Speaker
Description
Afforestation of former agricultural land with fast-growing broadleaved species represents an important opportunity to increase the supply of renewable forest biomass for bioenergy and bio-based products while contributing to climate change mitigation. As the role of biomass in renewable energy systems and the bioeconomy continues to expand, reliable information on biomass availability and fuel-related wood properties becomes increasingly important, particularly under the climatic conditions of Northern Europe.
Most studies addressing biomass properties have focused on conventional forest stands, while systematic data from plantations established on former agricultural land remain limited. Such plantations differ from natural forests in stand structure, growth dynamics and row-planting patterns, which may influence biomass production as well as key fuel characteristics relevant for harvesting, processing and energy utilisation.
This study analysed above-ground biomass production, moisture content and wood density in 15-year-old plantations of aspen (Populus tremula), grey alder (Alnus spp.), and willow (Salix spp.) established on former agricultural land in Latvia, Northern Europe. Biomass was estimated using field inventory data and species-specific allometric equations. Moisture content and wood density were measured along the stem at 1 m intervals to assess vertical variation, while radial density variation from pith to bark was analysed at each height level.
The results provide new empirical data on biomass yield and fuel-related wood properties of fast-growing broadleaved plantations under Northern European climatic conditions. These findings support improved assessment of biomass resources and contribute to better planning of harvesting operations, biomass supply logistics and efficient utilisation of forest biomass in renewable energy and bioeconomy systems.
| Keywords | biomass; plantation, bioenergy, forestry |
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