Sustainable biomass production in agroforestry systems
Guelph, Ontario March, 2011
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada
W.R. Schroeder, H. de Gooijer, J. Kort and C. StefnerAAFC-AESB Agroforestry Development Centre
Project Team
– AAFC - AESB• Bill Schroeder, Henry de Gooijer, John Kort, Chris Stefner,
Jaconette Mirck, Ian Pickering (Saskatchewan)• Salim Silim (Ottawa)• Chris Pharo, Brian Murray (PEI)
– AAFC - Research Branch • Philippe Savoie (Quebec)
– PEI Soil and Crop Improvement Assoc.• Tyler Wright (PEI)
– University of Regina• Joe Piwowar
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada
ecoETIAgriculture’s contribution to bio-based energy
(with P. Savoie)
ObjectivesImprove agricultural land management and enhance the availability of woody feedstock for bio-energy.
– Quantification of biomass production in riparian buffers
ecoETI - Biomass production in riparian buffers
Research questions– What is the potential biomass production from willow
riparian buffers?– How effective are willow riparian buffers in nutrient
management?
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada
Harvested Plot December 2009
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada
2.0m0.75m
6666 stems/ha
Annual biomass yield at two riparian sites(6666 stems/ha)
05
101520253035
Waugh Hovingh 2 Hovingh 3 Waugh Hovingh 2 Hovingh 3
Dasyclados 'SV1' Viminalis '5027'
Clone and Site
Yie
ld (t
DM
ha-1
yr-1
)
NO3-N
41.6NO3-N
38.1
NO3-N
46.7
NO3-N
48.6NO3-N
22.8NO3-N
10.4
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada
Annual Biomass Yield (tDM ha-1 yr-1)Waugh Site (6666 stems/ha)
11.62
15.97
15.08
20.49
NotCoppiced
Coppiced
NotCoppiced
Coppiced
Das
ycla
dos
'SV
1'V
imin
alis
'502
7'
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada
Annual above and below-ground N & P AccumulationAnnual Total Nitrogen Accumulated
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
Not Coppiced Coppiced
Tota
l N k
g/ha
/yr
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada
Annual Total Phosphorous Accumulated
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Not Coppiced Coppiced
Viminalis '5027'
Tota
l P (k
g/ha
/yr)
Buffer Recommendation
75cm50
cm
200c
m
600c
m
River/Wetland
Agricultural land
8000 stems/ha (4 double rows)
Plastic mulch for weed control
Coppice after year 1
Harvest on three year cycle
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada
ecoETI Conclusions
– High biomass productivity in riparian areas– Nutrient supply rate is important factor– Substantial quantities of nutrients can be
accumulated in willow riparian buffers– Overall, clone viminalis ‘5027’ superior to dasyclados
‘SV1’ in PEI – Coppicing increased productivity which leads to
increased nutrient accumulation– Need better understanding of below ground role
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada
PERDHarvest, storage, handling and energy conversion at the farm and
community level of woody crops and corn stover(with P. Savoie)
Harvest and storage of biomass from natural willow rings
Chipping and combustion of naturally dried bales
Sustainability guidelines for natural willow ring harvest
PERD Activities 2010-11
• Harvest and storage of biomass from natural willow rings– No harvest in 2010 (excessive moisture)
• Chipping and combustion of naturally dried bales– 40 dT willow bales harvested in 2009 (Covered vs Uncovered
storage)
• Sustainability guidelines for natural willow ring harvest– Base line avian surveys conducted– Harvested willow regeneration
Willow Ring Biomass Production CostCost per dry tonneActivity
$50Total Cost
5Transport - willow ring to bale yard (20 km)
45Harvest (tractor, Bio-Baler, twine, fuel, labour)*
-Planting and maintenance
-Plant material
* Based on Custom and Rental rate Guide 2009-10 - Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
PERD Activities 2010-11• Sustainability guidelines for natural willow ring harvest
– Avian surveys conducted– Willow regeneration
1st year growth
3.5 t DM/ha
PERD Activities 2011-12• Harvest and storage of biomass from natural willow rings
– Planned harvest of 80 dT willow biomass
PERD Activities 2011-12• Chipping and combustion of naturally dried bales
– Install and commission of 300kw KOB biomass burner at Indian Head Agroforestry Development Centre
– Data collection on system performance
CEF Sub-Project Objectives
• Quantify the opportunity for systematic biomass harvest from willow and poplar riparian buffers for conversion to bio-energy
• Determine environmental consequences of biomass harvest
• Assess the barriers for the adoption of agroforestry riparian buffer practices
• Determine the potential magnitude of the adoption of this practice
CEF Sub-Project Activities 2010-11Biomass harvest from 5-yr-old poplar riparian buffer
Yield 22.3dt/km
CEF Sub-Project Activities 2011-12
Output 1– Selection of case study sites based on geographic
location and farming system. – Assemble required land use, land management,
physical data– Review and refinement of ALCES agroforestry land
use model for selected study areas.
CEF Sub-Project Activities 2011-12
Output 2– Biomass production, nutrient removal and carbon
sequestration data collected from harvested and not harvested plots
– Publication of management guidelines for sustainable biomass harvest form agroforestry systems
– Report prepared and paper submitted for publication
Thank You
Questions???
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada