sustainable biomass production in agroforestry systems€¦ · sustainable biomass production in...

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



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?



Harvested Plot December 2009



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



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'



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



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



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



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???



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