Erik Eriksson, Tord Johansson. (2006). Effects of rotation period on biomass production and atmospheric CO2 emissions from broadleaved stands growing on abandoned farmland. Silva Fennica vol. 40 no. 4 article id 317. https://doi.org/10.14214/sf.317

Keywords: biomass; biofuel; carbon stock; abandoned farmland; atmospheric CO2; broadleaved trees; MAI

Abstract | View details | Full text in PDF | Author Info

The growth rates and carbon stocks of unthinned young and mature stands of broadleaved trees growing on abandoned farmland were determined to assess whether their management regimes should involve short (15-year) or long (45-year) rotations to maximize biomass production and reductions of CO₂ emissions. Dry mass production and mean annual increment (MAI) were calculated for 28 young stands and 65 mature stands of European aspen (Populus tremula L.), common alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.), grey alder (Alnus incana (L.) Moench.), silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) and downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) ranging in latitude from 57° to 63° N in Sweden. The potential for using biomass from the stands to replace coal as a fuel and to store carbon was then evaluated both in short and long rotation scenarios. The results indicate that long rotations are beneficial if the objective is to maximize the average carbon stock in biomass. If, on the other hand, the intention is to optimize reductions in atmospheric CO₂ emissions, rotations should be short for aspen, silver birch and grey alder stands. For downy birch and common alder, the MAI was higher for the mature stands than the young stands, indicating that in these species the mature stands are superior for both storing carbon and replacing fossil fuel. Stands of broadleaved trees grown to produce biofuel on abandoned farmland should be established on fertile soils to promote high MAI. If the MAI is low, the rotation period should be long to maximize the average carbon stock.

Eriksson, SLU, Dept of Bioenergy, P.O. Box 7061, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden E-mail: ee@nn.se
Johansson, SLU, Dept of Bioenergy, P.O. Box 7061, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden E-mail: tj@nn.se

Click this link to register to Silva Fennica.

If you are a registered user, log in to save your selected articles for later access.

Contents alert

Your selected articles
Send to email

Daume S., Robertson D. (2000) A heuristic approach to modelling thinnings Silva Fennica vol. 34 no. 3 article id 628 (remove) | Edit comment

Heikkilä J., Sirén M. et al. (2009) Energy wood thinning as a part of stand manageme.. Silva Fennica vol. 43 no. 1 article id 220 (remove) | Edit comment

Seppälä K., (1971) The quantity of fertilizer and application metho.. Silva Fennica vol. 5 no. 2 article id 4838 (remove) | Edit comment

Kilkki P., Pohjola T. et al. (1985) Use of the spatial distribution of trees in thin.. Silva Fennica vol. 19 no. 2 article id 5235 (remove) | Edit comment

Finnish Society of Forest Science ., (1978) Awards of the Finnish Society of Forest Science Silva Fennica vol. 12 no. 2 article id 4998 (remove) | Edit comment

Follow @SilvaFennica