has been discounted as a biomass producing 

crop because dieback inevitably occurs during years 3 to 6. Coppicing sycamore may avoid disease 

establishment. Similarly, eucalyptus is easily killed aboveground by winter frosts in temperate 

climates, but roots are rarely damaged. Annual removal of frost-damaged eucalyptus tops would allow 

regrowth from protected rootstock. To collect information on biomass production and regrowth 

capacity for southeastern coppice culture, high-density test plots were installed at the Savannah River 

Site, near Aiken, SC. Plots were designed to include two hybrid poplar clones (OP-367, 15-29, 

Eucalyptus grandis, E. amplifolia), sycamore seedlings, and locally collected Salix nigra. Trees were 

planted at 14,815 trees ha-1 arranged in dual-row plantings developed for willow coppice culture. 

During the establishment year, sycamore and poplar clone OP-367 were top producers (3.4 ± 1.1 and 

2.1 ± 0.9 Mg ha-1, respectively). Stock quality negatively impacted willow and poplar clone 15-29 

productivity (0.5 ± 0.2 and 0.8 ± 0.3 Mg ha-1, respectively). We could not plant eucalyptus because 

of non-native planting restrictions at the Savannah River Site. However, frost damage and regrowth 

information collected for unmulched, styroblock-held seedlings indicates that survival and regrowth 

potential was greatest for E. amplifolia. Few E. grandis survived the 469 freezing hours that occurred, 

while most of the E. amplifolia survived with vigorous regrowth, thus demonstrating potential for 

coppice as a frost-avoidance biomass culture method.

KEY WORDS: sycamore, eucalyptus, willow, hybrid poplar, short-rotation woody crop, frost damage

*Corresponding author: Savannah River Forestry Sciences Lab, 241 Gateway Dr., Aiken, SC 29803; 

Phone: (803) 652-3632; Email: coleman.m@earthlink.net 
10 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

SWEDISH EXPERIENCES WITH APPLICATIONS OF MUNICIPAL 

AND INDUSTRIAL RESIDUES ON LARGE-SCALE 

SHORT-ROTATION COPPICE PLANTATIONS

Ioannis Dimitriou* and Pär Aronsson

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Short-rotation coppice (SRC) with willow (Salix sp.) is a commercial crop in Sweden grown on 

approximately 15,000 hectares of agricultural land to produce biomass for energy. Th e produced 

biomass is almost entirely used in district heating plants for combined heat and power generation. In 

recent years, nutrient-rich residues, mainly municipal and industrial wastewaters as landfi ll leachate 

and log-yard runoff , as well as solid material as sewage sludge and wood-ash, have been successfully 

applied to willow SRC to reduce fertilisation costs and simultaneously increase biomass production 

and/or facilitate alternative low-cost treatments. Pollutant and nutrient contents in residues and 

soils are reduced through plant uptake and microbial degradation, and at the same time biomass 

production is enhanced. Th e information provided will describe operating systems in Sweden where 

large-scale willow SRC plantations treat diff erent residues (municipal wastewater, landfi ll leachate, 

log-yard runoff , sewage sludge, wood-ash) and simultaneously produce biomass. Th is presentation 

also will give results from research eff orts to estimate parameters of special environmental concern 

(e.g., nutrient leaching, plant stress tolerance, heavy metal fl uxes) related to such applications, in an 

eff ort to evaluate the risk of environmental hazards from such practices.

KEY WORDS: willow, Salix, Sweden, phytoremediation, vegetation fi lters, municipal wastewater, 

landfi ll leachate, log-yard runoff , sewage sludge, wood-ash

*Corresponding author: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Crop Production Ecology, 

Box 7043, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden. Phone: +46 18 672553; Email: ioannis.dimitriou@vpe.slu.se
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 11

HYBRID ASPEN GROWTH RESPONSE TO SHEARING IN 

MINNESOTA: IMPLICATIONS FOR BIOMASS PRODUCTION AND 

CARBON SEQUESTRATION

Grant M. Domke*, Anthony W. D’Amato, Andrew J. David, and Alan R. Ek

Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota,

Recent interest in the use of woody biomass for energy has created an opportunity for the 

development of silvicultural systems that can produce high levels of biomass over shorter rotations 

than traditional approaches to plantation management. One area within this arena where there 

is a great deal of potential is the management of short-rotation hybrid aspen. In particular, early 

successional hardwood tree species, such as those in the Populus genus, typically exhibit rapid 

initial height and diameter growth, making these species ideally suited for short-rotation forestry 

applications aimed at maximizing biomass production over short time scales. In many cases, greater 

levels of early growth have been achieved through the use of aspen hybrids (Populus tremuloides

Michx. × P. tremula L.), which are crosses between quaking aspen (P. tremuloides) and European 

aspen (P. tremula). In addition to the rapid growth of these hybrids, the prolifi c root sprouting ability 

of this species presents potential management options for the production of woody biomass using 

coppice methods after initial plantation establishment. Moreover, the use of existing aspen root 

stocks as sources of regeneration for subsequent rotations provides a silviculturally straightforward 

and cost-eff ective means for sustaining these systems over multiple short rotations. Finally, the 

expansion of aspen root systems with each subsequent rotation provides a long-term opportunity for 

increasing belowground carbon storage on these sites. Here we present the results of a 15-year study 

investigating the growth response of hybrid aspen clones to shearing on upland sites in northern 

Minnesota. We describe specifi c clonal responses in terms of sucker density and early diameter 

and height growth. In addition, we use these fi ndings to evaluate potential silvicultural options for 

managing these systems and their implications for carbon storage and biomass production for energy.

KEY WORDS: hybrid aspen, Populus, carbon sequestration, biomass production, growth and yield 

*Corresponding author: University of Minnesota, Department of Forest Resources, 1530 Cleveland Ave. N., 

St. Paul, MN 55108; Phone: (612) 624-2202; Email: gmdomke@umn.edu
12 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

AGROFORESTRY AND CELLULOSIC ETHANOL FROM 

SUSTAINABLE POPLAR TREE FARMS

Jake Eaton

GreenWood Resources, Inc.

GreenWood Resources (GWR) manages 14,000 hectares of poplar farms in the Pacifi c Northwest 

region of the United States and is developing nurseries and short-rotation high-yield poplar 

plantations in Chile and China. Th e U.S. farms are managed on 12- to 15-year rotations for multiple 

products, including sawlogs, chips, and residuals for bioenergy. GWR intends to certify all the tree 

farms to the Forest Stewardship Council standard. In addition to the sawlog production business, 

GreenWood Resources is fully committed to the goal of developing renewable sources of energy. To 

this end, GreenWood is refi ning agronomic technologies that will optimize the production systems 

for poplar energy farms. Poplar feedstock will be used for cogeneration and pellet production, and it 

will become a feedstock of choice for cellulosic ethanol. Over the next 3 to 5 years it is GWR’s goal to 

lead the development of sustainable poplar energy plantations in North America, South America, and 

China. GreenWood is well positioned to play a valuable role in bringing all of the essential elements 

together for successful commercialization of poplar tree farms for renewable energy. GWR is a global 

leader in the development of elite poplar germplasm as well as the production systems to optimize 

poplar energy farm operation. GWR has relationships with technology partners who will build 

pilot-scale cellulosic ethanol facilities that use poplar feedstock. Additionally the company has the 

ability to develop sound fi nancial structures to access the capital that is required for large-scale project 

fi nancing. Th e time is right for biomass energy to become a signifi cant part of our future energy 

security. However, unprecedented investment will be required for biomass energy to become a reality. 

Questions related to sustainability and land use also will need to be addressed.

KEY WORDS: poplar, tree improvement, production systems, cellulosic ethanol, sustainability

*Contact information: GreenWood Resources, One World Trade Center, 121 SW Salmon St. Suite 1020, 

Portland, OR 97204; Phone: (971) 533-7056; Email: jake.eaton@gwrglobal.com

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 13

INTENSIVE UTILIZATION OF HARVEST RESIDUES IN 

SOUTHERN PINE PLANTATIONS: QUANTITIES AVAILABLE AND 

IMPLICATIONS FOR NUTRIENT BUDGETS AND SUSTAINABLE 

SITE PRODUCTIVITY

Mark H. Eisenbiesa,*, Eric D. Vanceb, W. Michael Austc, and John R. Seilerc

a

U.S. Forest Service

b

National Council for Air and Stream Improvement Incorporated

c

Virginia Tech Department of Forestry

Th e rising costs and social concerns over the use of fossil fuels have resulted in increased interest in 

and opportunities for biofuels. Biomass in the form of coarse woody residues left on site following 

traditional timber harvest in the southeastern United States constitutes a potentially signifi cant source 

of biomass that could be utilized for bioenergy. Questions remain regarding whether the removal of 

this material would be a sustainable silvicultural practice given the potential impact on soil nutrient 

cycling and other ecosystem functions. Our objective is to use published studies to estimate quantities 

of residual materials that may be available as a source of bioenergy or biomaterials following harvest 

of southern pine forests. Quantities of nutrients potentially removed with the residues and their 

potential replacement with fertilizer are calculated, and a more general assessment of the implications 

of residue removals on sustainable productivity across a range of sites conducted. Generally between 

50 and 80 Mg/ha of material are left on site after typical stem-only harvests, of which half could be 

removed using chippers at the landing. Based on these estimates, increase in mid-rotation fertilization 

rates of 45 to 60 percent may be needed on some sites to fully replace the nutrients removed for 

bioenergy. Field experiments show that residue removals do not degrade forest productivity in many 

cases, but more data are needed to assess the eff ects of frequent removals (i.e., from short-rotation 

systems) over long time periods and to identify sites that may be particularly sensitive to the practice. 

Markets for previously nonmerchantable materials also may provide incentives for improved forest 

management by landowners.

KEY WORDS: fertilization, forest soils, harvesting residues, sustainability

*Corresponding author: U.S. Forest Service, Box 9681, Mississippi State, MS 39759; Phone: (662) 325-8983; 

Email: meisenbies@fs.fed.us
14 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

LIFE-CYCLE ANALYSIS OF SMALL-SCALE ENERGY SYSTEMS 

UTILIZING OILSEEDS GROWN IN THE MIDWEST

Seth Fore*, Paul Porter, and William Lazarus

University of Minnesota

As the concern over price and supply of petroleum continues to increase, there are burgeoning eff orts 

to fi nd alternative sources of renewable fuel. Oilseeds commonly grown in the Midwest can be 

crushed on-farm to create vegetable oil and meal that can be utilized in numerous ways to decrease 

producers’ demand for petroleum and feed products. Vegetable oil can be converted to biodiesel, 

run straight in diesel engines, or used as a heating fuel. Th e meal counterpart can be used a highvalue protein substitute in livestock rations or can be burned in pellet stoves for heat generation. 

As alternative methods for producing renewable fuels emerge, it is important that complete lifecycle accounting measures are implemented to ensure there is a positive net energy balance over the 

petroleum product replaced. Th ere is a need to conduct life-cycle analysis on small scale on-farm 

oilseed crushing systems to substantiate whether there is a positive net energy balance gained through 

utilizing oilseed crops grown on-farm as a replacement for fuel and feed. 

KEY WORDS: small-scale energy production, life-cycle analysis, biodiesel, straight vegetable oil

*Corresponding author: University of Minnesota, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, 1991 Upper 

Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108; Phone: (701) 212-6625; Email: fore0046@umn.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 15

USE OF MARGINAL LAND AND WATER TO MAXIMIZE 

BIOFUEL PRODUCTION

Gayathri Gopalakrishnan, M. Cristina Negri*, Michael Wang, May Wu, and Seth Snyder

Argonne National Laboratory, Energy Systems Division

Th e development of sustainable, renewable energy sources has become an issue of increasing 

importance due to both the recent increase in gasoline prices in the United States and the 

international scientifi c consensus to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change. 

Advanced biofuels are a primary component of the emerging energy portfolio. To strengthen the 

nation’s energy security, mitigate greenhouse gas emission, and revitalize the rural economy, the 

Energy Independence Security Act of 2007 mandated the production of 36 billion gallons of biofuels 

by 2022, of which 21 billion gallons must be advanced biofuels. Th is mandate would result in an 

increase in biomass production of approximately seven times the current amount—from 190 million 

dry tons to 1.36 billion dry tons of biomass. Biomass is a land-based renewable resource and such 

a signifi cant increase is likely to result in large-scale conversion of land, from current uses to energy 

feedstock generation, potentially causing increases in the prices of food, land, and agricultural 

commodities as well as disruption of ecosystems. Further, while a majority of current bioenergy 

crops are not irrigated, their yield is usually dependent on water availability. Th is study evaluates 

sustainable production of bioenergy crops through the use of marginal land and impaired water 

and discusses the potential for growing cellulosic biofuel crops such as poplar and switchgrass in 

optimized systems such that (1) marginal land is brought into productive use; (2) impaired water is 

used to boost yields; (3) clean freshwater is left for other uses that require higher water quality; and 

(4) feedstock diversifi cation is achieved that helps ecological sustainability, biodiversity, and economic 

opportunities for farmers.

KEY WORDS: cellulosic biomass, biofuels, marginal land, poplar, sustainability, water

*Corresponding author: Argonne National Laboratory, Energy Systems Division, Building 362 E-333, 9700 

S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL; Phone: (630) 252-9662; Email: negri@anl.gov
16 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

SUSTAINABLE BIOENERGY PRODUCTION IN 

AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

Andrew M. Gordona,*, Dean Currentb, Michele Schoenebergerc, and Gary Bentrupc

a

Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Canada

b

Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management, University of Minnesota

c

National Agroforestry Center, Southern Research Station, U.S. Forest Service

Th e objective of this conference is to foster greater exchange between the agricultural and forestry 

sectors on the science and application of producing crops for biofuels, bioenergy, and bioproducts. 

However, the real challenge and opportunity lies in how agricultural and forestry eff orts can actually 

be integrated to sustainably meet the future renewable energy targets facing the United States and the 

world. Agroforestry is just that—the combination of agricultural and forestry technologies to create 

integrated, diverse, and productive land use systems. Th e synergy of agroforestry creates enhanced 

performance, effi ciencies, and benefi ts that cannot be achieved individually in the agricultural or 

forestry sector. Used extensively in the tropics and with growing use in temperate areas, agroforestry 

provides many benefi ts to both landowner and society including crop/livestock/building/road 

protection, soil and water resource protection, greenhouse gas mitigation, wildlife habitat, 

recreational opportunities, and alternative income generation, including biofuel production. Serving 

from its earliest times as a source of fuelwood, agroforestry today off ers a variety of options to create 

diverse, multi-purpose plantings that support energy objectives, as well as other services critical for 

sustainability of the lands and people. Th ese options range from providing additional conservation 

services for mitigating adverse impacts from other biofuel production systems to serving as feedstock 

sources. Short-rotation crops, both woody and herbaceous, are ideally suited for agroforestry. Work 

in both North America and Europe focuses on the use of agroforestry as a means to create combined 

energy/food/natural resource systems. Ongoing research at Ontario and Minnesota is exploring 

the use of new species, species combinations, and performance in diff erent landscape positions as 

a means to develop more diverse, innovative systems that can provide income generation through 

the sale of biomass for energy, improved water quality through targeted plantings, and payments for 

environmental services.

KEY WORDS: alley cropping, conservation, riparian forest buff ers, short-rotation crops, windbreaks, 

working trees

*Corresponding author: University of Guelph, Department of Environmental Biology, Guelph, ON, Canada 

N1G 2W1; Phone:(519) 824-4120, ext. 52415; Email: agordon@uguelph.ca
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 17

SHORT-ROTATION FORESTRY IN GERMANY: 

LESSONS FROM THE PAST, PRESENT RESEARCH ACTIVITIES, 

AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Holger Grünewald and Georg von Wühlisch*

Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institute,

Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fishery, Institute of Forest Genetics

Wood has traditionally played a major role in Germany in supplying biomass for energy. Demand for 

this raw material is expected to rise with new policies promoting renewables. Short-rotation forestry 

(SRF) is regarded as a promising option to counteract the limited availability of energy wood from 

traditional forestry. Th is paper summarizes and reviews Germany’s experiences with SRF. Germany 

lies between 47 °N and 55 °N latitude. In areas generally suitable for SRF, precipitation averages 700 

mm but can be as low as 400 mm. Th e mean temperature there is 9 °C (with a range of 7 to 11°C). 

Th us, conditions resemble North America in their variability. Enhancing cooperation between Europe 

and North America is of vital importance for solving common problems. For many sites Populus

clones are preferable, while Salix clones and Robinia pseudoacacia increasingly are being used on other 

sites. Recommendations to match the available clones to available sites need much improvement. 

For example, satisfactory growth performance has been confi rmed for only a few Populus clones (e.g., 

Max, Androscoggin) and under a limited range of conditions. With site-adapted clones, yields of 12 

to 16 t dry matter ha-1

 yr

-1 can be achieved. Testing and breeding still need to be increased to reach 

expected production levels. Plantation management and harvesting techniques need to be further 

developed if SRF is to become an accepted biomass production system. Depending on political 

support and economic returns SRF is expected to cover an area between 0.5 and 4 million ha of 

former agricultural land.

KEY WORDS: short-rotation forestry, tree improvement, woody biomass production, Populus, 

Robinia pseudoacacia, Salix

*Corresponding author: Sieker Landstraße 2, D-22927 Großhansdorf, Germany; Phone: +49 4102 696-106, 

Fax: +49 4102 696-200, Email: georg.wuehlisch@vti.bund.de
18 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

WOODY BIOENERGY SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES

Richard B. Hall

Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University

In the United States, dedicated wood biomass cropland is expected to increase to more than 2 million 

ha with an average production rate of 18 t/ha. Another 334 million dry t/yr can come from forest 

residues and wood wastes. However, most wood bioenergy crop systems in the United States are still 

in the early stages of development, with a wide variety of approaches under test in diff erent regions 

of the country. Th e most advanced work focused primarily on energy is with willows in New York 

grown at stand densities of over 14,300 stems/ha with the fi rst commercial harvest at 4 yrs and a total 

of seven coppice rotations expected. Ten commercial clones are now available and newer clones with 

up to 40 percent improvement in yield are under test. Work on fast-growing poplar selections and 

cultural practices for growing them is also well-advanced in several regions of the country with the 

current emphasis on bioproducts. Th is production infrastructure will facilitate future shifts to include 

biofuels. Th e largest concentration of plantations is in the Pacifi c Northwest with about 17,000 ha. 

Cultural practices vary from irrigated plantations, harvested at ages from 6 to 15 yrs for diff erent 

products, to 11,000 ha planted to primarily one clone (210 clones under test) on 12-yr rotations in 

Minnesota, to agroforestry plantings of hybrid aspens yielding 22 t/ha in Iowa at 10 yrs of age. A 

variety of studies show wood biomass energy production to be the most sustainable, environmentally 

favorable crop that can be grown in many areas, but much research is still needed to answer specifi c 

concerns. Major impediments are the time and cost for establishment, competition with annual crops 

for land, price competition with bioproduct markets, social resistance to monoculture plantations, the 

need for more effi ciency in harvests, and techniques for drying wood for some energy applications.

KEY WORDS: adoption impediments, cultural systems, Populus, Salix, yields

*Contact information: Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, 339 Science II, Iowa State 

University, Ames, IA 50011-3221; Phone: (515) 294-1453; Email: rbhall@iastate.edu

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 19

THE COUNCIL FOR SUSTAINABLE BIOMASS PRODUCTION

John Heissenbuttel

Interim Director, Council for Sustainable Biomass Production

President, Phoenix Strategic Solutions, Inc.

Th e Council for Sustainable Biomass Production (CSBP) was initiated in 2007 to ensure that 

biomass feedstock for cellulosic refi neries in the United States is produced in a sustainable manner, 

balancing economic, environmental, and social imperatives. Th e CSBP is seeking to generate broad 

multi-stakeholder consensus on guidelines for sustainability to set this emerging industry on a 

course of continuous improvement with full support from growers, germplasm providers, social and 

environmental interests, and refi neries. Th e presentation will provide an overview of CSBP activities 

to date and its plan for future development and implementation.

KEY WORDS: sustainable, biomass, cellulosic, multi-stakeholder

*Contact information: Phone: (209) 296-4889; Email: hnrc@volcano.net 
20 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

EFFECT OF LANDSCAPE POSITIONS AND THEIR ASSOCIATED 

SOIL AND TERRAIN ATTRIBUTES ON BIOMASS CROP YIELD 

AND GROWTH RATES

Gregg A. Johnsona,*, Ryan T. Thelemanna, Haowen Caib, Sudipto Banerjeeb, 

Craig C. Sheaffera, Hans-Joachim G. Jungc, Katie B. Petersena, and Ulrike W. Tschirnerd

a

Dept. Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota

b

Biostatistics-Division of SPH, University of Minnesota

c

USDA Agricultural Research Service, St. Paul, Minnesota

d

Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota

To advance the use of biomass crops as a feedstock for a wide range of bioindustrial applications, 

it is essential that we optimize the placement of crops at the fi eld scale in a way that will maximize 

overall productivity and profi tability while addressing critical environmental and ecological issues. 

Th e value gained by selective placement of dedicated biomass crops will come from an understanding 

of how crop growth and productivity are infl uenced by terrain, soil properties, and other attributes. 

Th e ability to predict optimal plant growth across species is critical in developing novel approaches to 

biomass crop management. We will present information from fi eld research exploring 1) diff erences 

in plant growth and development between woody tree species (willow and poplar), a perennial forage 

legume (alfalfa), a warm-season perennial grass (switchgrass), and a warm-season annual grass (maize) 

as a function of landscape position; and 2) the relationship between plant growth and environment 

across seven landscape positions. Results from 2 years of monitoring plant growth and the biomass 

yield show that landscape position does have an eff ect on plant growth and development. In addition, 

our analysis reveals that certain soil and terrain properties aff ect these yield values diff erently 

depending on the crop and/or landscape position. Our use of Bayesian statistical methods in addition 

to traditional approaches allows us not only to recognize the eff ects of landscape position properties 

on biomass crops, but also to predict yield when such landscape position properties are known.

KEY WORDS: landscape position, biomass, Bayesian statistics, willow, poplar, switchgrass

*Corresponding author: University of Minnesota, Southern Research and Outreach Center, 5838 120th Street, 

Waseca, MN 56093; Phone: (507) 837-5617; Email: johns510@umn.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 21

BIOENERGY: AGRICULTURAL CROP RESIDUES

Jane M.F. Johnson

USDA Agricultural Research Service, North Central Soil Conservation Laboratory

Th e increasing cost of fossil fuels, especially natural gas and petroleum, and a desire to curtail 

greenhouse gas emissions are driving the expansion of bioenergy. Plant biomass, including woody, 

grain, and nongrain, are potential energy sources. Prior to the industrial revolution, plant biomass was 

a major fuel source for heating and cooking. Th e energy paradigm is shifting to renewable sources of 

energy, with agronomic and forest products expected to make a signifi cant contribution. Th e United 

States is one of the largest producers and users of fuel ethanol, with corn grain the primary feedstock. 

Critics and proponents alike recognize that alone ethanol from corn grain cannot replace gasoline. 

Considerable fi nancial and research eff orts continue to go into the development of commercially 

viable cellulosic ethanol production. In addition, utilization of thermochemical platforms (e.g., 

gasifi cation) is expanding. Regardless of the energy platform, biomass harvest must be conducted in 

a sustainable manner. Th e potential risks and benefi ts vary among the various feed-stocks. Nongrain 

biomass has other uses, such as animal feed and bedding, protecting the soil from erosive forces, and 

providing the raw material for maintaining and building soil organic matter. Excess harvest of crop 

biomass increases the risk of erosion, loss of soil organic matter, and thereby the risk of declining 

productivity. Th e amount of biomass inputs required to maintain soil organic carbon exceeds the 

amount required to limit wind and water erosion to soil tolerance levels. Soil and water conservation 

benefi ts must be included in any biomass assessment to prevent long-term environmental damage as 

the nation seeks near-term solutions to energy problems. Strategies to minimize potential negative 

impacts of bioenergy while striving to maximize benefi ts will be discussed.

KEY WORDS: crop residue, bioenergy, soil conservation, renewable energy

*Contact information: Agricultural Research Service, North Central Soil Conservation Laboratory, 803 Iowa 

Avenue, Morris, MN 56267; Phone: (320) 589-3411; Email: jane.johnson@ars.usda.gov

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
22 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

COMPETITION-INDUCED GROWTH INCREASES IN POPLAR

Jon D. Johnson* and Jeff C. Kallestad

Washington State University-Puyallup

Th e response of Populus trichocarpa, P. deltoides, and their interspecifi c hybrids to competition was 

studied both in a greenhouse and in the fi eld. Th e competition response was manipulated by growing 

trees at close spacing with open-grown trees serving as the control. Th e competition response is 

mediated by phytochrome and is a result of decreasing red:far-red ratio as the canopy closes and 

leaves overlap. Responsive clones showed consistent increases in height, diameter, shoot weight, and 

specifi c leaf area. Th e number of branches and root weight decreased in these same clones. Th e height 

growth response was a result of increased internode length; the number of nodes remained unchanged 

between treatments. In a fi eld study, a measurable response to competition was evident within one 

week of moving trees from open grown to close spacing. Genetic control of the response was studied 

in a three-generation pedigree population (Family 331): Th e P. trichocarpa mother was responsive 

and the P. deltoides father was not. In the F1

 parents, one hybrid was responsive and the other not. 

In the F2

 population, six clones were selected in a stoolbed based on the presence or absence of 

sylleptic branching. Th ose without sylleptic branching exhibited statistically longer internodes and 

were found to be responsive to competition, and those with sylleptic branching were unresponsive in 

this greenhouse study. If this response could be captured by manipulating fi eld spacing, aboveground 

productivity could be increased by 20 to 30 percent without any additional cultural inputs.

KEY WORDS: increased productivity, competition, physiological response, phytochrome, red:far-red 

ratio 

*Corresponding author: Washington State University-Puyallup, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, 

7612 Pioneer Way East, Puyallup, WA 98371; Email: poplar@wsu.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 23

EVALUATING WILLOW AND HYBRID POPLAR CLONES FOR 

BIOMASS VOLUMES

Allan Jurgens

Saskatchewan Forest Centre

Biomass consumption by various end users in Saskatchewan is on the verge of unprecedented 

growth. Th e emerging co-generation, wood pellet, and ethanol industries are exploring both 

economical and sustainable sources of raw products. Willow and hybrid poplar biomass plantations 

in other jurisdictions have been shown to produce a substantial amount of wood fi ber per acre. In 

Saskatchewan the use of willows has been limited mainly to shelterbelts. During last several years, 

interest has increased in the potential use of short-rotation woody crop (SRWC) biomass from willow 

and hybrid poplar. Th e Nipawin Biomass Ethanol New Generation Cooperative Ltd. currently has a 

project in its fi nal stages that is evaluating a catalyst for use in its woody biomass gasifi cation process. 

Once this catalyst is proven it will substantially increase the demand for using woody biomass to 

produce ethanol. Th e Saskatchewan Forest Centre project will evaluate several hybrid willow and 

hybrid poplar clones at three sites in North Central and North East Saskatchewan. Th e purpose of 

this project is to evaluate the volume of each clone produced over several years. All plants will be 

coppiced after the fi rst year and then a set number will be coppiced every 2 years and every 3 years. 

Th en the volumes will be compared to the other harvesting timelines to determine whether clones 

harvested annually produce less, more, or the same amount as the harvest timeframe that cuts every 2 

years or every 3 years.

KEY WORDS: biomass, willow, hybrid poplar, co-generation, ethanol, biomass volumes, SRWC

*Contact information: Saskatchewan Forest Centre, #101 - 1061 Central Ave., Prince Albert, SK S6V 4V4, 

Canada; Phone: (306) 765-2852; Email: ajurgens@nrcan.gc.ca or ajurgens@saskforestcentre.ca
24 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

ASSESSING HYBRID POPLAR BIOMASS FEEDSTOCK QUALITY 

USING NEAR INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY AND 

MULTIVARIATE DATA ANALYSIS

Jeff C. Kallestad and Jon D. Johnson*

Washington State University-Puyallup

Evaluating wood chemical and physical component traits in large-scale breeding programs, and 

estimating biofeedstock quality for conversion effi ciency using standard wet-chemistry techniques 

is time consuming, cost prohibitive, and impractical. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) together 

with multivariate statistical analysis has been demonstrated by the pulp and paper industry to rapidly 

and inexpensively estimate pulp yield, cellulose and lignin content, and wood density to improve 

manufacturing effi ciency. Research by others has demonstrated that NIRS technology can be used 

to sample live trees nondestructively and spectral analysis of milled increment cores can be used 

to reliably predict whole-tree wood properties. Utilizing two diff erent portable NIRS systems and 

multivariate data analysis software we have developed partial least squares calibration equations for 

cellulose and lignin content in clonal populations of hybrid poplar being developed for cellulosic 

ethanol conversion. To develop more robust and simplifi ed prediction models, we have used targeted 

NIR spectral regions for each chemical component, and are investigating the potential of these 

systems for sampling wood traits in situ versus dried and milled increment cores.

KEY WORDS: NIR spectroscopy, predictive model, biofeedstock, cellulosic ethanol

*Corresponding author: Washington State University-Puyallup, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, 

7612 Pioneer Way East, Puyallup, WA 98371; Email: poplar@wsu.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 25

RYE IN A CELLULOSIC CORN SYSTEM

Michael Kantar* and Paul Porter

University of Minnesota

One of the major concerns with the push toward cellulosic ethanol is the removal of biomass from 

the system. A potential way to mitigate this loss as well as increase the total amount of biomass 

produced is to use a fall-planted cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) to provide fall ground cover as well as 

additional biomass in the spring, which can be harvested before planting corn. To investigate the 

potential of rye to produce biomass three studies were initiated. We fi rst looked at the eff ect of fi ve 

diff erent fall planting dates ranging from late August to late October on the biomass accumulation. 

Th e dates were chosen to be a range of when growers could plant the rye. Since there has been little 

eff ort to breed rye for traits unrelated to grain, the second study investigated rye germplasm for 

diff erences in biomass accumulation in diff erent rye cultivars and GRIN (Germplasm Information 

Network) accessions. Forty-four rye accessions were planted at two planting dates in order to evaluate 

the germplasm. Th e third study involves fi ve name cultivars of rye planted on two diff erent dates, 

representing a recommended planting date and a late planting date, to further evaluate varietal 

diff erences in rye. Th e varieties of winter rye used are Rymin, Homil 21, Vitallo, Spooner, and 

Aroostock.

KEY WORDS: rye, biomass production, management

*Corresponding author: University of Minnesota, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108; 

Phone: (612) 910-3865; Email: kant0063@umn.edu
26 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN ETHANOL 

CROP PRODUCTION: A BRAZIL-U.S. COMPARISON

Hazen Kazaks

Brown University

Brazil and the United States are the two largest ethanol producers, and in both countries where 

the majority of ethanol crops are grown are areas of fragmented ecosystems: the Atlantic Forest in 

Brazil and Prairie Pothole region of the United States. How the farmers use their land and their 

conservation choices will determine the future state of these natural regions. Additionally, Brazil and 

the United States will act as a guide to other countries if their ethanol production techniques are 

reproduced elsewhere. In this study, I interviewed 11 farmers in the state of Paraná and 11 farmers 

in Iowa on issues of land tenure, labor, and biodiversity, and soil conservation management. Most 

farmers described their way of life in terms of dollars and cents, but they considered conservation 

issues as well. At least 7 of 11 Brazilian farms failed to meet a threshold legally mandating 20 percent 

of farmland be dedicated to its natural state. Almost all Iowa farmers used various USDA retired and 

working lands conservation programs, and planned on re-enrolling rather than switching to crop 

production despite currently high commodity prices. However, in 2007, the year of the interviews, 

nearly all of the corn growers experimented with corn-on-corn rotation on subplots, which removes 

the nitrogen fi xing soybean crop from rotation, and increases inputs. About 25 percent of both 

Brazilian and American farmers espoused a progressive worldview of farmland management, which 

included novel soil contouring, no-till techniques, and the need for bottom-up holistic agricultural 

policy.

KEY WORDS: ethanol production, conservation, farmer decision-making, biodiversity

*Contact information: Brown University, Center for Environmental Studies, Box 1943, 135 Angell Street, 

Providence, RI 02912 Phone: (530) 220-2518; Email: Hazen_Kazaks@brown.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 27

EFFECTS OF A WINTER RYE DOUBLE CROP AFTER CORN 

SILAGE ON BIOMASS PRODUCTION, WATER QUALITY, AND 

SOIL NUTRIENT STATUS

Erik Kruegera,*, Tyson Ochsnerb, Paul Porterc, Donald Reicoskyd, and John Bakerb

a

Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota

b

USDA Agricultural Research Service, St. Paul, MN

c

Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota

d

USDA Agricultural Research Service, Morris, MN

A typical cropping system for confi nement dairy production may include consecutive years of corn 

silage accompanied by annual manure application. Because there is little plant growth for much of 

the year, this farming system may not achieve maximum annual biomass production. Accompanying 

high manure application may also lead to soil nutrient buildup, nutrient leaching, and soil erosion. 

We hypothesize that double-cropping rye after corn silage may maximize annual biomass while 

addressing the environmental issues associated with corn silage production. Two studies have been 

designed to test this hypothesis. Th e fi rst involves cooperation with a large dairy farmer while the 

other is a small-scale project designed to mimic dairy management practices. On the farm, corn silage 

production with and without a rye cover crop is compared on adjacent 60-ha fi elds. Th e eff ect of 

the rye on biomass production, nutrient leaching, and soil nutrient status will be reported. Rye was 

planted after corn in the fall of 2007 and will be killed prior to corn planting in 2008. At the plot 

scale, four treatments were compared: corn planted in early May, corn planted in mid-May, corn 

planted in mid-May after rye, and corn planted in early June after rye. Rye planted October 23 was 

low yielding in the spring of 2007 and reduced subsequent corn yield. Reduced yield was attributed 

to lower soil moisture and nitrogen at corn planting. Total biomass from single-cropped corn silage 

was greater than the double cropped when fall rye growth was limited. Further study is necessary to 

determine the eff ectiveness of the double-crop system when rye is established earlier in the fall. Th e 

experiment was repeated for 2008 with rye seeded September 14, 2007. If yield can be maximized, 

this double-cropping system may also have application where corn is grown for energy production.

KEY WORDS: rye, double crop, corn silage, water quality

*Corresponding author: University of Minnesota, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, 1991 Upper Buford 

Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108; Phone: (612) 624-8591; Email: krueg226@umn.edu
28 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS FOR SHORT-ROTATION 

INTENSIVE CULTURE OF WILLOW IN DIFFERENT 

REGIONS OF EASTERN CANADA

Michel Labrecquea,* and Traian Ion Teodorescub

a

Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Montréal Botanical Garden

b

Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, University of Montréal

Th e fi rst Canadian willow production systems for bioenergy and bioproducts were established in 

southern Quebec in the mid-1990s. At that time, research plots of large dimensions (>1 ha) were set 

up with a plantation design based on a single-row system and a plantation density of 18,000 cutting 

ha-1. Only one willow clone (Salix viminalis 5027) was used in these plantations. Scientifi c followup conducted over several years demonstrates that high biomass yield can be maintained even after 

multiple, repeated coppicing. Annual yield has been measured at the end of each growing season 

over the course of this study. Cumulative results over 13 growing seasons show that performances 

vary according to soil fertility and fertilization level, but overall annual yields between 15 to 22 

oven-dried tons (odt) ha-1 have been recorded. Diff erences observed in biomass productivity seem 

to be largely infl uenced by climatic conditions. Low rainfall during growing seasons signifi cantly 

limits willow yields. In each cycle, the biomass yield increment is generally higher between the 

second and third growing seasons. Th e encouraging production results from these early experimental 

trials, as well as the parallel development of diverse environmental applications for willows (sludge 

treatment, construction of living noise barriers, phytoremediation, etc.) have created enthusiasm and 

stimulated the deployment of willow biomass crops in many regions of Quebec over the last 5 years. 

More recently, and with the support of our scientifi c research group, willow plantations have been 

established on 11 diff erent sites (total 52 ha) distributed in four climatic zones (from hardiness zone 5 

in the south to zone 2 in the Abitibi region) of the province of Quebec. Initial observations of growth 

parameters reveal excellent performances by S. miyabeana (SX64 and SX67) in most of the regions 

where it has been planted. In some cases, very high yields have been measured (up to 20 odt 2 years 

following establishment). Th ese results suggest a promising future for the development for SRIC of 

willows in eastern Canada.

KEY WORDS: willow crops, short rotation intensive culture, Salix, growth performances

*Corresponding author: Montréal Botanical Garden, 4101 Sherbrooke East, Montréal, QC, H1X 2B2, Canada; 

Phone: (514) 872-1862; Email: mlabrecque@jbmontreal.net
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 29

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FROM AGROFOREST SYSTEMS: 

SUSTAINABLE BIOFUEL FEEDSTOCK PRODUCTION IN THE 

GULF SOUTH REGION OF THE UNITED STATES

Hal O. Liechtya,*, Michael A. Blazierb, Philip A. Tappea, and Matthew H. Pelkkia

a

University of Arkansas-Monticello

b

Louisiana State University AgCenter

Th e Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV) is well suited for large-scale biofuel feedstock 

production because of its high rainfall, relatively long growing season, central location within 

the United States, and well developed agricultural infrastructure. Production of common biofuel 

feedstocks such as corn and soybean require signifi cant inputs of fertilizer, pesticides, and water 

for irrigation. In addition these crops provide a minimal level of ecosystem services such as carbon 

sequestration, wildlife habitat, and water quality protection. Th e LMAV was once dominated 

by forests, but more than 66 percent of the forest land base has been converted to agriculture 

production. Conservation eff orts have targeted the reforestation of marginal agricultural lands to 

restore many of the ecosystem services lost through forest conversion. Increased demand for biofuel 

feedstocks has the potential to limit or reduce the reforestation of these marginal lands. Agroforests 

could be a fl exible and innovative cropping system that could be employed on marginal agricultural 

land to provide both cellulosic biomass feedstocks and ecosystem services. Agroforest systems 

composed of varying mixtures of feedstock species, such as cottonwood trees and switchgrass, have 

the potential to provide a suite of ecological services along with high cellulosic biomass production to 

meet a variety of management objectives, social constraints, and soil/site conditions. We summarize 

the potential of agroforest systems to increase biofuel production capacity for the United States, 

improve economies of economically faltering rural communities of the LMAV, and enhance 

environmental conditions, such as soil, water, and wildlife habitat quality.

KEY WORDS: biodiversity, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, water quality

*Corresponding author: University of Arkansas-Monticello, School of Forest Resources, P.O. Box 3468, 

Monticello, AR 71656-3468; Phone: (870) 460-1452; Email: liechty@uamont.edu
30 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

USING A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO IMPROVE BIOENERGY 

SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT

Valerie A. Luzadis*, Timothy A. Volk, and Thomas S. Buchholz

College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York

Th e current focus on sustainable development and the goal to move from a fossil fuel to a 

renewable-based economy brings with it the challenge of assessing the sustainability of the wide 

array of diff erent potential bioenergy systems. Concern about the impact of growing biomass 

for energy on food security in the poorest regions of the world intensifi es the need for reliable, 

manageable, comprehensive approaches to assessing the sustainability of biomass systems at all 

scales. Eff orts to develop, implement, and revise criteria and indicators to assess the sustainability 

of forest management provide a foundation for building strong bioenergy sustainability assessment 

approaches. However, the forest management eff ort encompasses only one type of feedstock, woody 

biomass, from one source, naturally occurring forests. It also focuses on only one portion of bioenergy 

systems, biomass production. While discussion continues, no clear consensus has yet been reached for 

how to assess bioenergy sustainability. Th e assessment must focus on all components of the system, 

from biomass production through useful energy products, and encompass social and economic values. 

In this paper, we propose a systems approach to more comprehensively inform the development of 

sustainability criteria and indicators, and to synthesize the many insights from wide-ranging research 

on biomass-to-energy as well as the associated ranges of social and economic values. Specifi cally, 

we present a fi ve-step process for how to use a participatory, systems approach to assess bioenergy 

sustainability. We suggest that this approach is more comprehensive than the dominant economyenvironment-social assessment approach, which is largely ad hoc in nature.

KEY WORDS: sustainability, systems approach, bioenergy

*Corresponding author: State University of New York, Department of Forest and Natural Resources 

Management, 320 Bray Hall, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210; Phone: (315) 470-6693; 

Email: vluzadis@esf.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 31

PRODUCTIVITY AND ENERGY CONTENT OF NATIVE 

PERENNIAL GRASSLAND SPECIES

Margaret E. Mangan*, Craig C. Sheaffer, Donald L. Wyse, Peter H. Graham, 

Ulrike W. Tschirner, and Sanford Weisberg

Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota

Native perennial herbaceous grassland species have been identifi ed as a potential feedstock for energy 

production. Prairie plants are ideal candidates because they are adapted to low-nutrient environments, 

generate signifi cant biomass, and provide a plethora of ecological services. Much research has been 

conducted regarding the productivity of perennial prairie polycultures in natural and restored 

ecosystems, but there is insuffi cient information available on the energy conversion potential of 

individual species. When cellulosic ethanol production is evaluated, it is important to consider the 

type of polysaccharides in the plant material. Th e energy industry is interested in the hexose (glucose, 

galactose, and mannose) and pentose (xylose and arabinose) sugars in biomass feedstocks. At this time 

ethanol-producing microorganisms cannot convert other monosaccharides (rhamnose, fucose, and 

uronic acid) to ethanol. In our experiment, we evaluated the distribution of these polysaccharides and 

the theoretical ethanol yield (according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory calculator) of 

multiple native perennial prairie species. Grasses, legumes, and nonleguminous forbs were cultivated 

alone and in mixtures including one, four, eight, 12, and 24 species. Species were planted into 

9-m2

 plots in June 2006 and harvested in fall 2007. We selected Panicum virgatum, Andropogon 

gerardii, Sorghastrun nutans, Elymus canadensis, Astragalus canadensis, Helianthus maximilianii, and 

Ratibida pinnata for chemical composition analysis. Samples were collected from research plots at 

Lamberton, Waseca, St. Paul, and Becker, MN, and analyzed separately by location. Results from 

the establishment phase of this experiment show that the energy content of native perennial prairie 

species varies according to the maturity at harvest and environment. Panicum virgatum cultivated 

at Lamberton, MN, had the greatest overall potential ethanol yield (3,682 L/ha) and Helianthus 

maximiliani at St. Paul had the lowest ethanol yield (52.13 L/ha). Th e ethanol yields were infl uenced 

primarily by biomass yield as well as the distribution of C5

 and C6 polysaccharides.

KEY WORDS: perennial polycultures, cellulosic ethanol

*Corresponding author: University of Minnesota, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, Room 411 

Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108; Phone: (612) 625-3151; 

Email: mang0106@umn.edu
32 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

PURPOSE-GROWN TREES AS A SUSTAINABLE RENEWABLE 

ENERGY SOURCE

James Mann

ArborGen, LLC

Bioenergy has been identifi ed as an issue of national importance. Aggressive goals are being set for the 

use of renewables to displace traditional fuel sources. Th e 2007 Renewable Fuels Standard mandates 

the use of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2022. Today ethanol is produced almost exclusively 

from corn, but corn is not expected to meet the 36 billion gallon objective. It is projected that 21 

billion gallons must come from “advanced biofuels” such as cellulosic ethanol. Cellulosic feedstock 

must be utilized in order to meet the Renewable Fuels Standard.

Wood, especially from trees grown for industrial forestry, is an excellent source of cellulose and 

hemicellulose for conversion into ethanol. Purpose-grown trees have several benefi ts as a biomass 

feedstock with high growth rates, together with advantages from existing harvest, transport and 

processing logistics. Th e high productivity of ArborGen trees allows for the production of more 

biomass on a smaller land base that can meet supply demands within an area close to the processing 

facility. Trees provide a “living inventory,” eliminating the need for storage and its associated costs 

while providing a means to smooth supply fl uctuations. Additional end uses for trees in the forest 

products industry provide landowners with fl exibility, and leveraging the existing forest products 

infrastructure provides additional benefi ts.

ArborGen is developing technologies that will improve productivity, reduce rotation length and total 

cost, and enhance wood quality of purpose-grown trees. Th ese targets are similar to those that have 

been defi ned by the U.S. Department of Energy and others for the long-term feasibility of renewable 

energy production from cellulosic biomass. ArborGen has trees in development that in the relative 

near-term are expected to achieve the growth and quality metrics that enable the cost-eff ective use of 

woody biomass for the renewable production of biofuel.

KEY WORDS: trees, biotechnology, cellulosic ethanol, pine, Populus, Eucalyptus, energy crop

*Contact information: ArborGen, Business and Product Development, P.O. Box 840001, Summerville, SC 

29483; Phone: (843) 851-5078; Email: jemann@arborgen.com

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 33

R&D AND ADOPTION ISSUES FOR FOUR SHORT-ROTATION 

AFFORESTATION/AGROFORESTRY TECHNOLOGIES: 

RESULTS OF FOCUS GROUPS CONDUCTED IN QUEBEC AND 

THE CANADIAN PRAIRIES

Sylvain Masse* and Pierre P. Marchand

Natural Resources Canada - Canadian Forest Service

Th rough a series of focus groups conducted among landowners of Quebec and the Canadian Prairies, 

this study identifi es perceived R&D and adoption issues for four short-rotation aff orestation/

agroforestry technologies for bioenergy generation and other uses. Th ese technologies are: shortrotation intensive culture of willow or hybrid poplar, block plantation of hybrid poplar, willow-based 

riparian buff er systems, and alley cropping using willow or hybrid poplar. Twenty-three focus groups 

were conducted with 81 landowners with an early adopter profi le. Th e discussions on each technology 

were preceded by a popularized presentation on the technology. Besides the notes and recordings 

of the discussions, a written questionnaire was used to collect specifi c qualitative information. Th e 

exploratory approach designed for the study proved eff ective and effi cient. Perceived advantages and 

disadvantages were identifi ed. Th e participants’ interest increased for two of the four technologies. 

Th e intentions to apply a technology in the short term turned out to be very good for three of the 

four technologies. Th e lower intentions expressed for alley cropping refl ect the preliminary state of 

knowledge on this technology. For each of the four technologies, the results allowed us to draw a 

list of perceived R&D and adoption issues regarding technical, fi nancial, legal, environmental, and 

other aspects. Since these issues are based on perceptions, their relevance and importance will have 

to be specifi ed and validated with researchers and other stakeholders. Th e results also confi rmed the 

importance of specifying the impact of policy frameworks and incentive programs on the adoption of 

these technologies.

KEY WORDS: short-rotation crops, aff orestation, agroforestry, bioenergy, willow, hybrid poplar, 

social factors

*Corresponding author: Laurentian Forestry Centre, 1055 du P.E.P.S., P.O. Box 10380, Stn. Sainte-Foy, 

Quebec City, QC, G1V 4C7 Canada; Phone: (418) 648-7152; Email: smasse@nrcan.gc.ca
34 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

A MINNESOTA-BASED POPULUS BREEDING AND HYBRID 

POPLAR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Bernard G. McMahona,*, William E. Bergusona, Daniel J. Buchmana, Thomas E. Levara, 

Craig C. Malya, and Timothy C. O’Brienb

a

University of Minnesota-Duluth, Natural Resources Research Institute

b

University of Minnesota, North Central Research and Outreach Center

A Populus breeding program located at the Natural Resources Research Institute in Duluth, MN, 

has been producing and testing intra- and inter-specifi c hybrid poplar germplasm for the past 13 

years (1996-2008). Th e primary Populus species of interest for breeding and testing in Minnesota 

include P. deltoides, P. nigra, P. maximowiczii, and P. trichocarpa. Eastern cottonwood selections from a 

previous University of Minnesota collection and from other regional Populus improvement programs 

formed the base breeding population. Genetic diversity of the base population has been increased 

with open-pollinated seed collections from native trees along Minnesota river-systems and from 

natural populations located outside the North Central region of the United States. Seed collections 

and parent materials have been exchanged with cooperators working in northwestern United States, 

Canada, Europe, and Asia to evaluate long-term parent populations under Minnesota climatic 

conditions. Potential parent selections are archived in dedicated breeding orchards. Operational 

logistics of each screening phase from the initial nursery progeny trials through the family fi eld, 

advanced clonal, and yield block evaluations are explained. Following a 1- to 2-year nursery screening 

phase, hybrid poplar pedigrees are established in replicated fi eld trials imbedded in commercial 

fi ber farm plantations for critical evaluation throughout the entire rotation period. Growth, disease 

resistance and ease of establishment are among the selection criteria for new clones for advanced 

clone and yield testing. Results and trends in terms of growth gains, disease incidence, and clone 

performance from the current fi eld trials will be presented. Yield gains relative to commercial 

standards and recommendations for effi cient fi eld testing of large populations will be discussed along 

with opportunities for utilizing new biomass research technologies with the current collections of 

Minnesota-based germplasm.

KEY WORDS: Populus genetics, hybrid poplar, tree breeding, clone development, population 

improvement

*Corresponding author: 5013 Miller Trunk Highway, Duluth, MN 55811; Phone: (218) 720-2702; 

Email: bmcmahon@nrri.umn.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 35

ECOLOGICAL SERVICES PAYMENTS ENHANCE THE 

ECONOMIES OF SUSTAINABLY-GROWN FEEDSTOCKS

Linda Meschke

Rural Advantage

A major challenge of sustainable biofuels, bioenergy, and bioproducts production is being able to 

compete economically with annual crops such as corn, soybeans, or wheat. At this stage, it looks like 

the amount an energy facility might pay for the biomass feedstock is not enough to drive signifi cant 

landscape change from annual cropping systems to systems that include perennials. To have successful 

sustainable agricultural and forest crop bioenergy systems, the production must be able to be 

economically competitive with the annual crops currently grown. Rural Advantage has developed a 

concept for how perennial biomass crops can compete with traditional annual crops. Th is concept 

provides for a payment to the landowner for a package of ecological services provided by sustainable 

bioenergy feedstock production to complement the biomass production payment from the energy 

facility. Th e concept is a market-based approach for an aggregator to “package” together payments 

for various ecological services and then make a single payment to the landowner. Ecological services 

supplied by perennial bioenergy crops for which there currently are markets for include carbon, 

greenhouse gas emission reductions, nitrogen and phosphorus reductions, habitat improvement, and 

aquifer recharge/water storage. Th ese market mechanisms exist individually around the globe. Rural 

Advantage is reviewing these mechanisms and is developing an overall payment package to enable 

the landowner to get paid for the ecological services provided by perennial bioenergy systems. When 

payments are packaged together, landowners are able to receive a payment for their ecological services 

for which they probably would be unable to collect on their own. In addition, the aggregator would 

be working with presumably several thousand acres and would be able to leverage a higher payment 

for each service.

KEY WORDS: ecological services, perennial, bioenergy, biomass, feedstocks

*Contact information: 1243 Lake Avenue, Suite 222, Fairmont, MN 56031-1942; Phone: (507) 238-5449; 

Email: linda@ruraladvantage.org 
36 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

GROWTH AND YIELD OF POPLAR AND WILLOW HYBRIDS IN 

THE CENTRAL UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN

Raymond O. Miller* and Bradford A. Bender

Michigan State University

As demand for woody feedstocks for the production of energy, fuels, and chemicals increases, the 

need for vigorous and versatile planting stock becomes acute. Because plantations are more expensive 

to manage than natural forests, yield from planted stands must reliably exceed that of natural stands 

in order for this production system to be cost competitive. Breeding programs for willow (Salix spp.) 

and poplar (Populus var.) have produced taxa that promise superior growth and vitality, but these 

must be tested more thoroughly in large-plot yield trials and on many more sites before they can 

be confi dently recommended for widespread use. A poplar and a willow yield trial were begun at 

Michigan State University’s Upper Peninsula Tree Improvement Center in Escanaba, MI, in 1998 and 

2002, respectively. Th e results of these trials are summarized here. Five poplar hybrids were included 

in a large-plot yield study. After 10 years, the best-growing taxa (NM6) had produced an average of 

3.7 dry tons per acre-year. Although NM6 grew exceptionally well, it began to develop severe disease 

problems toward the end of the test. Th e taxa with the best overall growth and disease resistance 

(NE222) averaged 2.6 dry tons per acre-year while the standard check taxa (DN34) averaged only 

1.7 dry tons per acre-year. In another test, 12 willow taxa were compared in a high-density yield trial. 

After 6 years, the best-growing taxa (SX61 and SX67) produced 2.5 dry tons per acre-year (averaged 

over the last 3 years), which was twice the yield of the poorest taxa. Th ese willow yields were 

comparable to the yield of the healthiest poplar taxa (NE222) mentioned above. NM6 check plots in 

the willow trial produced 3.4 dry tons per acre-year, which was comparable to the 10-year results for 

the same taxa summarized above.

KEY WORDS: hybrid poplar, willow, yield, growth, Populus, Salix, energy plantation

*Corresponding author: Upper Peninsula Tree Improvement Center, 6005 J Road, Escanaba, MI 49829; 

Phone: (906) 786-1575; Email: rmiller@msu.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 37

RESPONSE OF THREE SALIX VARIETIES TO IRRIGATION WITH 

DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF SOLVAY STORM WATER

Jaconette Mirck* and Timothy A. Volk

College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York

Th e production of soda ash, using the Solvay process, resulted in the creation of 600 ha of wastebeds 

near Syracuse, NY, over a 100-year period. Chloride leaching from the Solvay wastebeds into 

surrounding water bodies, including Onondaga Lake, is a concern. Storm water/snowmelt needs to 

be recycled onto an evapotranspiration (ET) cover on the wastebeds during the summer. To assess 

this, a greenhouse experiment was carried out. Th e experiment was a 6 × 3 factorial design with four 

replications. Th e fi rst factor consisted of six treatments, fi ve concentrations of Solvay storm water 

based on chloride concentrations (8,000 mg Cl-

 L-1 to 160 mg Cl- L-1) and a control of tap water, 

and the second of the three varieties of shrub willow. Th e objectives were to 1) measure physical 

and physiological plant characteristics to determine which are stress indicators and to quantify 

the response of willow to storm water using these indicators; 2) assess the impact of storm water 

concentration on evapotranspiration and the diff erence between willow varieties; and 3) quantify 

the eff ects of willow variety on the uptake of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and chloride. Biomass 

accumulation, stomatal conductance (after 4.5 weeks), and evapotranspiration decreased for the 

treatments with the highest storm water concentration. Sodium concentrations for the highest 

treatment were 3 to 8 times higher for the leaves and 6 to 9 times for the shoots compared to the 

control, and chloride concentrations were 14 to 32 times for the leaves and 2 to 6 times for the shoots 

compared to the control. All willow varieties survived the 10-week experiment, but the willows that 

received the highest treatment showed signs of stress after 8 weeks. Th is experiment will assist in the 

design of an ET cover on the Solvay wastebeds and the potential for recycling storm water through 

shrub willows.

KEY WORDS: Salix, phytoremediation, Solvay wastebeds, salts

*Corresponding author: State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 

Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management, 244 Illick Hall, SUNY-ESF, 1 Forestry Drive, 

Syracuse, NY 13210; Phone: (315) 470-6757/6775; Email: jmirck@syr.edu
38 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

BIOMASS PRODUCTION FROM NATIVE WARM-SEASON GRASS 

MONOCULTURES AND POLYCULTURES 

MANAGED FOR BIOENERGY

Rob Mitchell* and Kenneth Vogel

USDA Agricultural Research Service, Grain, Forage, and Bioenergy Research Unit

Switchgrass monocultures grown for bioenergy lack plant species diversity and may not optimize 

ecosystem services. However, switchgrass monocultures are generally perceived to be more productive 

and provide fewer establishment and management challenges than polycultures. Our objective 

was to compare the dry matter production and persistence of monocultures and polycultures of 

native warm-season grasses managed for bioenergy in the Great Plains. Th is study was conducted in 

2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 at Mead and Clay Center, NE. Five native warm-season grasses (big 

bluestem, indiangrass, switchgrass, little bluestem, and sideoats grama) were seeded in monocultures 

and polycultures. Monocultures of each species were compared with polycultures consisting of 

each species at 20-percent increments in the seeding mixture. Sixty-eight mixtures were seeded in 

2004 and 2005 in four replicates at each location for a total of 1,088 plots. Species composition 

for each plot was determined in autumn 2007. Dry matter production was determined at peak 

production during the seeding year and for 2 or 3 years after seeding, depending on planting year. 

Stand persistence was measured in spring 2008. Biomass production patterns will provide guidance 

regarding what native warm-season grasses should be grown to optimize long-term production and 

potentially increase plant species diversity in stands managed for bioenergy.

KEY WORDS: herbaceous perennials, switchgrass, genetics, feedstocks

*Corresponding author: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 362F Plant Science, Lincoln, NE 68583; 

Phone: (402) 472-1546; Email: rob.mitchell@ars.usda.gov
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 39

HERBACEOUS BIOMASS: STATE OF THE ART

Kenneth J. Moore

Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University

Meeting the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy’s goal of replacing 30 percent of 

transportation energy by 2030 with cellulosic biofuels will require development of highly productive 

energy crops. It is estimated that a billion-ton annual supply of biomass of all sources will be required 

to meet this goal, which represents a fi vefold increase over currently available biomass. Under one 

scenario, dedicated energy crops yielding an average of 8 dry tons/yr are projected to be planted 

on 55 million acres. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a perennial native grass that has received 

substantial interest as a potential energy crop due to its wide adaptation. However, it produces 

relatively low yields on productive soils and has other limitations related to seed dormancy and 

establishment. More recently, Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus) has been touted as a potential 

energy crop. A warm-season perennial grass native to Southeastern Asia, it has relatively high yield 

potential when grown on productive soils. However, it is a sterile hybrid that must be propagated 

vegetatively and requires a few years to achieve maximum production. Both species have potential as 

dedicated energy crops, but require further improvement and development. Other crops with high 

potential for cellulosic energy are photoperiod-sensitive sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) and 

corn (Zea mays L.) cultivars. Vegetative development of these cultivars occurs over a longer period 

in temperate regions and they produce little or no viable seed. A rational long-term approach will 

be required to develop alternative, high-yielding biomass crops specifi cally designed for energy and 

industrial uses. A signifi cant research eff ort is needed to identify alternative plant species that produce 

higher biomass yields and have desirable biomass traits, develop cultivated varieties of alternative 

species through genomics and plant breeding approaches, and develop appropriate crop management 

practices and systems for producing dedicated energy crops.

KEY WORDS: biomass, bioenergy, switchgrass, Miscanthus, sorghum, corn

*Contact information: Iowa State University, Department of Agronomy, 1571 Agronomy Hall, Ames, IA 50011; 

Phone: (515) 294-5482; Email: kjmoore@iastate.edu

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
40 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

USE OF SELECTED HYBRID POPLARS IN SHORT-ROTATION 

WOODY CROPS PRODUCTION: THE EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE 

FROM THE FIELD TO THE FINAL TRANSFORMER

Fabrizio Nardin* and Franco Alasia

Alasia Franco Vivai, Savigliano (CN), Italy

Producing green energy through the use of woody biomass from short-rotation forestry gives farmers 

an interesting alternative to traditional crops while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. In Italy, the 

cultivation of hybrid poplar for woody biomass in short-rotation coppice (2 to 5 years) is a business 

opportunity for farmers and technicians involved in the production cycle, from the fi eld to the power 

plant.

Th e Populus genus is well suited for short-rotation forestry, especially because of the potential for 

increased yields and disease tolerance through genetic improvement systems. For more than 20 

years, this topic has been at the center of activity at Alasia Franco Vivai, an Italian company from 

northwestern Italy. High-performance plant material has made the production of woody biomass 

increasingly more attractive to farmers. New equipment has been developed for planting, cultivating, 

and harvesting operations, and species-specifi c agricultural techniques have been applied. Th e 

combined use of very productive poplar clones and appropriate agricultural practices gives high 

yields. Italy, with an area of more than 6,000 hectares, is the European country with the most land for 

short-rotation poplar coppices and the model that has been developed there will be exported to other 

countries around the world.

KEY WORDS: genetic improvement, hybrid poplar, yield, mechanization, chipwood 

*Corresponding author: Alasia Franco Vivai, strada Solerette 5/A, 12038 Savigliano (CN) - Italy; 

Phone +39 3356907316; Email: info@alasifranco.it
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 41

PROLONGED PLANTING SEASON IN WILLOW 

SHORT-ROTATION FORESTRY: EFFECTS ON INITIAL PLANT 

GROWTH AND PLANT SURVIVAL

Nils-Erik Nordh*, Pär Aronsson, and Theo Verwijst

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Th e recommended time for planting willow (Salix sp) in Swedish short-rotation forestry (SRF) is 

from early spring (April) to early summer (mid-June). After early planting, willow cuttings may take 

advantage of the high soil-moisture content and the longer establishment season. However, early 

planting increases the risk of frost damage during cold nights that may occur during this time. Th e 

start of the planting season varies between years depending on when the soil becomes dry enough 

to be harrowed and reached by the planting machine. Th ereafter the planting may be delayed due 

to rainy periods or drought. In the worst case the planting may have to be postponed until next 

year. A longer planting season would justify the establishment of SRF and planting machines could 

be used more effi ciently. Th is study, performed on three willow clones during 2007-2008 at two 

locations in Sweden, investigates the eff ects of a prolonged planting season on initial plant growth 

and survival. Planting was done 11 times every third week from May 2 to November 20. Individual 

plant development was assessed every week and survival, sprouting, number of shoots, and damage 

were recorded. First-year plant growth was measured nondestructively after growth cessation and 

second-year plant growth will be measured in winter 2008. Th e initial results show that plant survival 

in general decreases rapidly when planting after mid-July and that fi rst year biomass production 

gradually declines after the fi rst planting date. Th erefore, our preliminary conclusion is that early 

planting should be recommended.

KEY WORDS: biomass, establishment, planting time, Salix, shoot sprouting

*Corresponding author: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Crop Production Ecology, 

Box 7043, S-75007 Uppsala, Sweden; Phone: +46 (18) 672561; Email: Nils-Erik.Nordh@vpe.slu.se 
42 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT OF BIOFUELS POTENTIAL FOR 

THE WESTERN U.S.

Marcia Patton-Mallorya,*, Richard Nelsonb, Ken Skoga, Bryan Jenkinsc, Nathan Parkerc, 

Peter Tittmannc, Quinn Hartc, Ed Grayd, Anneliese Schmidtd, and Gayle Gordone

a

U.S. Forest Service

b

Kansas State University

c

University of California, Davis

d

Antares

e

Western Governor’s Association

Th e technical feasibility of producing biofuels in the western United States is described using spatially 

explicit biomass resource supply curves, a detailed transportation network model for the region, 

and costs for converting biomass to refi ned biofuels. Th e study addresses the widespread concern 

over the environmental, geopolitical, and economic eff ects of the U.S. dependence on petroleum. 

Th e study is responding to state and federal legislative bodies who are setting goals for reducing the 

consumption of fossil fuels in the transportation sector using targets for the infusion of so-called 

“low-carbon” biofuels into the transportation fuel market. Th e use of biomass from municipal waste 

streams, forest thinnings, and herbaceous agricultural residues or energy crops for biofuels production 

can signifi cantly reduce the net life cycle emissions of greenhouse gases in comparison with crude oil; 

the benefi ts from grain and other crops are less certain. Th is report and the accompanying models 

represent a signifi cant step forward in understanding the potential for meeting policy goals based 

on near-term technological and infrastructure parameters. Th e paper presents biofuel supply curves 

estimating potential future supplies of liquid fuels from biomass in the western United States as a 

function of market price. Th e combined GIS network analysis and biorefi nery optimization model 

was developed to:

Spatially resolve biomass resource quantities and distributions throughout the Western 

Governor’s Association region for major feedstock types,

Map supporting transportation and biofuel-handling infrastructure to estimate biorefi nery 

gate feedstock costs and biofuel distribution costs,

Optimize biorefi nery types, sizes, and locations for competing conversion technologies based 

on the objective of maximizing producer profi t under a market price constraint.

Th e analysis focuses on the generation of biomass and biofuel supply curves over a year 2015 

planning horizon. Total capacity for biofuels production is described for both the regional and state 

levels.

KEY WORDS: biofuels, agriculture residues, wood residues, thinnings, grease, herbaceous energy 

crops, biomass supply estimates, network analysis

*Corresponding author: U.S. Forest Service, Biomass and Bioenergy Coordinator, 2150 Centre Ave, Building 

A, Fort Collins, CO 80526; Phone: (970) 295-5947; Email: mpattonmallory@fs.fed.us 

•

•

•
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 43

IMPACT OF GROWTH ENVIRONMENT VARIABILITY ON 

ALFALFA YIELD, CELLULOSIC ETHANOL TRAITS, AND PAPER 

PULP CHARACTERISTICS

Katie B. Petersena,*, Ryan T. Thelemanna, Hans-Joachim G. Junga,b, Ulrike W. Tschirnera, 

Craig C. Sheaffera, and Gregg A. Johnsona

a

University of Minnesota

b

USDA Agricultural Research Service, St. Paul, MN

Alfalfa is a promising bioenergy feedstock due to its high yield, nitrogen-fi xation capacity, high 

net energy ratio, potential for planting in rotation with corn, and valuable protein co-product (leaf 

meal). Our objective was to examine the eff ect of growth environment on biomass yield, cellulosic 

ethanol traits, and paper pulp fi ber characteristics of alfalfa. Landscape position (hilltop and mild 

slope), season of harvest (four harvests/year), and multiple years (2005 and 2006) were sources of 

environmental variation with two replicates of each landscape position. Alfalfa was harvested at 

bud maturity stage to determine whole herbage yield and stem proportion. Alfalfa stem samples 

were analyzed for cell-wall carbohydrate and lignin concentration. A lab-scale conversion test was 

developed to assess diff erences in susceptibility to sugar release for ethanol production via dilute 

acid/high-temperature pretreatment and enzymatic saccharifi cation. Stems were also de-fi bered using 

Franklin Solution to measure relevant fi ber characteristics (fi ber length, width, and fi nes). Yield 

varied across harvests in 2005 (880 to 3,840 kg ha-1) and 2006 (2,400 to 9,520 kg ha-1) with higher 

yields in 2006. Stem proportion was less variable between years, but typically declined with later 

harvests (23 to 54.8 percent). Cell-wall glucose concentration varied dramatically across harvests 

and years (197.8 to 321.9 g kg-1 DM) and glucose release effi ciency was similarly variable (45.1 to 

84.7 percent). Xylose concentration (60 to 112.5 g kg-1 DM) and release (59.8 to 82.2 percent) were 

also variable among harvests and years. Pulp fi ber length did not vary with growth environment; 

however, fi ber width and fi nes content diff ered among harvests and years. Landscape position was not 

a signifi cant source of variation for alfalfa biomass trait. Industries hoping to utilize alfalfa biomass, 

harvested multiple times each year, for cellulosic ethanol and paper manufacturing must be prepared 

for signifi cant feedstock quality variation due to growth environment.

KEY WORDS: alfalfa, environment, yield, cellulosic ethanol, fi ber length 

*Corresponding author: University of Minnesota, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, 411 Borlaug 

Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 55108; Phone: (612) 625-7776; Email: pete5953@tc.umn.edu
44 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

CHARACTERIZATION OF ARSENIC UPTAKE 

UNDER PHOSPHORUS SUFFICIENT AND DEFICIENT 

CONDITIONS IN SHRUB WILLOW (SALIX SPP.) CLONES OF 

DIFFERING AS SENSITIVITIES

Emily E. Pulley and Lawrence B. Smart*

State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Hydroponic studies of phosphorus (P) and arsenic (As) uptake by plants consistently demonstrate 

that the presence of P results in less As uptake. Transport of the structurally analogous ionic forms 

of these elements occurs via phosphate transporters, which are encoded by a multigene family. A 

second consensus result is that As nontolerant species or populations accumulate more As at a faster 

rate than As-tolerant counterparts. We hypothesized that a P-defi cient (-P) pretreatment would 

increase phosphate transporter activity, thus increasing As uptake when introduced in hydroponic 

culture. We also hypothesized that an As nontolerant willow clone would have higher tissue As 

concentrations than a tolerant clone. A 2×2×2×2 factorial experiment was designed to investigate As 

uptake in shrub willow (Salix spp.) clones of varying As tolerances in relation to P status. When As 

was added without P, the As nontolerant clone, 00X-026-082 (S. eriocephala), wilted within 1 day of 

As exposure, while the tolerant clone, 99202-011 (S. viminalis × S. miyabeana), took 6 days to wilt, 

reinforcing previously established relative tolerances. Clonal diff erences may also represent diff ering 

intracellular P concentrations to maintain homeostasis. In contrast to results from other species, the 

presence of P increased As concentration and content in both willow clones. Th is result may have 

been related to slower As uptake or increased plant nutrition and biomass in +P treatments. Th e 

duration of As exposure complicates interactions between factors, as the time scale of the treatment 

was longer than the time scale of initial membrane transport kinetics.

KEY WORDS: biomass, hydroponics, phosphate, phytoremediation 

*Corresponding author: State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 

Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, 246 Illick Hall, Syracuse, NY 13210; 

Phone: (315) 470-6737; Fax: (315) 470-6934; Email: lbsmart@esf.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 45

IMPACTS OF PAPER SLUDGE, MANURE, AND FERTILIZER 

APPLICATION ON SOIL PROPERTIES AND BIOMASS 

PRODUCTION IN A SHORT ROTATION WILLOW CROPPING 

SYSTEM IN CENTRAL NEW YORK

Amos K. Quayea,*, Timothy A. Volka, Sasha D. Hafnerb, Don J Leopolda, 

and Charles D. Schirmera

a

College of Environmental Science and Forestry,State University of New York

b

HydroQual, Inc.

Land application of organic wastes to short-rotation woody crops (SRWC) can reduce the 

environmental impacts associated with waste disposal and enhance biomass production. A complete 

understanding of the potential impacts of organic amendments, however, requires the examination of 

changes in soil characteristics and plant productivity to these amendments. Th is study was conducted 

to evaluate the response of shrub willow (Salix × dasyclados; SV1) to organic amendments in central 

New York, and to determine the impacts of the amendments on soil chemical properties. Treatments 

were applied in the spring of 2005 to two fi elds of SV1 at diff erent growth stages. Th e older fi eld was 

1 year above ground on a 10-year-old root system, and the younger fi eld was a regrowth after fi rst 

coppice. Th e treatments were: 100 kg N/ha as urea (I), 100 kg total N/ha as dairy manure (ML), 100 

kg available N/ha as dairy manure (MH), 100 kg total N/ha as paper sludge (S), 100 kg total N/ha 

sludge + 100 kg available N/ha of manure (SM) and Control (C). Generally there was no productivity 

gain due to organic amendment, nor did nitrogen-poor sludge depress yields. Th ere was signifi cant 

treatment eff ect on foliar Ca (P = 0.03) and S (P = 0.03) in the older fi eld and signifi cant (P = 0.018) 

negative eff ect on foliar P in the younger fi eld. Other foliar elements were aff ected by fertilization. 

Th ere was signifi cant treatment eff ect on soil Ca, Mg, and pH (P < 0.0001, 0.007, 0.002, 

respectively) and marginally signifi cant eff ect for organic matter (P = 0.07) in the older fi eld. Soil Ca 

and pH were signifi cantly (P = 0.05, 0.02, respectively) aff ected by fertilization in the younger fi eld. 

Th e low response to N fertilization could partly be explained by the relatively high internal nutrient 

recycling of the fi elds and low levels of rainfall during the summer of the application year.

KEY WORDS: shrub willow, waste management, biomass production, Salix, organic amendment

*Corresponding author: State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 

Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management, 1 Forestry Dr., Syracuse NY, 13210; 

Phone: (315) 470-6775; Email: akquaye@syr.edu
46 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

HIGH THROUGHPUT ANALYSIS METHODS FOR SHORTROTATION CROPS

Timothy G. Rials* and Nicole Labbé

The Institute of Agriculture, University of Tennessee

While biomass yield is a convenient measure of the potential of short-rotation crops as feedstock for 

bioenergy and biofuels, other characteristics may ultimately determine overall quality for a particular 

conversion platform. Chemical composition, especially total sugars, will impact ethanol yield from 

biochemical processes. Inorganic compounds present in the biomass will infl uence the amount and 

type of residue from thermochemical conversion methods like pyrolysis and gasifi cation. Information 

on these fundamental measures of biomass quality is limited, largely because of the time and 

expense associated with the laboratory techniques required to determine the chemical, physical, and 

mechanical properties of lignocellulosic material. Recently, several spectroscopy techniques have been 

developed as high-throughput analytical tools that make it possible to quickly determine fundamental 

characteristics of biomass, including chemical composition.

Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) are of 

particular utility because of the complementary information they provide, and because they are 

both rugged and robust instruments. NIRS provides data on the organic matrix, and LIBS on the 

inorganic composition of biomass. Recent advances in the use of multivariate statistical methods 

for analysis make it possible to obtain the complete chemistry of the biomass. Projection to latent 

structures modeling allows development of calibration curves to predict the properties of interest. 

Typical correlation coeffi cients (R2

) for cellulose content predicted from NIRS data are 0.90 or above. 

Importantly, this capability reduces the time for analysis to seconds, and the expense to pennies. Th is 

presentation will describe applications of high-throughput methods for biomass assessment, and 

discuss the implications for future advances.

KEY WORDS: chemical composition, spectroscopy techniques, multivariate analysis

*Corresponding author: University of Tennessee, Institute of Agriculture, Forest Product Center and Sun Grant 

Center, 2506 Jacob Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-4570; Phone: (865) 946-1130; Email: trials@utk.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 47

SUGAR/ENERGY CANES AS FEEDSTOCKS FOR THE 

BIOFUELS INDUSTRY

Ed Richard, Jr.*, Thomas Tew, Robert Cobill, and Anna Hale

USDA Agricultural Research Service, Southern Regional Research Center, Sugarcane Research Lab

It is widely acknowledged that technologies for the conversion of the ligno-cellulosic component 

of the plant will have to be developed if the United States is to replace some of its needs for 

transportation fuel with renewable sources of biofuels. Sugar cane is cultured as a perennial row crop 

in the southern areas of Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Since 1795, it has been grown, harvested, 

and processed for commercial sugar recovery in Louisiana, which lies farther from the equator than 

almost any area where this tropical crop is grown. Sugar cane is a very effi cient C4

 grass in converting 

sunlight and other inputs into biomass—biomass that includes a high percentage of sugar that can 

be easily converted to ethanol as demonstrated by the successes in Brazil. Th ree sugar cane varieties 

(L 79-1002, HoCP 91-552, and Ho 00-961), dropped from the sugar cane varietal development 

program because of excessive fi ber levels, were released in 2007 as “bench-marking energy cane 

varieties” to meet the possible needs of biorefi neries, where the production of ethanol from all of 

the aboveground components of the crop is the desired objective. Th e three varieties produced 

soluble sugar yields of 10.5 to 14.8 t/ha and dry fi ber (bagasse) yields of 13.0 to 20.8 t/ha with an 

estimated total ethanol yield of 11,400 to 13,400 L/ha when averaged over four yearly fall harvests 

of the same planting. New varieties of dedicated energy canes with higher levels of cold tolerance 

and higher fi ber yields are being developed by introgressing genes from sugar cane’s wild relative, 

Saccharum spontaneum, and from its near relatives Miscanthus and Erianthus in an attempt to move 

the geographic range of adaption further northward. Some of these early-generation hybrids are being 

tested in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Mississippi, and Oklahoma, as well as more northern areas 

of the traditional cane-growing states. Other types of sugar-containing grasses are also being evaluated 

as complementary crops to lengthen the season for feedstock deliveries and reduce storage costs at 

the biorefi nery. Among these are four sweet sorghum varieties (Dale, M 81-E, Th eis, and Topper) 

and two essentially nonfl owering sorghum × sudangrass forage hybrids (MMR 333/27 and MMR 

333/47). When these sorghums were planted in the early spring and harvested in the mid to late 

summer prior to sugar cane harvest (approximately 140 days after planting), soluble sugar and dry 

biomass yields of 8.1 and 15.7 Mg/ha were obtained with estimated total (sugar plus fi ber) ethanol 

yields averaging 11,300 and 11,200 L/ha for the sweet and forage sorghums, respectively. Of the total 

ethanol produced, 50 percent of the sweet sorghum’s ethanol yield was derived from sugar while for 

the forage sorghums only 34 percent was produced from sugar.

KEY WORDS: sugarcane, sweet sorghum, sorghum × sudangrass forage hybrids, Miscanthus, 

Erianthus, ethanol production

*Corresponding author: 5883 USDA Road, Houma, LA 70360; Phone: (985) 872-5042; 

Email: ed.richard@ars.usda.gov

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
48 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

PRODUCTION OF BIOMASS FOR ENERGY FROM SUSTAINABLE 

FORESTRY SYSTEMS: CANADA AND EUROPE

Jim Richardson

IEA Bioenergy Task 31 and Poplar Council of Canada

Forest ecosystems are the world’s largest accessible source of biomass. Under varying levels of 

management intensity, much of this biomass is used for conventional forest products such as lumber, 

pulp, and panels. Th roughout most of the developing world, forest biomass is also harvested for 

energy, and for cooking, heat, and other daily needs. Increasingly in the western industrialized world 

also, interest is focused on the forest as a feedstock for bioenergy, a sustainable, carbon-neutral 

alternative to fossil energy. Forest biomass for energy may come from harvesting residues, from 

silvicultural treatments or from utilization of otherwise unmerchantable species or assortments. To 

be truly sustainable, forest systems harvesting biomass for energy must consider nutrient cycling, 

wood ash recycling, carbon sequestration, stand productivity, and soil and water conservation, as 

well as cost-effi cient forest operations. Social and cultural issues must also be taken into account. In 

many jurisdictions, policy and tax measures can help to make this form of renewable energy a viable 

alternative. Using biomass for energy from existing forestry systems is an alternative to growing 

short-rotation woody crops specifi cally for energy purposes. It is particularly suited to regions such 

as northern Europe and Canada, where forest resources are abundant. Natural phenomena which 

may be associated with climate change may provide signifi cantly enhanced availability of such forest 

biomass, but sustainability of supply must always be considered.

KEY WORDS: forestry systems, forest biomass, sustainability, environment, socio-economics

*Contact information: 1876 Saunderson Dr., Ottawa, ON, K1G 2C5, Canada; Phone: (613) 521-1995; 

Email: jrichardson@on.aibn.com

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 49

PACIFIC NORTHWEST POPLARS: 

A RESILIENT ARTHROPOD COMMUNITY AND THE 

DISTRIBUTION OF INSECT-CAUSED MORTALITY IN CUTTINGS

R. Andrew Rodstrom*, John J. Brown, and John R. Rodstrom

Department of Entomology, Washington State University

Hybrid poplars are a long-rotation (12-15 yr) woody crop grown to meet today’s fi ber demands. To 

meet the recent push toward environmentally friendly management, several poplar plantations in the 

Pacifi c Northwest have been certifi ed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which encourages 

environmentally responsible management of forest resources. A two-part project was conducted to 

investigate how terrestrial arthropod communities in FSC-certifi ed poplar plantations respond to the 

planned catastrophe of harvest and how cutting mortalities were distributed within a planting unit. 

Terrestrial arthropod communities were surveyed using unbaited pitfall traps in pre- and post-harvest 

habitats. A Shannon-Weiner diversity index was used to evaluate community composition of the 

pre- and post-harvest community. Cuttings were surveyed on foot, with failed cuttings being marked 

by a surveyor’s fl ag and recorded on a map of the planting unit. Using Spatial Analysis and Decision 

Assistance (SADA) we discerned patterns of insect-caused cutting failure within individual units. 

Results show that arthropod communities recover to preharvest levels in less than 2 years, indicating 

resilience to the disturbance. Despite the environmental catastrophe of harvest, the most common 

species in the system was found across all communities. Th e monospecifi c dominance of Calathus 

rufi collis (Coleoptera: Carabidae) was most noticeable in the fall, with spring and summer 

communities showing greater evenness. We found that patterns of cutting failure were consistent 

for a given pest across all units. Th ese fi ndings suggest that insect-caused cutting failures occur in 

discernable patterns linked to specifi c pests. Our illustration of insect-caused cutting failure through 

SADA allows the growers to identify problem areas within the farms and address pest problems 

within individual units based on failure patterns.

KEY WORDS: hybrid poplar, community resilience, pest distribution, Calathus rufi collis

*Corresponding author: Washington State University, Department of Entomology, 166 FSHN, Pullman, 

WA 99164; Phone: (509) 335-2129; Email: andrewrodstrom1@yahoo.com
50 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

IMPACTS OF BIOFUEL PRODUCTION ON GRASSLAND 

BIRDS IN WISCONSIN

David W. Samplea,* and Christine A. Ribicb

a

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

b

U.S. Geologic Survey, Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit

As interest in producing ethanol from corn as a way to achieve energy independence rises in the 

Midwest, there is growing concern among ecologists in Wisconsin and surrounding states that we 

should be cautious in our approach to the development of biofuels. Impacts on natural resources 

are important factors to consider in the debates over what and where diff erent types of biofuel 

production should be developed. In Wisconsin, grassland conservation is important due to both 

the value of grasslands for a variety of native fl ora and fauna and the threats to these vulnerable 

habitats. Some of the areas with the best opportunities for managing grasslands in Wisconsin have 

the potential to be negatively impacted by large-scale biofuel production. Th is situation is the result 

of multiple factors: an increase in the amount of corn acres, the potential for establishment of tree 

plantations in former prairie landscapes, the accelerated loss of pasture habitats, and a decrease 

in grassland acres enrolled in the USDA Conservation Reserve Program. Grassland birds are an 

important conservation target due to their wide-scale population declines. Our work in Wisconsin 

shows that landscape composition plays a role in patterns of grassland bird occupancy. Specifi cally, 

we know that grassland bird densities decrease in landscapes dominated by row crop agriculture or 

high amounts of woods. Growing switchgrass or mixes of native prairie grasses and forbs for biofuels 

as an alternative to corn has potential for reducing impacts on natural resources in open agricultural 

landscapes. However, more research is needed to understand the implications of biofuel production 

on grassland conservation at a landscape scale.

KEY WORDS: grassland birds, biofuel, switchgrass, conservation, landscape

*Corresponding author: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 2801 Progress Road, Madison, 

WI 53716; Phone: (608) 221-6351; Email: david.sample@wisconsin.gov

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 51

CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH SHORT-ROTATION 

BIOFUEL PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT IN THE LOWER 

MISSISSIPPI ALLUVIAL VALLEY

Jamie L. Schuler*, Matthew H. Pelkki, and H. Christoph Stuhlinger

University of Arkansas-Monticello

Th e development of biofuel synthesis technologies has led to increased interest in woody crops grown 

specifi cally for energy production. Th ese woody feedstocks typically involve fast-growing species (e.g., 

Salix spp., Populus spp.) planted at high densities using short rotations and intensive cultural practices 

like weed control and fertilization. Under ideal conditions, this type of system can produce 10+ dry 

tons/ac/yr, which is substantially higher than the 2.5 to 4 dry tons/ac/yr produced by pine plantations 

in the southern United States. Many of these plantings are projected to be established on lower 

quality agricultural lands. Recent attempts at establishing these plantations have highlighted some of 

the challenges (and expectations) that landowners will need to overcome in order to achieve levels of 

production that are fi nancially attractive. Th is paper will address some of the pitfalls and hurdles that 

need to be overcome before woody biofuel plantations will become widespread.

KEY WORDS: short-rotation woody crops, SRWC, bioenergy plantations, plantation establishment

*Corresponding author: University of Arkansas-Monticello, School of Forest Resources, P.O. Box 3468, 

Monticello, AR 71656; Phone: (870) 460-1448; Email: schuler@uamont.edu
52 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

A NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT AND FUTURE 

STATE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR WOODY CROPS IN MEETING 

MANDATED BIOFUEL REQUIREMENTS

Anna M. Shamey, Robert D. Perlack*, and Lynn L. Wright

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Eff orts are under way to assess the potential contribution of woody crops in meeting mandated 

cellulosic and advanced biofuel requirements of the recently passed Energy Independence and 

Security Act of 2007 (EISA). EISA requires the use of 21 billion gallons of cellulosic and other 

advanced biofuels by 2022. Th e cellulosic feedstocks required to produce these biofuels can come 

from a wide variety of cropland and forest land sources and because EISA specifi es use rather than 

production, imports can also be used to satisfy the mandate. Th e impact of EISA on U.S. agriculture 

and forestry will very much depend on the relative proportions of cropland- and forest land-derived 

feedstock and the extent to which imports are used to meet the mandate. Th is paper examines the 

potential contribution of short-rotation woody crops in meeting the EISA mandate. Th e paper 

provides an assessment of the current state of the technology for producing woody crops, realistic 

scenarios of technological change that may impact production technology in 2022, and results of a 

spatial analysis that show areas of the country where woody crops are most likely to be economically 

competitive. Included in these results are likely changes in land use (e.g., what land uses are most 

likely to be displaced) and associated impacts on sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions. Th e 

paper is national in scope and thus relies on geographic information system techniques to summarize 

results.

KEY WORDS: woody crops, short-rotation, economics, productivity, spatial analysis, land use 

change

*Corresponding author: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division, P.O. Box 2008, 

Building 1062, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6422; Phone: (865) 574-5186; Email: perlackrd@ornl.gov
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 53

WOOD-TO-WHEELS: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH 

INITIATIVE IN SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION UTILIZING 

FUELS AND CO-PRODUCTS FROM FOREST RESOURCES

David R. Shonnarda,*, Jeffrey D. Naberb, Qiong Zhangc, Ann L. Macleand, 

Kathleen E. Halvorsene, and John W. Sutherlandb

a

Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University (MTU) 

b

Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, MTU

c

Sustainable Futures Institute, MTU

d

School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU

e

Department of Social Sciences, MTU

Michigan Technological University (MTU) has established a broad-based university-wide research 

initiative, termed Wood-to-Wheels (W2W), to develop improved technologies for growing, 

harvesting, converting, and using woody biomass in renewable transportation fuel applications. 

MTU has established advanced facilities for biomass production and processing and biofuels-focused 

powertrain testing in support of the W2W research initiative. Research related to biotechnology, 

forest ecosystem management, vehicular systems, and decision-making sustainability include:

Sustainable forest planning and woody biomass harvesting, soil element cycling, and the 

molecular biology and genetic engineering of trees

Processes for biochemical and thermal conversion of biomass, including chemical 

pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose, fermentation, product purifi cation, and 

enzyme/microorganism improvement

Bioprocessing facility location, harvesting, logistics, and community-related issues

Developing, adapting, and testing engines and other system components to utilize ethanol, 

biodiesel, and other bio-products

Technology evaluation and appraisal of commercialization potential

Environmental assessment of the life cycle of biofuel production and usage and comparison 

with conventional alternatives

Th e presentation will summarize the activities associated with the Wood-to-Wheels initiative and 

describe the potential benefi ts that are achievable.

KEY WORDS: biofuels, sustainability, wood-to-wheels, value chain

*Corresponding author: Michigan Technological University, Department of Chemical Engineering and 

Sustainable Futures Institute, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931; Phone: (906) 487-3468; 

Email: drshonna@mtu.edu

•

•

•

•

•

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54 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

GENETICS OF YIELD AND BIOMASS COMPOSITION OF 

SHRUB WILLOW BIOENERGY CROPS BRED AND SELECTED IN 

NORTH AMERICA

Lawrence B. Smart*, Michelle J. Serapiglia, Kimberly D. Cameron, Arthur J. Stipanovic, 

Timothy A. Volk, and Lawrence P. Abrahamson

College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York

Fast-growing shrub willow is a proven bioenergy crop in Europe and is being adopted commercially 

in regions of North America. Breeding and selection of shrub willows adapted for fi eld conditions 

in North America have been conducted at SUNY’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry 

since 1998. From more than 2,000 individuals produced through breeding in 1998 and 1999, a 

number have been selected for improved biomass yield in two fi eld trials with small, replicated 

plots. A comparison of fi rst- and second-rotation yield results from these trials will be presented, 

demonstrating that the yield of a number of varieties exceeded that of the best current production 

variety, ‘SV1’. Th e highest mean yield in these small plots was 40 percent higher than that of ‘SV1’, 

which typically yields 4 to 5 dry tons ac-1

 yr

-1. A selected number of these high-yielding varieties 

have been scaled-up and planted in yield trials established using production-style spacing on several 

sites in the United States, Canada, and Northern Ireland to evaluate yield potential across a range 

of environmental conditions. To encourage commercial deployment, seven varieties were patented 

and have been licensed to a nursery for commercial scale-up and sale of planting stock. Current and 

future work is focused on characterizing the genetic basis for diff erences in biomass composition 

among diverse high-yielding varieties. High-resolution thermogravimetric analysis has been used 

to characterize the chemical composition of biomass harvested from more than 100 varieties in the 

SUNY-ESF breeding program. Initial characterization of willow genes encoding key enzymes in 

lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose biosynthesis will be presented.

KEY WORDS: cellulose, lignin, molecular biology, Salix, thermogravimetric analysis, wood 

composition

*Corresponding author: State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 

Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, 246 Illick Hall, Syracuse, NY 13210; 

Phone: (315) 470-6737; Fax: (315) 470-6934; Email: lbsmart@esf.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 55

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE EXPANSION OF 

BRAZILIAN ETHANOL

Gerd Sparoveka,*, Rodrigo Mauleb, and Göran Berndesc

a

University of São Paulo, Brazil

b

Entropix Engenharia, Brazil

c

Chalmers University, Sweden

Because of increasing demand, Brazil is expected to expand its sugarcane-based ethanol production. 

Addressing concerns about social impacts of such an expansion requires careful consideration of 

the complexity of Brazilian agriculture. In a conventional expansion scenario, mills tend to cluster 

and sugarcane displaces most land-use types, thus dominating the landscape regionally. Th is pattern 

may impact expansion areas by relocating traditional small holders or withdrawing them from 

agricultural production, competing with food production, concentrating land property because of 

land market dynamization, reducing agro-ecosystem diversity, and displacing extensive beef cattle 

or milk production. Th is process will change social and economic structures dramatically, and 

probably will create negative externalities. Integration of sugarcane production with the prevailing 

land uses in expansion areas is key to reducing the impacts of displacement, and to preserving food 

production and the established social and economic environment. Th is paper examines integration 

pathways for livestock and food crop production, using both the potential of the industrial process 

for improving livestock production and the coexistence of food crops in sugarcane fi elds. Livestock 

production may be intensifi ed and integrated using industrial residues for feed production, resulting 

in the maintenance of current production levels on a substantially smaller area. Food production 

also can be improved, to some extent, using areas where sugarcane will be renewed. As a result of 

these integration pathways, sugarcane production potential is not aff ected substantially, and social 

externalities are mitigated by allowing sugarcane production to coexist with livestock and food crop 

production.

KEY WORDS: sugarcane, Brazil, expansion, sustainability

*Corresponding author: University of São Paulo, Soil Science Department, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, 

CEP 13.418-900, Piracicaba (SP), Brazil; Phone: +55 19 3429 4503; Email: gerd@usp.br

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
56 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF HYBRID POPLAR FOR THE 

RENEWABLE FUELS INDUSTRY: 

A PACIFIC NORTHWEST PERSPECTIVE

Brian J. Stantona,*, Jon D. Johnsonb, and David B. Nealec

a

GreenWood Resources

b

Washington State Universtiy

c

University of California, Davis

More than 14,000 hectares of poplar plantations are being managed in the Pacifi c Northwest by the 

pulp and paper, timber, and the environmental-services industries. Th e success of these operations has 

been due in large measure to the availability of highly selected, elite plant material of superior growth 

and adaptability, the selection of which has been tailored to three main criteria: 1) compatibility 

with plantation management practices (e.g., ease of clonal propagation, rapid growth, pest resistance, 

good stem form); 2) adaptability to local climatic and edaphic conditions; and 3) suitability of wood 

and fi ber properties for paper and lumber manufacture (e.g., wood specifi c gravity, fi ber length, cell 

wall thickness). Poplar is now being considered as a priority feedstock for the cellulosic liquid fuels 

industry. Whether it contributes to the Northwest’s future renewable energy portfolio will depend 

upon the availability of cultivars of high biomass productivity coupled with high rates of conversion 

within specifi c liquid fuels production processes. Two approaches are being used in breeding new 

Populus energy varieties. First, variation in wood specifi c gravity, calorifi c value, and carbohydrate 

and lignin chemistry is being quantifi ed in advance of a revised hybridization plan for feedstock 

improvement in the P. × canadensis and P. × generosa taxa. Secondly, molecular tools are being 

developed to identify DNA sequence variation in genes underlying phenotypic variation in cellulose 

quantity, quality, and extractability in P. trichocarpa and P. nigra breeding populations. Th e focus of 

both approaches is the design of a genomics-assisted hybridization program for a new class of energy 

cultivars, the biomass of which will be competitive with other cellulosic feedstocks when measured on 

the basis of the price per unit of delivered carbohydrate and the ease of conversion to liquid fuels. 

KEY WORDS: genetic improvement, wood chemistry, Populus, renewable energy, genomics

*Corresponding author: 121 S.W. Salmon Street, Suite 1020, Portland, OR 97204; Phone: (971) 533-7052; 

Email: bstanton@greenwoodresources.com

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 57

IRRIGATION EFFECTS IN A COTTONWOOD PLANTATION IN THE 

LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER ALLUVIAL VALLEY

H. Christoph Stuhlingera,*, Paul F. Doruskab, and Matthew H. Pelkkic

a

Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas

b

College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point

c

University of Arkansas-Monticello, School of Forest Resources

Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr.) may have potential as a short-rotation alternate crop on 

marginal farmlands in the U.S. South to meet increasing biomass demands for pulp and bioenergy 

applications. Th is 10-year study, installed in the Delta region of Arkansas, investigated the eff ects 

of irrigation on the growth of nine cottonwood clones (fi ve Stoneville clones, two Texas clones, and 

two hybrid clones). Survival, height, diameter, and biomass production of the cottonwoods were 

compared between the irrigated-bedded treatment and the unirrigated-subsoiled treatment, and 

among the nine clones. Poor initial survival caused the replanting of several clones the second year 

and the separate analysis of the two groups of clones. Survival for some clones dropped off greatly 

after 5 years. Th e irrigated-bedding treatment increased volume growth (biomass production) over the 

unirrigated-subsoiled treatment, and for some clones, irrigation more than doubled volume growth. 

Lower survival resulted in more growing space and greater volume growth for some clones. Overall, 

irrigation increased height, diameter, and volume growth of all clones except one. Th e best clonal 

biomass production was 2.1 dry tons/acre/year in the unirrigated treatment and 4.3 dry tons/acre/

year in the irrigated treatment, both less than expected. Some clones produced more biomass during 

the fi rst 5 years than the second 5 years. Economic considerations require the additional investigation 

of growing selected clones in the Delta under various spacing, rotation length, and cultural treatment 

regimes to determine if cottonwood can be a competitive woody crop in this region.

KEY WORDS: biomass production, eastern cottonwood, plantation, clones

*Corresponding author: University of Arkansas-Monticello, School of Forest Resources, P.O. Box 3468, 

Monticello, AR 71656-3468; Phone: (870) 460-1749; Email: stuhlinger@uamont.edu
58 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CELLULOSIC BIOMASS SUPPLY 

FROM WHOLE-TREE CHIPPING AND SLASH REMOVAL

Philip A. Tappe*, Matthew H. Pelkki, Robert L. Ficklin, and Hal O. Liechty

Arkansas Forest Resources Center, University of Arkansas

Currently, corn and soybean are the primary feedstocks producing ethanol and biodiesel, respectively. 

However, it is unlikely that these crops will be suffi cient to meet biofuel demands, particularly since 

they are also important food sources. Cellulosic ethanol has the potential to replace 30 percent 

of U.S. petroleum use. Th e collection of post-logging forest residues, or logging slash, is a vital 

component of a cellulosic biomass supply for biofuel production. Pine plantations produce the 

majority of harvested forest volume in the U.S. South and are projected to increase 53 percent 

in area by 2050. Projections estimate that two-thirds of the national softwood harvest will occur 

on plantations, which cover 20 percent of the U.S. forest base. Clearly, pine plantations have an 

important role in producing biofuel feedstocks. However, whole-tree chipping (i.e., removal of all 

above-stump biomass) may have deleterious impacts on site productivity and ecosystem services with 

the removal of high amounts of logging slash. Forest harvesting can reduce the base saturation of 

soils, and this reduction intensifi es with the amount of biomass removed. Whole-tree harvesting also 

can reduce cycling of soil carbon, thus modifying soil properties and reducing future productivity. 

Th e quantity, size, distribution, and decay status of woody debris in forests infl uence plant and 

animal community composition and diversity. However, removal of logging slash has the potential to 

negatively impact several species groups. We summarize current knowledge regarding environmental 

dimensions of whole-tree chipping and logging slash removal in the U.S. South and identify critical 

information gaps related to sustainable cellulosic biomass supply.

KEY WORDS: biodiversity, harvesting, nutrient cycling, slash, soil carbon, woody debris

*Corresponding author: University of Arkansas, Arkansas Forest Resources Center & School of Forest 

Resources, P.O. Box 3468, Monticello, AR 71656-3468; Phone: (870) 460-1352; Email: tappe@uamont.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 59

CANOPY STRUCTURE, LIGHT INTERCEPTION, AND LIGHT-USE 

EFFICIENCY IN WILLOW

Pradeep J. Tharakan, Timothy A. Volk, Chris A. Nowak, and Godfrey J. Ofezu*

College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York

According to the light-use effi ciency model, diff erential biomass production among willow clones 

may be attributed to either the diff erences in the amount of light intercepted, or the effi ciency with 

which the intercepted light is converted to aboveground biomass, or both. We tested this model on 

a second-rotation willow coppice in its fi rst growing season at an existing genetic selection trial at 

Tully, NY. We investigated the variation in aboveground biomass production (AGBP) in relation 

to the percent incoming radiation intercepted (IPARF) and light-use effi ciency (ε) for fi ve willow 

clones grown in a short-rotation woody crop (SRWC) system. Th e study was conducted during 

a 2-month period (June 15 to August 15, 2001) when growing conditions were deemed most 

favorable. Th e objectives were to: (1) assess the relative importance of IPARF in explaining variation 

in AGBP; and (2) identify the key drivers of variation in ε from a suite of measured leaf and canopylevel traits. We hypothesized that variation in AGBP would be more closely related to IPARF than 

ε and that ε variation would be closely related to traits that maximized canopy photosynthesis. 

AGBP varied nearly threefold among genotypes (3.55 to 10.02 Mg ha-1), while ε spanned a twofold 

range (1.21 to 2.52 g MJ-1). At peak leaf area index (LAI), IPARF ranged from 66 percent to 92 

percent. Nonetheless, AGBP was strongly related to IPARF and ε. An additive model combining 

photosynthesis on leaf area basis, leaf mass per unit area, and light extinction coeffi cient produced 

the most compelling predictors of ε. Th e results suggest that in a post-coppice willow, the ability 

to maximize IPARF and ε early in the growing season is advantageous for maximizing biomass 

production. From these clonal diff erences, productivity and yield improvements can be achieved by 

selection of superior genotypes in the short-rotation coppice system.

KEY WORDS: aboveground biomass, Salix sp., short-rotation woody crops

*Corresponding author: State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 241 

Illick Hall, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 13210; Phone: (315) 470-6774/4742; Email:gjofezu@syr.edu
60 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

BUILDING A CELLULOSIC BIOFUELS INDUSTRY FROM THE 

GROUND UP: TENNESSEE BIOFUELS INITIATIVE

Kelly Tiller

The University of Tennessee, Institute of Agriculture, Offi ce of Bioenergy Programs

Tennessee is leading an ambitious eff ort to develop a cellulosic biofuels industry. With more than 

$300 million in state, federal, and private funding dedicated to the eff ort, Tennessee is poised 

to succeed. Th e Tennessee Biofuels Initiative is led by the University of Tennessee, Institute of 

Agriculture, with partners including the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and other third-party private 

sector technology partners. Th e centerpiece of the eff ort is construction and operation of a 10 percent 

scale (2 to 4 million gallons per year) cellulosic biorefi nery, supplied by locally grown switchgrass and 

wood chips. While the research-oriented demonstration-scale biorefi nery is the heart of the Initiative, 

key to the entire project is the focus on developing a supply chain for providing suffi cient, reliable, 

and sustainable dedicated energy crop feedstocks. Th e Initiative is focused largely on working with 

local farmers (within a 50-mile radius of the biorefi nery) to develop switchgrass as a feedstock supply 

chain, and provides more than $12 million for research, extension, education, and direct incentive 

payments for participating farmers to plant up to 8,000 acres of switchgrass. Th e integrated project 

is designed to answer a variety of research questions, ranging from feedstock supply systems to pretreatment and conversion technology approaches to industrial processing and scale-up to systems for 

product distribution and marketing. Th e University of Tennessee has contracted with local farmers 

to plant more than 700 acres of switchgrass in 2008, with signifi cant related research under way in 

the areas of agronomics, production management, harvest systems, storage, and transportation. Th e 

biorefi nery is scheduled to be operational by the second quarter of 2010. Th e integrated systems 

approach of the Biofuels Initiative is designed to foster development of a large-scale commercial 

biofuels industry in Tennessee and the region.

KEY WORDS: cellulosic biofuels, sustainable energy crop feedstock, switchgrass, farmer incentive 

program, biorefi nery, conversion technology for marketing and distribution

*Contact information: Director of External Operations, Th e University of Tennessee, Institute of Agriculture, 

Offi ce of Bioenergy Programs, 2506 Jacob Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-4570; Phone: (865) 946-1130; 

Email: ktiller@tennessee.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 61

POPLAR AND WILLOW SHORT ROTATION INTENSIVE CULTURE 

(SRIC) CROPS IN WESTERN CANADA

Cees (“Case”) van Oosten

SilviConsult Woody Crops Technology Inc.

An overview will be presented of poplar and willow short-rotation intensive-culture (SRIC) crops 

in western Canada. Western Canada consists of the Prairie Provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and 

Alberta) and British Columbia. Th ese crops are grown or have potential in four distinctive crop zones, 

each with its particular challenges. South-central Manitoba is in a similar crop zone as Minnesota and 

southern Ontario; southeastern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta and the northeast Peace region 

of British Columbia are in a distinct crop zone, typifi ed by the transition between prairie grasslands 

and the boreal forest region. In British Columbia one crop zone parallels the Coast Mountain range 

on the Westside; the second zone is wedged between the Coast Mountain range in the west and the 

Rocky Mountains in the east.

Although poplars have been planted for a long time in the Prairie Provinces in farm shelterbelts, the 

concept of SRIC hybrid poplar crops is relatively new. SRIC willow crops are very new to the region 

and are all experimental in nature. Th is presentation will discuss the challenges and potential of 

these crop systems in this region. In coastal British Columbia the culture of poplars has a long and 

successful history; however, the region has been subjected to various ups and downs in SRIC hybrid 

poplar crop systems that had more to do with corporate directions than with the crop itself. To date 

there has been little activity with SRIC willow crops in British Columbia.

KEY WORDS: hybrid poplar, Populus, willow, Salix

*Contact information: 2356 York Crescent, Nanaimo, BC V9T 4N3, Canada; Phone: (250) 758-8230; 

Email: silviconsult@telus.net

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
62 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

WOOD BIOENERGY SYSTEMS IN CANADA

Ken C.J. Van Rees

Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan

Th e development of woody short-rotation intensive-culture (SRIC) biomass productions systems 

is just beginning in Canada and presents a unique opportunity to engage farmers in growing a 

diff erent crop. Bioenergy production systems are feasible in Canada but will depend on selecting the 

right clones that are suitable to our climate zones and soils but that also produce satisfactory yields. 

Whether these systems can be sustainable in the long term is still uncertain as we have no trials to 

evaluate potential long-term productivity and nutrient cycling; however, current research suggests that 

fertilization may not be necessary in the short term when plantations are established on agricultural 

land. Among the obstacles for producer involvement in bioenergy systems is fi rst of all changing the 

farmer mindset that growing a crop for longer than 1 year is not an impediment to earning money. 

At one time or another, most farmers in the prairies have removed woody biomass on their farms 

to increase their capacity for growing crops and are reluctant to go back into “woody” systems. 

However, the newer generation of farmers may be less reluctant to do so because of an ability to take 

more risks, a greater environmental consciousness and better education. High initial establishment 

costs (>$10,000/ha) may also deter producers from participating in woody biomass systems without 

government incentives or other mechanisms to reduce up-front establishment costs. Finally, having 

a stable, growing industry that can utilize this material is essential in order for producers to see the 

value in committing to growing woody biomass for the long term.

KEY WORDS: woody biomass, farmer perceptions, sustainability

*Contact information: University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A8, Canada; 

Phone: (306) 966-6853; Email: ken.vanrees@usask.ca

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 63

REGIONAL SITE-SELECTION MODELS FOR HYBRID POPLARS

Robert C. Venette*, Michael E. Ostry, and Kathleen M. Ward

U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station

Hybrid poplars (Populus spp.) can quickly produce signifi cant biomass compared with other 

hardwood species and, as a result, are increasingly being grown for pulp and wood products. Global 

energy demands have rekindled interest in hybrid poplar as an alternative, renewable energy source. 

Future production of hybrid poplar to meet demand will depend on optimization of site selection, 

clone selection, and management practices. In this study, we attempt to identify and validate site 

factors that are correlated with growth potential of hybrid poplar. Because data were unavailable 

to describe the growth of common clones replicated over a range of sites, we selected aspen (P. 

tremuloides) as a surrogate poplar species. We identifi ed 306 aspen stands that were naturally growing 

in near-monocultures at densities comparable to those recommended for commercial hybrid poplar 

production. We then used ridge-regression to evaluate the relationship between aspen site index and 

several soil and climatological measures. Site index was positively correlated with the percentage 

(by weight) of coarse soil particles and negatively correlated with calcium carbonate concentration, 

vertical water fl ow, and hardwood habitat quality. To validate the model, in 2005 and 2006 we 

measured diameter at breast height (d.b.h.) of P. deltoides × nigra and P. nigra × maximowiczii clones 

in 31 commercial plantations in Todd County, Minnesota, planted in 1999 and 2000. Observed 

d.b.h. was positively correlated with predicted site index for plantings in 2000 but not 1999, 

presumably because of outbreaks of defoliating insects. Our resulting map may be helpful when 

selecting future sites for hybrid poplar plantations, but clone selection, insect and disease impacts, 

and management practices have as much or greater impact on fi ber production.

KEY WORDS: Populus, productivity, site relationships

*Corresponding author: Northern Research Station, 1561 Lindig St., St. Paul, MN 55108; 

Phone: (651) 649-5028; Email: rvenette@fs.fed.us
64 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

DEVELOPMENT OF SWITCHGRASS INTO A 

BIOMASS ENERGY CROP

Kenneth Vogel*, Rob Mitchell, and Gautam Sarath

USDA Agricultural Research Service, Grain, Forage, and Bioenergy Research Unit

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a North American prairie grass that is being developed into a 

biomass energy crop in the United States and other countries. Research on switchgrass as a pasture 

and forage crop was initiated in the mid-1930s in a USDA and University of Nebraska cooperative 

program. In 1990, breeding and management research also was initiated to develop switchgrass into 

a biomass energy crop. Critical questions for a biomass/bioenergy production system include: What 

are the economics? Is energy from biomass net energy-positive? Is production system information 

available and verifi ed? Is the system sustainable? To address these questions, 10 farmers in the midcontinental United States were contracted to grow switchgrass in 6-8 ha fi elds for a 5-year period 

and manage it as a biomass energy crop using available cultivars and management practices from 

2000 to 2005. Results indicate that during this period switchgrass biomass feedstock could have 

been produced in this region at a cost of about $50 Mg-1 at the farm gate, which translates to about 

$0.13 per liter of ethanol. Net energy yield on the established switchgrass fi elds was 60 GJ ha-1

 y

-1. 

In these farmer trials, switchgrass produced 540 percent more renewable energy than nonrenewable 

energy consumed. Th ese baseline studies represent the technology that was available for switchgrass in 

2000 and 2001 when the fi elds were planted but clearly demonstrate that for switchgrass a full array 

of production system technology is available for its use as a biomass energy crop. Improved genetics 

and agronomics will further enhance energy sustainability and biofuel yield of switchgrass. Carbon 

sequestration research is still in progress, but the initial results are very encouraging. Technology 

has been developed to rotate from switchgrass to crops including maize and soybeans and back to 

switchgrass without plowing.

KEY WORDS: herbaceous perennials, switchgrass, genetics, feedstocks

*Corresponding author: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 314 Biochemistry Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583; 

Phone: (402) 472-1564; Email: ken.vogel@ars.usda.gov

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 65

ILLINOIS STUDIES OF MISCANTHUS × GIGANTEUS FOR 

BIOMASS FEEDSTOCK PRODUCTION

Tom Voigt

University of Illinois

While switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is considered to be the primary biomass feedstock for many 

portions of the United States, another biomass-producing grass, Miscanthus × giganteus (M. × g.), 

deserves consideration. Originating in Japan, M. × g. has been used for many years as a landscape 

plant in the United States, but since 2002, it has been the subject of University of Illinois research 

interest because of its potentially great biomass production. For more than 15 years, the grass has 

been studied and grown in Europe where its senescent stems are harvested and burned to produce 

heat and electricity. Miscanthus × giganteus is a perennial, warm-season grass native to Asia. It is a 

reproductively sterile hybrid believed to have Miscanthus sinensis and M. saccharifl orus as its parents. 

M. × g. begins growth in April and typically reaches 2 m by the end of May in central Illinois. Growth 

continues throughout the summer, and it normally grows taller than 4 m by the end of September. It 

is propagated asexually using plantlets produced in tissue culture or by rhizome divisions. Following 

fi eld planting, M. × g. generally takes at least three growing seasons to become fully established 

and reach optimal biomass production. In Illinois, the senesced stems can be harvested from early 

December through early March. As an example of its prolifi c biomass production, annual dry-matter 

M. × g. yields from University of Illinois research plots planted in 2002 and averaged over 2004, 

2005, and 2006 produced 22.0 t ha-1, 34.7 t ha-1, and 35.4 t ha-1 in northern, central, and southern 

Illinois, respectively. In this presentation, Illinois research fi ndings that include evaluations of 

greenhouse and fi eld propagation of M. × g. rhizomes and rhizome harvesting and planting methods 

will be shared. Th e tolerance of M. × g. to pre- and post-emergence herbicides used to control grassy 

and broadleaf weeds in new plantings also will be discussed. Finally, this presentation will explore past 

Illinois agronomic experiences and the realistic opportunities for future expansion of this crop.

KEY WORDS: bioenergy, herbaceous perennial, sterile hybrid

*Contact information: University of Illinois, S-416 Turner Hall, 1102 South Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801; 

Email: tvoigt@uiuc.edu

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
66 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

COMMERCIALIZING WILLOW BIOMASS CROPS FOR 

BIOENERGY AND BIOPRODUCTS IN THE NORTHEASTERN AND 

MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES

Timothy A. Volka,*, Lawrence P. Abrahamsona, Thomas E. Amidona, Daniel J. Aneshansleyb, 

Kimberly D. Camerona, Gregg A. Johnsonc, John Posseliusd, Dennis Rake, 

Lawrence B. Smarta, Eric Spomerf, and Edwin H. Whitea

a

State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry

b

Dept. of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University

c

Southern Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota

d

Case New Holland America, LLC

e

Double A Willow

f

Catalyst Renewables

Interest in the commercial production of willow biomass crops has developed rapidly due to changes 

in prices of fossil fuels, concerns about energy security, and growing pressure to address issues related 

to global climate change. Several bottlenecks to commercialization are being addressed, including the 

production of willow planting stock at Double A Willow in western New York and a new harvesting 

system being developed in conjunction with Case New Holland. Catalyst Renewables installed the 

fi rst commercial willow acreage in North America in the spring of 2006 and has a goal of establishing 

several thousand acres over the next few years. At the market end the fi rst commercial-scale test of 

willow biomass crops in North America is under way at the Lyonsdale Biomass combined heat and 

power (CHP) plant in upstate New York with several thousand tons of willow biomass. Several other 

power and CHP projects as well as small-scale heating projects are being developed with willow as a 

component of the feedstock. Two pilot wood-based biorefi neries are being built in upstate New York 

and willow has been successfully tested in both of these processes as well as several other conversion 

processes.

Modifi cation of the Conservation Reserve Program and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement 

Program, the federal biomass tax credit for closed-loop biomass, and the New York Renewable 

Portfolio Standard have all placed value on some of the environmental and rural development 

benefi ts associated with willow biomass crops. Th e combination of these improvements has created 

a solid foundation for the commercialization of willow biomass crops in the northeast and midwest 

United States. However, there is a lack of experience with the establishment and management of 

willow biomass crops at a commercial scale. To avoid large-scale failures or disappointing production 

early in the development of the crop, an ongoing outreach and research program to support the 

commercialization is being conducted.

KEY WORDS: Salix, short-rotation woody crops, willow harvesting systems, biorefi nery

*Corresponding author: State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 

Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management, 346 Illick Hall, 1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY 

13210; Phone: (315) 470-6774; Email: tavolk@esf.edu

*** INVITED SPEAKER ***
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 67

EVALUATING EFFLUENT AND CANAL WATER IRRIGATION FOR 

WOOD BIOMASS PRODUCTION AND PHYTOTECHNOLOGY

N. Larry White

Saskatchewan Forest Centre

Irrigation provides an opportunity to produce increased volumes of wood biomass and identify 

phytotechnology applications. Th ere are currently up to 500,000 underutilized irrigable acres in 

the irrigation area of Saskatchewan where woody crops could be grown. If landowners are to grow 

biomass tree crops in the future, there must be a positive economic return. Th e unknown is the 

potential yield of various tree crops under dryland and irrigation management systems. Projects 

are under way to evaluate the yields of hybrid poplar, willow, and various other tree species using 

secondary cell effl uent water and clear canal water from the Saskatchewan River. Th ese projects 

will help to identify those species which do well under irrigation and will identify future genetic 

improvement needs under an irrigation regime. Th e two sources of water are being used to 

evaluate the performance of two diff erent types of irrigation systems: a) a trickle system and b) a 

microsprinkler system. In addition three diff erent systems will be used to determine soil moisture 

levels, which in turn will determine the application rates for irrigation water. Th e projects will help 

communities better understand the technology involved in using irrigation to dispense with effl uent 

water in an environmentally safe manner. More than 100 communities in the Province could 

potentially benefi t from this technology. A secondary benefi t of using trees to dispose of the effl uent 

water is the production of a marketable wood product. Th e projects will further demonstrate to 

communities the use of trees for phytotechnology applications.

KEY WORDS: irrigation, phytotechnology, effl uent management, hybrid poplar, willow

*Contact information: 101-1061 Central Avenue, Prince Albert, SK, S6V 6K7, Canada; E

mail: lwhite@saskforestcentre.ca
68 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

A COMPARATIVE COST ANALYSIS OF LOGISTICS FOR 

HERBACEOUS ENERGY CROPS AND SHORT-ROTATION 

WOODY CROPS

Erin G. Wilkerson*, Robert D. Perlack, and Anthony F. Turhollow

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Mandates requiring the use of cellulosic and other advanced biofuels in coming years will establish 

a demand for dedicated energy crops in addition to residues from agriculture and forestry. Primary 

energy crop candidates fall into one of two categories: herbaceous crops and short-rotation woody 

crops. Supply chains for woody crops and herbaceous crops vary in the way that the feedstocks are 

processed, handled, and stored. Herbaceous energy crops, such as switchgrass, are typically harvested 

as bales and stored under cover (in a building or tarped) until the material is needed. Th e bales are 

delivered to the biorefi nery, where they are chopped before being loaded into the reactor. Woody 

crops, on the other hand, are harvested as needed and chipped at the landing prior to transport to the 

biorefi nery. In this system, handling is minimized and long-term storage of woody materials, other 

than that required at the biorefi nery, is not needed. Th e objective of this paper is to compare the 

logistics costs of short-rotation woody crops to herbaceous energy crops. Th e comparison will include 

harvesting, forwarding or staging to the landing or farmgate, chipping or packaging, handling, 

storage, hauling, and unloading at a biorefi nery. Th e eff ects of yield, which vary by region, on logistics 

costs will be included in the analysis. Th e results of this analysis will be useful in identifying areas of 

improvement in supply-chain logistics and for assisting the cellulosic industry in identifying the best 

energy crop for various situations.

KEY WORDS: logistics, economics, short-rotation, woody crops, switchgrass

*Corresponding author: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division, P.O. Box 2008, 

Building 1062, Oak Ridge, TN 37831; Phone: (865) 576-4814; Email: wilkersoneg@ornl.gov
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 69

MULTIPLE CRITERIA DECIDING ON PHYTOREMEDIATION OF A 

HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATED AGRICULTURAL AREA CASE: 

THE CAMPINE, BELGIUM

Nele Witters*, Ann Ruttens, and Theo Thewys

Hasselt University, Centre for Environmental Sciences

From the end of the 19th century until the mid 1970s, zinc and lead were refi ned at several locations 

in the northeastern Belgium using a pyrometallurgical process. Consequently, a large area (280 km2) 

is moderately contaminated from atmospheric deposition of the dust, with lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), 

and cadmium (Cd) being the main pollutants. Th ese heavy metals can be found in the upper layer 

of the soil (30 to 40 cm). Large areas of land in the region are currently in agricultural use, but soils 

and crops often exceed legal Cd limits. Regional policy therefore prescribes that the soils should be 

remediated, but at the same time it is desirable to keep the income of the farmers constant. One 

possible way to achieve both goals is the use of phytoremediation in combination with the growth 

of energy crops (e.g. energy maize, rapeseed, and woody species). Th is approach brings us to the 

concept of a multifunctional biomass system. Society’s acceptance of phytoremediation is determined 

by the eff ect it has on farmer income. Th is income could be supported by producing renewable 

energy (heat and electricity) from the polluted biomass. Th e goal of this study is to compare the 

diff erent crops on their remediating, economic, ecological, and energy impacts (criteria). Monte 

Carlo analysis shows the sensitivity of the economic viability to regional subsidising systems (due to 

high costs involved in converting the polluted biomass into energy and in processing the waste) and 

to energy crop prices. Preliminary results of our study show that when a high weight is attributed to 

the economic perspective, calculations do (for now) not favor short-rotation woody crops over large 

biomass-producing crops like energy maize. If, however, a larger weight is given to phytoremediation 

capacities, results give an advantage to woody crops.

KEY WORDS: agriculture, woody crops, phytoremediation, economics

*Corresponding author: Hasselt University, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Applied Economic 

Sciences, Department of Economics-Law, Agoralaan – Gebouw D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; 

Phone: +32 11 26 87 57; Fax: +32 11 26 87 60, Email: nele.witters@uhasselt.be
70 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

POPULUS ROOT SYSTEM MORPHOLOGY DURING 

PHYTOREMEDIATION OF LANDFILL LEACHATE

Jill A. Zalesnya,*, Ronald S. Zalesny, Jr.a, David R. Coyleb, 

Richard B. Hallc, and Edmund O. Bauera

a

U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies

b

Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin

c

Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University

Using Populus for phytoremediation of wastewaters, including landfi ll leachate, is necessary in North 

America because of increased municipal solid waste generation. Populus species and hybrids are 

ideal for such applications because of their high water usage rates, fast growth, and extensive root 

systems. Adventitious rooting (i.e., lateral rooting from primordia and basal rooting from callus) 

of Populus is important for phytotechnologies to ensure successful plantation establishment with 

genotypes that thrive when irrigated with highly variable or specifi c contaminants. We evaluated 

diff erences in root system morphology following establishment with high-salinity municipal solid 

waste landfi ll leachate or uncontaminated well water (control). Populus clones (NC13460, NC14018, 

NC14104, NC14106, DM115, DN5, NM2, NM6) were irrigated during 2005 and 2006 in 

northern Wisconsin and tested for diff erences in morphology of lateral and basal root types, as well 

as fi ne (0 to 2 mm), small (2 to 5 mm), and coarse (> 5 mm) roots. Across treatments and clones, 

trees averaged 5 roots per root type. Leachate-irrigated trees had 88 percent (lateral) and 106 percent 

(basal) more roots than those irrigated with water, yet the leachate:water ratio for number of basal 

roots ranged from 0.5 (NM2) to 2.5 (NC13460). Presence of fi ne roots with leachate was 97 percent 

of water irrigation, while trees with leachate had 113 percent (small) and 90 percent (coarse) as 

many roots versus water. Th e leachate:water ratio for number of lateral and basal coarse roots ranged 

from 0.4 (NC14018) to 1.2 (NC14106, NM2) and 0.5 (DM115) to 2.7 (NC14104), respectively. 

Despite root necrosis and regrowth in 23 percent of the trees, leachate irrigation did not negatively 

aff ect root diameter or dry mass (P > 0.05). Given that adequate rooting is necessary for plantation 

establishment, leachate and similar wastewaters are viable irrigation and fertilization sources of 

Populus crops used as feedstocks for biofuels, bioenergy, and bioproducts.

KEY WORDS: poplar genetics, phytotechnologies, tree improvement, waste management, 

adventitious rooting

*Corresponding author: U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, 5985 Highway K, Rhinelander, 

WI 54501; Phone: (715) 362-1111; Email: jzalesny@fs.fed.us
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 71

POTENTIAL CHLORIDE AND SODIUM UPTAKE FOR 

2- TO 11-YEAR-OLD POPULUS IRRIGATED WITH LANDFILL 

LEACHATE IN THE NORTH CENTRAL UNITED STATES

Jill A. Zalesny* and Ronald S. Zalesny, Jr.

U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies

In the north central United States, regulators and resource managers need information about 

wastewater-applied chloride (Cl-

) and sodium (Na+), as well as the response to these salts of Populus

genotypes grown over an entire rotation. In this study, we have combined our 2-year establishment 

biomass and salt uptake fi eld data with previously published regional fi eld test biomass data to 

estimate uptake potential and fi eld-scale application thresholds for years 2 to 11 of a Populus

rotation. Our objective was to estimate uptake of Cl-

 and Na+ throughout a rotation, with emphasis 

on developmental stages that tolerate increased application rates of high-salinity irrigation without 

environmental consequence. Mid-rotation projected uptake was stable for years 2 and 3 but increased 

from years 3 to 6. Estimated cumulative uptake was maximized during year 6 when clonal responses 

ranged from 22 to 175 kg Cl-

 ha-1 yr

-1 and 8 to 74 kg Na+

 ha-1 yr

-1. Th e estimated annual uptake for 

clones was highly variable and dependent on specifi c clone × site interactions. Annual uptake during 

year 6 ranged from 8 to 54 kg Cl-

 ha-1 yr

-1 and 3 to 23 kg Na+

 ha-1 yr

-1. Full-rotation plantation 

uptake mirrored mean annual growth in forest trees with the greatest projected uptake during 4 to 9 

years (Cl-

) and 4 to 8 years (Na+). Annual uptake was maximized during year six for Cl- (32 kg ha-1 yr

-1) 

and Na+

 (13 kg ha-1 yr

-1) when peak accumulation was 2.7 times greater than year 11. We present salt 

uptake estimates along with stages of plantation development that are conducive to variable Cl-

 and 

Na+

 application and that are necessary for decision-making required by regulators, resource managers, 

and researchers who must achieve regulatory compliance while maintaining ecological sustainability.

KEY WORDS: salt accumulation, poplar, wastewater recycling, sustainable forestry, short-rotation 

woody crops

*Corresponding author: U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, 5985 Highway K, Rhinelander, WI 

54501; Phone: (715) 362-1111; Email: jzalesny@fs.fed.us
72 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

BIOMASS POTENTIAL OF POPULUS IN THE MIDWESTERN 

UNITED STATES

Ronald S. Zalesny, Jr.a,*, Richard B. Hallb, Jill A. Zalesnya, William E. Bergusonc, 

Bernard G. McMahonc, and Glen R. Stanoszd

a

U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies

b

Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University

c

Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota - Duluth

d

Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin

Th e use of Populus feedstock for biofuels, bioenergy, and bioproducts is becoming economically 

feasible as global fossil fuel prices increase. Maximizing biomass production from Populus plantations 

deployed across regional landscapes largely depends on recognizing and evaluating genotype × 

environment interactions, given broad genetic variation among Populus genotypes at strategic 

(genomic group) and operational (clone) levels. A network of Populus regional fi eld tests was 

established in the Midwest in 1995, 1997, and 2000 to assess productivity of 190 clones grown at 

Westport, MN (45.7 °N, 95.2 °W), Waseca, MN (only 2000; 44.1 °N, 93.5 °W), Arlington, WI 

(43.3 °N, 89.4 °W), and Ames, IA (42.0 °N, 93.6 °W). We evaluated biomass production potential 

of these genotypes throughout plantation development and identifi ed specifi c clones with yield 

substantially greater than current commercial controls (Eugenei, NM6). Biomass production of the 

best six clones in Ames ranged from 1.9 to 2.4 (4 yrs), 5.0 to 9.3 (7 yrs), and 6.4 to 10.9 tons ac-1

yr

-1 (9 yrs), while ranges at Arlington were 2.3 to 3.2 (3 yrs), 6.6 to 9.3 (6 yrs), and 7.2 to 9.4 tons 

ac

-1

 yr

-1 (8 yrs). Biomass of the best six clones at Westport ranged from 1.0 to 1.7 (5 yrs), 3.6 to 4.5 

(8 yrs), and 4.0 to 5.0 tons ac-1

 yr

-1 (10 yrs), while that at Waseca ranged from 4.6 to 6.0 tons ac-1

yr

-1 (7 yrs). Th e three best clones had 1.2 to 2.7 times greater biomass than controls throughout 

development of the 1995 Westport, 1997 Westport, and 2000 Waseca plantings. Genotype × 

environment interactions governed biomass production, with clone-mean rank correlations across 

sites ranging from 0.29 to 0.81. We identifi ed both generalist genotypes (202.37, 5910100, D105, 

D124, NC14105) with elevated biomass across the region and specialist genotypes (220-5, 7300501, 

80X01038, Crandon, NC13563) with exceptional biomass at specifi c locations.

KEY WORDS: hybrid poplar, tree improvement, productivity, clonal rank, genotype × environment 

interactions

*Corresponding author: U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, 5985 Highway K, Rhinelander, WI 

54501; Phone: (715) 362-1132; Email: rzalesny@fs.fed.us
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 73

VARIATION IN LATERAL AND BASAL ADVENTITIOUS 

ROOTING OF POPULUS IRRIGATED WITH LANDFILL 

LEACHATE: SELECTION OF FAVORABLE GENOTYPES FOR 

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

Ronald S. Zalesny, Jr.* and Jill A. Zalesny

U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Institute for Applied Ecosystem Studies

Successful establishment and productivity of short-rotation Populus crops depends upon adventitious 

rooting. Two common adventitious root types from Populus cuttings are: 1) lateral roots that develop 

from either preformed or induced primordia; and 2) basal roots that diff erentiate from callus at the 

base of the cutting in response to wounding. We irrigated 12 Populus clones (91.05.02, NC13460, 

NC13475, NC13680, NC14018, NC14104, NC14106, DM115, DN182, DN5, NM2, NM6) 

with municipal solid waste landfi ll leachate or well water (control) and evaluated root initiation (30 

days after planting [DAP]) and root growth rate (45 DAP) among irrigation treatments, clones, 

and belowground portion of the cutting from which roots originated (upper, middle, lower laterals; 

basals). Th ere were 3 (91.05.02) to 27 lateral roots (NC14018), with a mean of 16 roots, while 

the range for basal roots was 2 (91.05.02) to 10 roots (NC13680), with a mean of seven roots (44 

percent of laterals). Leachate did not generally aff ect rooting across clones, root origins, and root 

types, but number of roots was greatest with leachate for NC13475 (40 percent greater than water) 

and NM2 (44 percent). Th e percent advantage of number of roots from the middle portion of the 

cutting relative to other sections was 120 percent (upper), 193 percent (lower), and 24 percent 

(basal). Overall, leachate did not aff ect root growth rate, while roots grew 1.5 to 3.4 cm day-1, with a 

mean of 2.3 cm day-1. Selecting Populus genotypes with lateral, basal, or both adventitious root types 

that thrive with leachate irrigation (i.e., NC13475, NM2) supports increased productivity potential 

of Populus feedstocks for fi ber (pulp for paper), energy (cellulosics for ethanol, biomass for electricity), 

and environmental services (carbon sequestration, environmental remediation) necessary for longterm ecosystem sustainability.

KEY WORDS: phytotechnologies, forest genetics, tree improvement, hybrid poplar, adventitious 

root types

*Corresponding author: U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station, 5985 Highway K, Rhinelander, WI 

54501; Phone: (715) 362-1132; Email: rzalesny@fs.fed.us
74 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

EVALUATION OF THE POTENTIAL OF HYBRID WILLOW AS 

A SUSTAINABLE BIOMASS ENERGY ALTERNATIVE CROP IN 

NORTHERN AND WEST-CENTRAL MINNESOTA

Diomides Zamoraa,*, Dean Currentb, and Mike Demchikc

a

University of Minnesota Extension

b

University of Minnesota - Center for Integrated Natural Resources and Agricultural Management

c

University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Renewable sources of energy are becoming more important in Minnesota as the state is striving 

towards energy independence from fossil fuels. Woody biomass off ers an important option for the 

production of biomass for energy particularly by the landowners in Minnesota. Short-rotation 

Woody Crops (SWRC), such as willow, provide both economic and ecological benefi ts, including 

erosion control, wildlife habitat enhancement, and carbon sequestration. Th is presentation will 

present the initial fi ndings of our research on the potential of hybrid willow from New York as a 

sustainable biomass energy alternative crop in northern and western Minnesota. Th e willow varieties 

under investigation are Salix discolor, Salix sachalinensis, Salix miyabeana, and Salix dasyclados. 

Initial results showed that these varieties could survive in Minnesota despite harsher environmental 

growing conditions compared to New York. Survival and biomass production of these willow varieties 

were measured in 2007. Measurement will also be made in 2008. Survival of these varieties ranges 

from 74 to 91 percent. Initial results also showed that biomass production of each of the varieties 

is comparable with those plantings in New York and in southern Minnesota. Further, growth 

performance of willow varieties was found to be comparable to that of native willows in Minnesota. 

Results of this collective demonstration research will provide us guidance as to whether hybrid 

willows could be adopted in Minnesota as an alternative source of renewable energy while improving 

ecological sustainability and productivity.

KEY WORDS: hybrid willow, survival rate, biomass production 

*Corresponding author: 322 Laurel St., Suite 21, Brainerd, MN 56401; Phone: (218) 828-2332; 

Email: zamor015@umn.edu
Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31 75

AUTHOR INDEX

Abahamson, Lawrence P. 1, 8, 54, 66

Alasia, Franco 40

Amidon, Th omas E. 66

Aneshansley, Daniel J. 1, 66

Arnold, R. Bruce 2

Aronsson, Pär 10, 41

Aubrey, Douglas 9

Aust, W. Michael 13

Baker, John 27

Banerjee, Sudipto 20

Bauer, Edmund O. 70

Bender, Bradford A. 36

Bentrup, Gary 3, 16

Berguson, William E. 4, 34, 72

Berndes, Göran 5, 55

Blazier, Michael A. 6, 29

Brown, John J. 7, 49

Bryan Jenkins 42

Buchholz, Th omas S. 8, 30

Buchman, Daniel J. 34

Cai, Haowen 20

Cameron, Kimberly D. 54, 66

Cobill, Robert 47

Coleman, Mark 9

Coyle, David R. 70

Current, Dean 16, 74

D’Amato, Anthony W. 11

David, Andrew J. 11

Demchik, Mike 74

Dimitriou, Ioannis 10

Domke, Grant M. 11

Doruska, Paul F. 57

Dosskey, Michael 3

Eaton, Jake 12

Eisenbies, Mark H. 13

Ek, Alan R. 11

Ficklin, Robert L. 58

Fore, Seth 14

Gopalakrishnan, Gayathri 15

Gordon, Andrew 16

Gordon, Gayle 42

Graham, Peter H. 31

Gray, Ed 42

Grünewald, Holger 17

Hafner, Sasha D. 45

Hale, Anna 47

Hall, Richard B. 18, 70, 72

Halvorsen, Kathleen E. 53

Hannon, Eugene R. 7

Hart, Quinn 42

Heissenbuttel, John 19

Jenkins, Bryan 42

Johnson, Gregg A. 20, 43, 66

Johnson, Jane M.F. 21

Johnson, Jon D. 22, 24, 56

Jung, Hans-Joachim G. 20, 43

Jurgens, Allan 23

Kallestad, Jeff C. 22, 24

Kantar, Michael 25

Kazaks, Hazen 26

Kelleher, Michael J. 8

Kittelson, Neal T. 7

Krueger, Erik 27

Labbé, Nicole 46

Labrecque, Michel 28

Lazarus, William 14

Leopold, Don J. 45

Levar, Th omas E. 34

Liechty, Hal O. 6, 29, 58

Luzadis, Valerie A. 30

Maclean, Ann L. 53

Maly, Craig C. 34

Mangan, Margaret E. 31

Mann, James 32

Marchand, Pierre P. 33

Masse, Sylvain 33

Maule, Rodrigo 55

McMahon, Bernard G. 34, 72

Meschke, Linda 35

Miller, Raymond O. 36

Mirck, Jaconette 37

Mitchell, Rob vii, 38, 64

Moore, Kenneth J. 39

Naber, Jeff rey D. 53

Nardin, Fabrizio 40

Neale, David B. 56
76 Proceedings of the Short Rotation Crops International Conference GTR-NRS-P-31

Negri, M. Cristina 15

Nelson, Richard 42

Nordh, Nils-Erik 41

Nowak, Chris A. 59

O’Brien, Timothy C. 34

Ochsner, Tyson 27

Ofezu, Godfrey J. 59

Ostry, Michael E. 63

Parker, Nathan 42

Patton-Mallory, Marcia 42

Pelkki, Matthew H. 6, 29, 51, 57, 58

Perlack, Robert D. 52, 68

Petersen, Katie B. 20, 43

Porter, Paul 14, 25, 27

Posselius, John 1, 66

Priepke, Ed 1

Pulley, Emily E. 44

Quaye, Amos K. 45

Rak, Dennis 66

Reicosky, Donald 27

Rials, Timothy G. 46

Ribic, Christine A. 50

Richard, Ed Jr. 47

Richardson, Jim vii, 48

Rodstrom, John R. 49

Rodstrom, R. Andrew 7, 49

Ruttens, Ann 69

Sample, David W. 50

Sarath, Gautam 64

Schirmer, Charles D. 45

Schmidt, Anneliese 42

Schoeneberger, Michele 3, 16

Schuler, Jamie L. 51

Seiler, John R. 13

Serapiglia, Michelle J. 54

Shamey, Anna M. 52

Sheaff er, Craig C. 20, 31, 43

Shonnard, David R. 53

Skog, Ken 42

Smart, Lawrence B. 1, 44, 54, 66

Snyder, Seth 15

Sparovek, Gerd 55

Spomer, Eric 66

Stanosz, Glen R. 72

Stanton, Brian J. 56

Stipanovic, Arthur J. 54

Stuhlinger, H. Christoph 51, 57

Sutherland, John W. 53

Tappe, Philip A. 6, 29, 58

Teodorescu, Traian Ion 28

Tew, Th omas 47

Th arakan, Pradeep J. 59

Th elemann, Ryan T. 20, 43

Th ewys, Th eo 69

Tiller, Kelly 60

Tittmann, Peter 42

Tschirner, Ulrike W. 20, 31, 43

Turhollow, Anthony F. 68

van Oosten, Cees (“Case”) 61

Van Rees, Ken C.J. 62

Vance, Eric D. 13

Venette, Robert C. 63

Verwijst, Th eo 41

Vogel, Kenneth 38, 64

Voigt, Tom 65

Volk, Timothy A. 1, 8, 30, 37, 45, 54, 59, 66

von Wühlisch, Georg 17

Walsh, Douglas B. 7

Wang, Michael 15

Ward, Kathleen M. 63

Weisberg, Sanford 31

Wells, Gary 3

West, Charles P. 6

White, Edwin H. 66

White, N. Larry 67

Wilkerson, Erin G. 68

Witters, Nele 69

Wright, Lynn L. 52

Wu, May 15

Wyse, Donald L. 31

Zalesny, Jill A. 70, 71, 72, 73

Zalesny, Ronald S. Jr. vii, 70, 71, 72, 73

Zamora, Diomides 74

Zhang, Qiong 53
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Zalesny, Ronald S., Jr.; Mitchell, Rob; Richardson, Jim, eds. 2008. Biofuels, 

bioenergy, and bioproducts from sustainable agricultural and forest crops: 

proceedings of the short rotation crops international conference. Gen. Tech. 

Rep. NRS-P-31. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest 

Service, Northern Research Station. 76 p.

The goal of this conference was to initiate and provide opportunities for an 

international forum on the science and application of producing both agricultural and 

forest crops for biofuels, bioenergy, and bioproducts. There is a substantial global 

need for development of such systems and technologies that can economically and 

sustainably produce short rotation crops across multiple temporal and spatial scales. 

Topic areas were biological and environmental; and economic and policy implications 

of sustainable biofuels, bioenergy, and bioproducts. Presentations addressed 

anatomy, breeding, genetics, physiology, ecosystem services, phytotechnologies, 

and production systems, as well as conversion technologies, costs and operational 

feasibility, environmental impacts and review, social factors, policy issues, and 

regional logistics. Seventy-four abstracts from oral and poster presentations are 

included in these proceedings.

KEY WORDS: Biodiesel, biodiversity, biomass, conservation, crop improvement, 

ethanol, lignocellulosics, productivity, sustainability, yield

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