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5045164 
Journal Article 
A novel approach to simulate growth of multi-stem willow in bioenergy production systems with a simple process-based model (3PG) 
Amichev, BY; Hangs, RD; Van Rees, KenCJ 
2011 
1 
Biomass and Bioenergy
ISSN: 0961-9534 
35 
1 
473-488 
WOS:000286905300053 
An important requirement for commercialization of willow biomass production in short-rotation crop (SRC) plantations is the reliable and cost-efficient estimation of biomass yield. Predictions and simulations of willow stand biomass have been problematic due to issues with modeling the multi-stem growth form of willow. The aim of this paper was to develop a new approach for managing allometric measurements from multi-stemmed willow for stand growth simulations. The 3PG model (Physiological Principles in Predicting Growth) was parameterized for willow and was used for biomass yield simulation for an entire 22-yr cycle (seven 3-yr rotations) of willow in SRC plantations. The multi-stemmed growth form was transformed into a single-stem modeling form by deriving whole plant willow allometric relationships using detailed stem-level measurements of basal area, stem biomass and volume. 3PG model predictions for plant diameter, height, biomass, and stand biomass and volume were within the 95% confidence range of mean plot values. Model simulations showed that after seven 3-yr rotations only 20% of planted cuttings would survive (a decrease from 15,152 to 3022 plants ha(-1)), but stand volume would increase continuously with each subsequent rotation. 3PG predictions for cumulative (for 22 yr) aboveground biomass was 272 Mg ha(-1) and mean annual yield was 12 Mg ha(-1) yr(-1), comparing favorably with other findings. To our knowledge, this work is the first where the 3PG model was calibrated and used for willow species. Once parameterized for a specific willow clone, 3PG can predict biomass accumulation for any agricultural land in North America using only available soil and climate data. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 
Afforestation; Marginal agricultural land; 3PG stand growth model; Short rotation crops; Bioenergy; Willow biomass production 
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