Biomass production in a high-density willow plantation through ten one-year rotation cycles in Central Argentina
Barra lateral del artículo
Contenido principal del artículo
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-150X
Resumen
High-density willows plantations are used for biomass production in several countries, but in Argentina, information about the adequate management for such plantations is scarce. This fact hinders the development of commercial plantations that could reduce the country dependence on fossil energy. The aim of this work was to analyse the productivity of a willow Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) plantation and to identify potential and actual biomass yields under local conditions. Our hypothesis was that water availability was major limitation for biomass yield in the area, so this factor was included in the trial design. The trial was planted in an agricultural soil in the Rolling Pampas region of Central Argentina, and its yield was measured for a period of 10 years. The factors analysed were irrigation (drip irrigation and rainfed), planting density (13,300 and 20,000 plants ha-1) and two genotypes: Salix alba and a S. matsudana × S. alba hybrid. The trial was disposed in a split-split plot design, and the rotation length was one year. The irrigated treatment consistently produced more than the rainfed one, the yield of irrigated treatment ranged between 10.4-22.6 MG ha-1, and between 2.9-17.6 MG ha-1 for rainfed plots. Yield correlated with water supply during the summer months (rs = 0.79). Biomass production was high in the first four years, but afterwards, yield steadily declined, both in irrigated and rainfed treatments. According to our results, to develop biomass SRC plantations with willows in Central Argentina, irrigation would be necessary during the summer months.
Detalles del artículo
Esta obra está bajo una licencia internacional Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial 4.0.
Referencias
Achinelli, F. G., Doffo, G., Barotto, A. J., Luquez, V. M. C., & Monteoliva, S. E. (2018). Effects of irrigation, plantation density and clonal composition on woody biomass quality for bioenergy in a short rotation culture system with willows (Salix spp.). Árvore, 42(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-90882018000200010
Bates, D., Maechler, M., Bolker, B., & Walker, S. (2015). Fitting linear mixed-effects models using lme4. Journal of Statistical Software, 67(1), 1–48. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18637/jss.v067.i01
Baker, P., Charlton, A., Johnston, C., Leahy, J. J., Lindegaard, K., Pisano, I., Prendergast, J., Preskett, D., & Skinner, C. (2022). A review of willow (Salix spp.) as an integrated biorefinery feedstock. Industrial Crops and Products, 189, 115823. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2022.115823
Bergante, S., Facciotto, G., & Minotta, G. (2010). Identification of the main site factors and management intensity affecting the establishment of short rotation coppice (SRC) in northern Italy through stepwise regression analysis. Central European Journal of Biology, 5(4), 522–530. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11535-010-0028-y
Bonosi, L., Ghelardini, L., & Weih, M. (2010). Growth responses of 15 Salix genotypes to temporary water stress are different from the responses to permanent water shortage. Trees, 24(5), 843–854. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-010-0454-5
Buchman, D., Jackson, J., Berguson, W. E., McMahon, B. G., Nelson, N. D., DuPlissis, J., & Host, G. E. (2020). Grower’s guide for hybrid poplar plantations for biomass production (NRRI Tech. Rep. NRRI/TR-2020/15). University of Minnesota Duluth. https://hdl.handle.net/11299/213759
Castellano Albors, A., Shepherd, A., Shield, I., Macalpine, W. J.,Lindegaard, K., Tubby, I., & Hastings, A. (2025). A global short rotation coppice (SRC) willow dataset for the bioeconomy: Implications for the yield in the United Kingdom. Global Change Biology Bioenergy, 17(9), e70069. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.70069
Clifton-Brown, J., Harfouche, A., Casler, M. D., Jones, H. D., Macalpine, W. J., Murphy-Bokern, D., Smart, L. B., Adler, A., Ashman, C. R., Awty-Carroll, D., Bastien, C., Bopper, S., Botnari, V., Brancourt-Hulmel, M., Chen, Z., Clark, L. V., Cosentino, S., Dalton, S., Davey, C., Dolstra, O., Donnison, I., Flavell, R., Greef, J., Hanley, S., Hastings, A., Hertzberg, M., Hsu, T.- W., Huang, L., Iurato, A., Jensen, E., Jin, X., Jørgensen, U., Kiesel, A., Kim, D.-S., Liu, J., McCalmont, J. P., McMahon,B. G., Mos, M., Robson, P., Sacks, E. J., Sandu, A., Scalici, G., Schwarz, K., Scordia, D., Shafiei, R., Shield, I. F., Slavov, G., Stanton, B. J., Swaminathan, K., Taylor, G., Torres, A. F., Trindade, L. M., Tschaplinski, T., Tuskan, J., Yamada, T., Yu, C. Y., Zalesny, R.-F., & Lewandowski, I. (2019). Breeding progress and preparedness for mass-scale deployment of perennial lignocellulosic biomass crops switchgrass, miscanthus, willow and poplar. Global Change Biology Bioenergy, 11(1), 118–151. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12566
Cunniff, J., Purdy, S. J., Barraclough, T. J. P., Castle, M., Maddisson, A. L., Jones, L. E., Shield, I. F., Gregory, A. S., & Karp, A. (2015). High yielding biomass genotypes of willows (Salix spp.) show differences in below ground allocation. Biomass and Bioenergy, 80, 114–127. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.04.020
Doffo, G., Achinelli, F. G., Rodríguez, M. E., & Luquez, V. M. C. (2017a). Yield of a short rotation coppice plantation of Salix spp. in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bosque, 38(3), 587–592. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-92002017000300016
Doffo, G. N., Monteoliva, S. E., Rodríguez, M. E., & Luquez, V. M. C. (2017b). Physiological responses to alternative flooding and drought stress episodes in two willow (Salix spp.) clones. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 47(2), 174–182. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2016-0202
Doffo, G. N., Graciano, C., Achinelli, F. G., & Luquez, V. M. C. (2024). Nutrient extraction is related to stem diameter distribution, tissue concentration, and yield in an annually harvested Salix coppice. Forest Ecology and Management, 567, 122103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2024.122103
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO]. (2020). Potencial de desarrollo de plantaciones dendroenergéticas en la Argentina (Colección Documentos Técnicos No. 18). FAO. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4060/ca8031es
Hurtado, M. A., Giménez, J. E., Cabral, M. G., Silva, M. M. da, Martínez, O. R., Camilión, M. C., Sánchez, C. A., Muntz, D., Gebhard, J. A., Forte, L. M., Boff, L. D., Crincoli, A., & Lucesoli, H. (2006). Análisis ambiental del partido de La Plata: Aportes al ordenamiento territorial. Consejo Federal de Inversiones. http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/27046
Istenič, D., & Bozič, G. (2021). Short-rotation willows as a wastewater treatment plant: Biomass production and the fate of macronutrients and metals. Forests, 12(5), 554. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/f12050554
Jacobsen, A. L., Pratt, R. B., Venturas, M. D., & Hacke, U. G. (2019). Large volume vessels are vulnerable to water-stress-induced embolism in stems of poplar. IAWA Journal, 40(1), 4–22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/22941932-40190233
Karp, A., Hanley, S. J., Trybush, S. O., Macalpine, W., Pei, M., & Shield, I. (2011). Genetic improvement of willow for bioenergy and biofuels. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 53(2), 151–165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7909.2010.01015.x
Kopp, R. F., Abrahamson, L. P., White, E. H., Volk, T. A., Nowak, C. A., & Fillhart, R. C. (2001). Willow biomass production during ten successive annual harvests. Biomass and Bioenergy, 20(1), 1–7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534(00)00063-5
Kulig, B., Gacek, E., Wojciechowski, R., Oleksy, A., Kołodziejczyk, M., Szewczyk, W., & Klimek-Kopyra, A. (2019). Biomass yield and energy efficiency of willow depending on cultivar, harvesting frequency and planting density. Plant, Soil and Environment, 65(8), 377–386. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17221/594/2018-PSE
Lenth, R. V., & Piaskowski, J. (2025). emmeans: Estimated marginal means, aka least‑squares means (R package version 1.7.3) [Computer software]. CRAN. https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=emmeans
Logan M. (2010). Biostatistical design and analysis using R. A practical guide. Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken, New Jersey, USA. 546 p. Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca. (2025). Tablero de plantaciones forestales. https://www.magyp.gob.ar/sitio/areas/desarrollo-foresto-industrial/inventarios/tablero.php
Njakou Djomo S., Zenone, T., De Groote, T., Bergante, S., Facciotto, G., Sixto, H., Ciria Ciria, P., Weger, J., & Ceulemans, R. (2015). Energy performances of intensive and extensive short rotation cropping systems for woody biomass production in the EU. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 41, 845–854. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.08.058
Nord-Larsen T., Sevel, L., & Raulund-Rasmussen, K. (2015). Commercially grown short rotation coppice willow in Denmark: Biomass production and factors affecting production. Bioenergy Research, 8(1), 325–339. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-014-9517-6
Oliveira N., Pérez-Cruzado, C., Cañellas, I., Rodríguez-Soalleiro, R., & Sixto, H. (2020). Poplar Short Poplar short rotation coppice plantations under Mediterranean conditions: The case of Spain. Forests, 11(12), 1352. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/f11121352
R Core Team. (2020). R: A language and environment for statistical computing [Computer software]. R Foundation for Statistical Computing. https://www.R-project.org/
Richard B., Richter, G.M., Cerasuolo, M., & Shield, I. (2019). Optimizing the bioenergy water footprint by selecting SRC willow canopy phenotypes: regional scenario simulations. Annals of Botany 124(4), 531–542. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcz006
Roberts J.J., Cassula, A.M., Prado, P.O., Alves Dias, R., & Perrella Balestieri, J.A. (2015). Assessment of dry residual biomass potential for use as alternative energy source in the partido of General Pueyrredón, Argentina. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 41, 568-583. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.08.066
SAGyP (Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca & Consejo Federal Agropecuario). (1995). El deterioro de tierras en la República Argentina. SAGyP. Buenos Aires, Argentina. 287 p.
Rönnberg-Wästljung A.C., Dufour, L., Gao, J., Hansson, P.A., Herrmann, A., Jebrane, M., Johansson, A.C., Kalita, S., Molinder, R., Nordh, N.E., Ohlsson, J.A., Passoth, V., Sandgren, M., Schnürer, A., Shi, A., Terziev, N., Daniel, G., & Weih, M. (2022). Optimized utilization of Salix- Perspectives for the genetic improvement toward sustainable biofuel value chains. Global Change Biology Bioenergy 14(10), 1128–1144. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12991
Santucci S., Eisenbies, M., & Volk, T. (2024). Yield and Survival of 19 Cultivars of Willow (Salix spp.) Biomass Crops over Eight Rotations. Forests, 15(11), 2041. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/f15112041
Stolarski M.J., Szczukowski, S., Tworkowski, J., Krzyżaniak, M., & Załuski, D. (2019). Willow production during 12 consecutive years. The effects of harvest rotation, planting density and cultivar on biomass yield. Global Change Biology Bioenergy, 11(4), 635–656. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12583
Stolarski M.J. (2025). Production of poplar and willow for industrial and energy purposes over an eight-year harvest cycle. Industrial Crops and Products, 232, 121292. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.121292.
Uasuf A., & Becker, G. (2011). Wood pellets production costs and energy consumption under different framework conditions in Northeast Argentina. Biomass and Bioenergy, 35(3), 1357-1366. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2010.12.029
Uasuf, A., & Hilbert, J. (2012). El uso de la biomasa de origen forestal con destino a bioenergía en la Argentina (Informes Técnicos Bioenergía, Año 1 N° 3). Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/19329
Wikberg J., & Ögren, E. (2007). Variation in drought resistance, drought acclimation and water conservation in four willow cultivars used for biomass production. Tree Physiology, 27(9), 1339- 1346. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/27.9.1339
Wilkinson J.M., Evans, E.J., Bilsborrow, P.E., Wright, C., Hewison, W.O., & Pilbeam, D.J. (2007). Yield of willow cultivars at different planting densities in a commercial short rotation coppice in the north of England. Biomass and Bioenergy, 31(7), 469- 474. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2007.01.020
Yang S., Volk, T.A., & Fortier, M. (2020). Willow biomass crops are a carbon negative or low-carbon feedstock depending on prior land use and transportation distances to end users. Energies, 13(16), 4251. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en13164251