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HERO ID
5045164
Reference Type
Journal Article
Title
A novel approach to simulate growth of multi-stem willow in bioenergy production systems with a simple process-based model (3PG)
Author(s)
Amichev, BY; Hangs, RD; Van Rees, KenCJ
Year
2011
Is Peer Reviewed?
1
Journal
Biomass and Bioenergy
ISSN:
0961-9534
Volume
35
Issue
1
Page Numbers
473-488
DOI
10.1016/j.biombioe.2010.09.007
Web of Science Id
WOS:000286905300053
Abstract
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.
Keywords
Afforestation; Marginal agricultural land; 3PG stand growth model; Short rotation crops; Bioenergy; Willow biomass production
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