Willow Biomass News, Vol. Establishment is one of the most costly aspects of the willow bioenergy system, so care must be taken to ensure quality site preparation and planting. Of particular importance is the elimination of weed competition and subsequent control of weeds during the first one to two years of establishment. In the years of research at SUNY ESF, it has become clear that good weed control during site preparation will avoid substantial investments of time, money and effort to reestablish a planting that did not have adequate site preparation. Site preparation for willow bioenergy farms is much like that used for agricultural crops.
Preparation usually begins with the removal of existing vegetation the year before planting.
Mowing or brush hogging may be required in fields that have not been under agricultural production for some time. The ideal time for this is early to mid-July, before various weeds go to seed. The area is then plowed and disced. Although most vegetation will have been eliminated by the initial herbicide treatment and mechanical turning of the soil, seeds still persist in the soil. A herbicide cap, such as Goal or Simazine, is required to control the germinating weed seeds, as well as any weeds that may have survived the initial herbicide or mechanical treatments.