210 likes | 485 Vues
Biomass Harvesting and Forest Site Productivity. Eric D. Vance National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) Biomass/Bioenergy Workshop February 24-25, Houston, TX. Biomass Harvesting. Emerging markets for bioenergy Removal of biomass previously left on site Shorter rotations
E N D
Biomass Harvesting and Forest Site Productivity Eric D. Vance National Council for Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI) Biomass/Bioenergy Workshop February 24-25, Houston, TX
Biomass Harvesting • Emerging markets for bioenergy • Removal of biomass previously left on site • Shorter rotations • Concerns over site productivity, water, wildlife
Sustaining Site Productivity by Manipulating Site Resources • Water, nutrients, sunlight • Allocation of existing site resources • Competing vegetation, root growth • Increasing site resources • Artificially removing biomass and nutrients • Cannot always rely on natural replacement
Management Intensity and Site Resources Intensive Extensive Available Resources Resource Capital
Intensive Utilization of Harvest Residues in Southern Pine PlantationsM.H. Eisenbies, E.D. Vance, W.M. Aust, J.R. SeilerBioenergy Research (2009) 2:90-98 • 32 million Mg yr-1 residues available in the South • 50-85 Mg ha-1 on site after stem-only harvest • 45-60% increase in mid-rotation fertilization may be needed to replace nutrients if residues removed
South Carolina Wet/Dry Harvest Study (Virginia Tech, MeadWestvaco, NCASI)Residue-Soil Disturbance Matrix
Ten-Year Effects of Harvest Residue Removal on Relative Rank of Stand Biomass
Fall River Long-Term Soil Productivity ProjectUniv. of Washington, Weyerhaeuser, USFS, NCASI • Conventional bole-only removal • Total stem (bole-only to a 5cm top) • Total-tree removal • Total-tree + legacy-wood removal • All cable-yarded
Forest Service Long-Term Soil Productivity Network Core Sites Affiliated Sites
Lake States AspenNutrient Depletion and Rotation Length • Deficiencies rare • Older studies • Multiple, short-rotation cycles • Concluded 10-15 yr rotations sustainable • Reduced soil/foliar Ca on some sites • Indices underdeveloped
Aspen in the Lake StatesNutrient Budgets for Whole-tree Harvesting over 50 years(Mineral soils (lb/ac); Minnesota GEIS, Grigal 2004)) Ca capital = 15,125
Short Rotation Aspen on Sandy Soils: A Worst-Case Scenario? • < 1% Ca drain • (Grigal, 2004) • Three 20-yr rotations • < 5% Ca removed • 1 ton/ac wood ash
Over a Century of Forest Nutrition Management in Scandinavia • Science-based • Forest productivity • Forest health • Nutrient imbalances • Foliar, soil analysis • Biomass harvesting
Intensive Harvest and Site Productivity: What Do We Know? • Many sites remarkably resilient • Little evidence for productivity declines • Preconceived notions often incorrect • Managers often know best
But, More Work is Needed! • Sensitive sites • Fundamental impacts • Long-term, repeated removals • Indicators • Prevention, mitigation