Sustainable biomass production in agroforestry systems W.R. - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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. Stefner

AAFC-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

ecoETI

Agriculture’s contribution to bio-based energy

(with P. Savoie)

Objectives

Improve 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?

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Harvested Plot

December 2009

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada

2.0m 0.75m 6666 stems/ha

Annual biomass yield at two riparian sites (6666 stems/ha) 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Waugh Hovingh 2 Hovingh 3 Waugh Hovingh 2 Hovingh 3 Dasyclados 'SV1' Viminalis '5027' Clone and Site

Yield (tDM ha

• 1 yr-1)

NO3-N

41.6

NO3-N

38.1

NO3-N

46.7

NO3-N

48.6

NO3-N

22.8

NO3-N

10.4

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Annual Biomass Yield (tDM ha-1 yr-1) Waugh Site (6666 stems/ha) 11.62 15.97 15.08 20.49

Not Coppiced Coppiced Not Coppiced Coppiced Dasyclados 'SV1' Viminalis '5027'

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada

Annual above and below-ground N & P Accumulation

Annual Total Nitrogen Accumulated

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 Not Coppiced Coppiced Total N kg/ha/yr

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada Annual Total Phosphorous Accumulated

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 Not Coppiced Coppiced Viminalis '5027' Total P (kg/ha/yr)

Buffer Recommendation

75cm 50cm 200cm 600cm

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

PERD

Harvest, 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 Cost

Cost per dry tonne Activity $50 Total Cost 5 Transport - willow ring to bale yard (20 km) 45 Harvest (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 2010-11

Biomass 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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