Process Simulation and Cost Analysis for Removing Inorganics from Wood Chips Using Combined Mechanical and Chemical Preprocessing

Inorganic species (ash) in biomass feedstocks negatively impact thermochemical and biochemical energy conversion processes. In this work, a process simulation model is developed to model the reduction in ash content of loblolly logging residues using a combination of air classification and dilute-acid leaching. Various scenarios are considered, and it is found that costs associated with discarding high-ash material from air classification are substantial. The costs of material loss can be reduced by chemical leaching the high-ash fraction obtained from air classification. The optimal leaching condition is found to be approximately 0.1 wt% sulfuric acid at 24 °C. In example scenarios, total process costs in the range of $6–9?/dry tons of product are projected that result in a removal of 14, 62, 39, and 88 % of organics, total ash (inorganics), alkaline earth metals and phosphorus (AAEMS + P), and silicon, respectively. Sensitivity analyses indicate that costs associated with loss of organic material during processing (yield losses), brine disposal, and labor have the greatest potential to impact the total processing cost.     

Post-fallow decomposition of woody roots in the West African savanna

Potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and aluminium (Al) release from Norway spruce (Picea abies Karsten), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) logging residues (fine roots, foliage and small branches) were studied by means of litterbags over a period of three years in clear-cut area and adjacent uncut Norway spruce dominated mixed boreal forest in eastern Finland (63°51′ N, 28°58′ E, 220 m a.s.l) to determine the amounts and rates of release for these elements and to evaluate whether clear-cutting accelerates mineralization. Almost all K was released from logging residues already during the first year. Calcium was released from foliage and roots but accumulated in branches. Most of the roots Fe and Al content were released during three years while the absolute amounts of Fe and Al in branches and foliage generally increased with decomposition. The results indicate that mineralization is slightly accelerated as a result of clear-cutting since K from foliage and branches of all studied tree species and Ca from pine and spruce roots was released significantly faster at the clear-cut plot than at the forest plot. In three years the initial K pool in the logging residues declined by 90%, Ca by 8%, Fe by 55% and Al by 61% in the clear-cut area. These results indicate that Ca is retained a long time; but Fe, Al and in particular, K are soon released from logging residues. Fine roots of the logged trees release large amounts of Fe and Al and can significantly affect Fe and Al fluxes.     

Life cycle assessment of fuel chip production from eucalypt forest residues

Purpose

Forest residues are becoming an increasingly important bioenergy feedstock. This study evaluates the environmental impacts associated with the production of fuel chips from eucalypt logging residues in Portugal, in order to identify the supply chains and machinery that bring the best environmental performance. Besides, the stages and operations with the largest environmental impact are identified.

Methods

Life cycle assessment methodology is used starting with forest management up to delivery of chips to power plant. Three different configurations for logging residue processing were simulated as follows: roadside chipping of loose residues, terminal chipping of loose residues, and terminal chipping of bundled residues. In addition, the use of different equipment for tree felling and extraction of logging residue was considered. The default impact assessment methodology was the CML. In a sensitivity analysis, calculations were performed using characterization factors recommended by the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD). Different allocation criteria were tested for partitioning the environmental burdens between wood and forest residues produced during the stage of forest management.

Results and discussion

Roadside chipping of loose residues seems to have less impacts regardless of the equipment used in tree felling and residue forwarding. However, for photochemical oxidant formation, this is not the case when trees are felled with a chainsaw when the CML methodology is applied. For the systems with terminal chipping, the better option will depend both on type of machinery used and distances traveled between the forest site and the power plant. The forest management stage has a relevant contribution to all the supply chains analyzed. Chipping and bundling have also important impacts, as well as forwarding when this operation is accomplished with a modified farm tractor. Moreover, transports have a significant impact when loose residues are chipped in a terminal.

Conclusions

The choice of the allocation method between wood and residues affects significantly the absolute results, but it is irrelevant when the objective is to select the best supply chain configuration. The results obtained are valid for the input data considered, which rely on average values representative of the current most typical practices in Portugal. However, this methodology can also be applied as a decision supporting tool to select the supply chain with the best environmental performance on a case by case basis, using site-specific data.     

Nutrient status in needles of Norway spruce and Scots pine following harvesting of logging residues

Nutrient concentrations in current and 1-year old needles from two Picea abies (L.) Karst and two Pinus sylvestris L. stands in Sweden were determined 8–10, 16–18 and 22–24 years after clear-felling and experimental manipulation of harvesting intensity. On all sites, three levels of harvest intensity had been applied in a randomized block design (n=4); (i) conventional stem-only harvesting, where all logging residues (i.e. tops, branches and needles) were evenly distributed on the ground, (ii) harvesting all above-ground tree parts except needles and (iii) above-ground whole-tree harvesting (no residues left on site). At stand age 8–10 years, nitrogen concentrations in the current year needles in plots where all residues or needles only were retained were higher than in whole-tree harvested plots, whereas concentrations of K, Ca and Mg were lower. The latter response was interpreted as a dilution effect. P:N, K:N, Ca:N, Mg:N, Mn:N and Zn:N were in general higher after whole-tree harvesting treatments than after the treatments where all residues or only needles had been left on site. At stand age 16–18 years, no significant differences in nitrogen concentrations were observed between treatments, but the levels of Ca, Mg and Mn in both current and 1-year-old needles were lower after whole-tree harvesting than after the treatments where logging residues remained on site. By contrast, potassium levels in the foliage were highest in treatments where only the needles were left on site, whereas the lowest levels were observed for treatments where all residues was left. At stand age 22–24 years, the treatment effects had diminished, except for the effects on Ca and K on the southern Norway spruce stand. It is concluded that the nutrient release from logging residues enhances nutrient uptake in trees of the succeeding forest generation, but this effect does not occur simultaneously for all elements. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sources of Biomass Feedstock Variability and the Potential Impact on Biofuels Production

Terrestrial lignocellulosic biomass has the potential to be a carbon neutral and domestic source of fuels and chemicals. However, the innate variability of biomass resources, such as herbaceous and woody materials, and the inconsistency within a single resource due to disparate growth and harvesting conditions, presents challenges for downstream processes which often require materials that are physically and chemically consistent. Intrinsic biomass characteristics, including moisture content, carbohydrate and ash compositions, bulk density, and particle size/shape distributions are highly variable and can impact the economics of transforming biomass into value-added products. For instance, ash content increases by an order of magnitude between woody and herbaceous feedstocks (from ～0.5 to 5 %, respectively) while lignin content drops by a factor of two (from ～30 to 15 %, respectively). This increase in ash and reduction in lignin leads to biofuel conversion consequences, such as reduced pyrolysis oil yields for herbaceous products as compared to woody material. In this review, the sources of variability for key biomass characteristics are presented for multiple types of biomass. Additionally, this review investigates the major impacts of the variability in biomass composition on four conversion processes: fermentation, hydrothermal liquefaction, pyrolysis, and direct combustion. Finally, future research processes aimed at reducing the detrimental impacts of biomass variability on conversion to fuels and chemicals are proposed.© 2015 Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, contract manager for Idaho National Laboratory.     

Light and soil moisture effects on biomass and its allocation in Osmorhiza depauperata Philippi (Apiaceae)

Changes in forest openings affect light quality and quantity, and the magnitude of rainfall that reaches the soil surface. Osmorhiza depauperata, a geophyte, acclimates to changes imposed because of forest openings. We studied which changes in biomass allocation allow acclimation of O. depauperata to the various environments that this species inhabits, and where it develops better. Three light intensities (I4 = 4 %, I26 = 26 %, I64 = 64 % of ambient sunlight) and two moisture levels (M40 = 40–60 %, M80 = 80–100 % field capacity) were evaluated on O. depauperata under greenhouse conditions. Plant biomasses per pot were 0.81, 0.56 and 0.48 g at I26, I4 and I64 light intensities, respectively, after one growing season. The biomass allocation to aboveground tissues and leaf area decreased as light intensity increased. Soil moisture modified only belowground biomass and weight of fine roots. The interaction between soil moisture content and light intensity was consistent. This was because of a significant reduction in total plant biomass under high both soil moisture content and high light intensity. Osmorhiza depauperata growth was favored most at medium light intensities. Changes in biomass allocation among various organs allow this species to inhabit forest habitats with different light intensities.     

Impact of Harvest Equipment on Ash Variability of Baled Corn Stover Biomass for Bioenergy

Cost-effective conversion of agricultural residues for renewable energy hinges not only on the material’s quality but also the biorefinery’s ability to reliably measure quality specifications. The ash content of biomass is one such specification, influencing pretreatment and disposal costs for the conversion facility and the overall value of a delivered lot of biomass. The biomass harvest process represents a primary pathway for accumulation of soil-derived ash within baled material. In this work, the influence of five collection techniques on the total ash content and variability of ash content within baled corn stover in southwest Kansas is discussed. The equipment tested included a mower for cutting the corn stover stubble, a basket rake, wheel rake, or shred flail to gather the stover, and a mixed or uniform in-feed baler for final collection. The results showed mean ash content to range from 11.5 to 28.2 % depending on operational choice. Resulting impacts on feedstock costs for a biochemical conversion process range from $5.38 to $22.30 Mg^?1 based on the loss of convertible dry matter and ash disposal costs. Collection techniques that minimized soil contact (shred flail or nonmowed stubble) were shown to prevent excessive ash contamination, whereas more aggressive techniques (mowing and use of a wheel rake) caused greater soil disturbance and entrainment within the final baled material. Material sampling and testing were shown to become more difficult as within-bale ash variability increased, creating uncertainty around feedstock quality and the associated costs of ash mitigation.     

Influence of Moisture Content,Particle Size,and Binder Ratio on Quality and Economics of Rice Straw Briquettes

Rice straw as solid residues are biomass residue materials that are not optimally used by farmers in Punjab and potentially become environmental pollutant. A large amount of rice straw (17 million tons) is generated and left as much in combine harvested rice fields in Punjab, India. It is very difficult to manage such huge amount of rice straw thus, farmers resort to burning it which leads to greenhouse gas emissions like CO₂ due to open field burning and loss of rich organic matter present in the soil. Further due to imposition of restrictions by the state government, the practice of burning rice straw has now become an offense. So farmers are looking for alternatives which are economically viable. Rice straw can be effectively used as bio energy as it has about the same heating value (15 kJ kg^?1) as that of wood, half that of good quality coal and one third of oil. The operational conditions required to produce high-quality chopped rice straw briquettes have not been determined and this study determined the optimal moisture content, particle size, and binder ratio required to produce rice straw briquettes. The optimized conditions resulted in formation of high-density (1030.38–1159.22 kg m^?3) briquettes with durability ranging from 71.9 to 92.3% with minimum power requirement for briquetting (36.60 kW), maximum calorific value of 15.61 MJ kg^?1, and minimum ash content (16.34%).Total cost of making chopped rice straw briquettes was 0.041 USD per kg and 0.00281 USD per mega joule of energy. Cost of briquetting from chopped rice straw with 10 and 20% cotton stalks was 0.050 and 0.051 USD per kg, respectively, and 0.0033 USD per mega joule of energy. Also, the briquettes prepared from chopped rice straw with and without cotton stalk as a binder were economically viable.     

NIR techniques create added values for the pellet and biofuel industry

A 2(3)-factorial experiment was carried out in an industrial plant producing biofuel pellets with sawdust as feedstock. The aim was to use on-line near infrared (NIR) spectra from sawdust for real time predictions of moisture content, blends of sawdust and energy consumption of the pellet press. The factors varied were: drying temperature and wood powder dryness in binary blends of sawdust from Norway spruce and Scots pine. The main results were excellent NIR calibration models for on-line prediction of moisture content and binary blends of sawdust from the two species, but also for the novel finding that the consumption of electrical energy per unit pelletized biomass can be predicted by NIR reflectance spectra from sawdust entering the pellet press. This power consumption model, explaining 91.0% of the variation, indicated that NIR data contained information of the compression and friction properties of the biomass feedstock. The moisture content model was validated using a running NIR calibration model in the pellet plant. It is shown that the adjusted prediction error was 0.41% moisture content for grinded sawdust dried to ca. 6-12% moisture content. Further, although used drying temperatures influenced NIR spectra the models for drying temperature resulted in low prediction accuracy. The results show that on-line NIR can be used as an important tool in the monitoring and control of the pelletizing process and that the use of NIR technique in fuel pellet production has possibilities to better meet customer specifications, and therefore create added production values.     

Effect of soil moisture depletion on stem shrinkage and photosynthesis of tree seedlings

Effects of soil moisture depletion on stem contraction and photosynthesis of potted 3-year-old white ash (Fraxinus americana L.) and 4-year-old red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) seedlings were investigated in greenhouse experiments. White-ash seedlings transpired faster and consequently depleted soil moisture more rapidly than red-pine seedlings. Cumulative stem shrinkage occurred in both species as soils dried and appreciable stem expansion occurred only after soil was reirrigated. Following irrigation, seedlings rehydrated and their stems expanded to about their original diameters within 24 hours in white ash, and in up to 6 days in red pine seedlings. Photosynthesis was decreased in both species as soil dried, but it declined much faster in white ash than in red pine seedlings. Net emission of CO₂ by red pine seedlings occurred after 13 days of soil drying. In contrast, white-ash seedlings did not show net CO₂ release during severe drought. Several days after droughted white-ash and red-pine seedlings were reirrigated, photosynthesis recovered to pre-drought levels. Publication approved by Director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Combined effects of nitrogen enrichment, sulphur pollution and climate change on fen meadow vegetation N:P stoichiometry and biomass

Nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) deposition, as well as altered soil moisture dynamics due to climate change can have large effects on fen meadow biogeochemistry and vegetation. Their combined effects may differ strongly from their separate effects, since each process affects different nutrients through different mechanisms. However, the impacts of these environmental problems are rarely studied in combination. We therefore investigated the separate and interactive effects of current levels of N- and S-deposition and changes in soil moisture dynamics on fen meadow vegetation. We focused on vegetation biomass and N:P stoichiometry, including access to soil P through root surface phosphatase activity, in a 3-year factorial addition experiment in an N-limited rich fen meadow in the Biebrza valley in Poland. We applied 29.5 kg N ha^?1 year^?1 and 32.1 kg S ha^?1 year^?1, which correspond to current deposition levels in Western Europe. Changes in soil moisture dynamics due to climate change were mimicked by amplified drying of the soil in summer. This level of N-deposition had limited effects on plant biomass production in this rich fen, despite low foliar N:P ratios that suggest N limitation. This level of S-deposition, however, resulted in decreased vegetation P-uptake and biomass. We also showed that increased summer drought resulted in considerable increases in vegetation biomass. We found no interactive effects on vegetation biomass or N:P stoichiometry, possibly as a result of the limited main effects of the separate processes.     

Crop Management Impacts Biofuel Quality: Influence of Switchgrass Harvest Time on Yield, Nitrogen and Ash of Fast Pyrolysis Products

Although upgrading bio-oil from fast pyrolysis of biomass is an attractive pathway for biofuel production, nitrogen (N) and mineral matter carried over from the feedstock to the bio-oil represents a serious contaminant in the process. Reducing the N and ash content of biomass feedstocks would improve process reliability and reduce production costs of pyrolytic biofuels. This study investigated: (1) How does switchgrass harvest date influence the yield, N concentration ([N]), and ash concentration of biomass and fast pyrolysis products? and (2) Is there a predictive relationship between [N] of switchgrass biomass and [N] of fast pyrolysis products? Switchgrass from five harvest dates and varying [N] from central Iowa were pyrolyzed using a free-fall reactor. Harvestable biomass peaked in August (8.6 Mg ha^?1), dropping significantly by November (6.7 Mg ha^?1, P?=?0.0027). Production of bio-oil per unit area mirrored that of harvested biomass at each harvest date; however, bio-oil yield per unit dry biomass increased from 46.6 % to 56.7 % during the season (P?=?0.0018). Allowing switchgrass to senesce lowered biomass [N] dramatically, by as much as 68 % from June to November (P?<?0.0001). Concurrently, bio-oil [N] declined from 0.51 % in June to 0.17 % by November (P?<?0.0001). Significant reductions in ash concentration were also observed in biomass and char. Finally, we show for the first time that the [N] of switchgrass biomass is a strong predictor of the [N] of bio-oil, char, and non-condensable gas with R ² values of 0.89, 0.94, and 0.88, respectively.     

Effect of drying temperature on carrageenan yield and quality of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Rhodophyta,Solieriaceae) cultivated in Brazil

This study evaluates the effect of different drying temperatures on the properties of semi-refined (SR) and refined (R) carrageenan extracted from Kappaphycus alvarezii cultivated in Brazil. Drying kinetics was studied in seaweeds under the following treatments: sun drying (control) and drying at 40, 60, and 90 °C in convective air dryer. Drying was carried out until the moisture content of seaweeds reached values below of 30 % on wet basis. Significant reductions in drying time were observed with the increase of temperature. At 90 °C, 30 % moisture content was reached in 100 min, as compared with the 1,440 min required by the sun-drying treatment. SR yields showed no significant differences when compared to the control, varying from 40 to 44 %, while R had a significantly higher yield (30 %) at 90 °C in relation to control (26 %). Gel strength of SR was significantly higher in the sun-dried samples (1,685.1 g cm^?2) and 60 °C samples (1,727.2 g cm^?2), but no significant differences were observed in R gel strengths. Lowest syneresis was observed in both SR (9.8 %) and R (10.3 %) after the treatment at 90 °C. Significantly lower viscosity values were observed for SR at 60 °C (233 mPa s) and at 90 °C (175 mPa s), as for R, the lowest value was observed at 90 °C (205 mPa s). Based on these results, it was concluded that best results for both types of carrageenan are obtained drying at 60 °C.     

Solid-State NMR Investigation of Bio-chars Produced from Biomass Components and Whole Biomasses

Bio-char is a by-product from thermochemical treatment of biomass and has been identified as an energy condensed product with a comparable heating value as commercial coal. However, the combustion of such solid product as an energy resource is only a preliminary application. It is highly possible to convert bio-char, which always has a condensed aromatic and porous structure to various high-value products. The investigations of the structures and formation pathways for the bio-char are very important to any future applications. In this study, six different biomass components, including cellulose, lignin, and tannin, and three whole biomasses—pine wood, pine residue, and pine bark—have been used to produce bio-char at 400, 500, and 600 °C. Solid-state NMR and FT-IR have been employed in this study to characterize the structures for the bio-chars. The results indicated that the bio-chars produced from lignin contained some methoxyl groups, and the bio-chars produced from tannin contained significantly higher amount of phenolic hydroxyl groups. Compared to the bio-chars produced from pine wood and residue, the bio-chars produced from pine bark contained more aromatic C–O bonds, and aliphatic C–O and C–C bonds, which may be due to the significantly higher amount of lignin and tannin in the pine bark. However, the elevated amounts of aromatic C–O and aliphatic C–O and C–C bonds in the bio-chars from pine bark appeared to be completely decomposed at 600 °C.     

Evaluation of a Modular System for Low-Cost Transport and Storage of Herbaceous Biomass

A conceptual system adopting features from cotton, silage, and container shipping systems was evaluated between 2008 and 2011. The evaluation included both simulations of the anticipated full-scale system and field trials of forming, transporting, and storing biomass modules containing energy sorghum. The simulations utilized Integrated Biomass Supply Analysis and Logistics (IBSAL) and incorporated the anticipated module forming machine that would operate in partnership with a forage harvester, as well as a machine to load the modules onto a flatbed semi-trailer. When compared to the DOE target for logistics costs of $38.59/Mg, the estimated cost was lower for distances up to 80 km. Field results were promising, with biomass modules of up to 5.2 Mg formed, stored for up to 12 months, loaded on a truck in 2 min or less, and transported for 96 km with no significant change of shape or size. Difficulty in field drying of energy sorghum was consistent over 3 years of harvest, as was the ability to use field drying in windrows without increasing the ash content of the biomass. The manually formed module packages did not maintain an anaerobic environment throughout the storage period, and excessive biomass degradation occurred. In addition, the dry matter density in the modules was approximately 180 kg/m³ rather than the 240 kg/m³ targeted in the simulation. Despite the conceptual evaluation not achieving all the desired features, these studies demonstrated the economic and logistical advantages of a system based upon large packages of chopped biomass.     

Time-Dependent Climate Impact and Energy Efficiency of Internationally Traded Non-torrefied and Torrefied Wood Pellets from Logging Residues

Demand for wood pellets as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels has increased in the past decade. However, production and use of wood pellets involves several operations (biomass extraction, chipping, transport, drying, milling, pelleting, combustion) with negative impacts on e.g. the climate. In this study, the energy efficiency and climate impact of production and use of non-torrefied and torrefied wood pellets were analysed and compared. The wood pellets, produced from logging residues extracted from a boreal coniferous forest stand (Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst)) in northern Sweden, were assumed to be exported and finally used in a power plant. Time-dependent life cycle assessment, expressing the climate impact as global temperature change over time, was used to include annual greenhouse gas fluxes of both fossil and biogenic origin. The results showed that carbon stock changes due to extraction of logging residues contributed most of the warming effect on global temperature. Due to greater demand for raw material, a higher warming impact per gigajoule fuel was obtained for torrefied wood pellets than for non-torrefied wood pellets. However, torrefied wood pellets demonstrated a lower climate impact (per GJ electricity) when advantages such as higher electrical energy efficiency and higher co-firing rate were included. A general conclusion from this study is that replacing coal with non-torrefied or torrefied wood pellets made from logging residues can mitigate climate change. The energy output of these systems was about sevenfold the primary energy input.     

宁南山区不同乔木林地土壤干层分布及干燥化特征

以宁南山区典型坡面不同人工林地为研究对象,分层采集0~600 cm土样,分析杏树(Armeniaca vulgaris)、杨树(Populus simonii)、榆树(Ulmus pumila)、刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)和松树(Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica)及农田(对照)土壤含水量垂直剖面分布特征,采用干燥化指数(SID)、土壤水分相对亏缺指数(CSWDI)、干层起始深度(DSLFD)、干层厚度(DSLT)和干层内平均含水量(DSL-SWC)等指标对土壤干燥化强度和干层分布特征进行分析,利用冗余分析(RDA)确定相关环境因子对土壤干燥化和干层的影响,为黄土高原山区植被合理利用水土资源和生态恢复等提供数据支撑。结果表明:(1)杏树、杨树、榆树、刺槐、松树土壤水分均属中等变异,且0~600 cm平均土壤含水量与对照农田相比分别降低了31.17%、24.15%、23.19%、29.67%和18.35%。(2)不同人工林地干层起始深度、干层厚度及垂直剖面土壤水分分布明显不同,杏树、杨树、榆树、刺槐、松树和农田土壤干层起始深度分别为90、160、140、140、160和600 cm,干层厚度分别为510、460、480、480、460和0 cm。(3)杏树、杨树、榆树、刺槐和松树0~600 cm平均土壤干燥化指数分别为63.48%、91.88%、95.17%、73.97%和111.91%,土壤水分相对亏缺指数分别为0.68、0.59、0.52、0.63和0.41,其土壤水分干燥化强度及亏缺程度由高到低依次为杏树>刺槐>杨树>榆树>松树。(4)RDA分析结果表明,乔木类型、黏粒含量和地形条件是影响土壤干燥化的重要因素。     

Short-term effects of nutrient compensation following whole-tree harvesting on soil and soil water chemistry in a young Norway spruce stand

A growing demand for bioenergy from conventional forestry in Sweden will increase the need of nutrient compensation, that preferably should be made relatively shortly after harvesting and have no undesired side-effects. This study compared the effects of granulated wood ash (Ash), N-free, dolomite-based fertiliser (Vitality) and the green fraction of harvest residues (Residues) on the podsolic soil and soil solution of a young Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) stand in SW Sweden. The treatments were applied three years after clear-felling and whole-tree harvesting. The soil solution was repeatedly sampled in the rooting zone 2–5 years after treatment. The soil study was performed 4 years after the Ash treatment and 3 years after Residues treatment and the last Vitality treatment (the Vitality treatment was applied on two occasions over 2 years). The Vitality treatment increased base saturation and effective CEC in the humus layer in relation to the other treatments, and also increased Ca and K concentrations in the soil solution. The Ash treatment resulted in higher exchangeable K concentration than Vitality in the litter layer, and Residues increased K concentrations in the soil water. No treatment influenced the KCl-exchangeable nitrate concentrations in the soil or the nitrate levels in the soil water. The results indicate that granulated wood ash could be used for long-term nutrient compensation without undesired short-term side-effects.     

Quality and decomposition in soil of rhizome, root and senescent leaf from Miscanthus x giganteus, as affected by harvest date and N fertilization

To predict the environmental benefits of energy crop production and use, the nature and fate of biomass residues in the soil need to be quantified. Our objective was to quantify Miscanthus x giganteus biomass recycling to soil and to assess how harvesting time and N fertilization affect their characteristics and subsequent biodegradability. The quantification of aerial and belowground biomass and their sampling were performed on 2- and 3-year-old Miscanthus stands, either fertilized with 120 kg N ha^?1 year^?1 or not fertilized, in autumn (maximal biomass production) and winter (maturity). Plant biomass was chemically characterized (total sugars, Klason lignin, C/N) and incubated in optimum decomposition conditions (15°C, ?80 kPa) for 263 days, for C and N mineralization. Accumulation of carbon in rhizomes and roots was 7.5 to 10 t C ha^?1 and represented about 50% of total plant biomass C. Senescent leaves represented about 1.5 t C ha^?1 year^?1. All residues, especially the roots, had high lignin contents, while the rhizomes also had a high soluble content due to their nutrient storage function. The C mineralization rates were closely related to the chemical characteristics of the residue, higher sugar and lower lignin contents leading to faster decomposition, as observed for rhizomes.     

Intensive Utilization of Harvest Residues in Southern Pine Plantations: Quantities Available and Implications for Nutrient Budgets and Sustainable Site Productivity

The rising costs and social concerns over fossil fuels have resulted in increased interest in and opportunities for biofuels. Biomass in the form of coarse woody residues remaining after traditional timber harvest in the southeastern USA is a potentially significant source of biomass for bioenergy. Questions remain regarding whether the removal of this material would constitute a sustainable silvicultural practice given the potential impact on soil nutrient cycling and other ecosystem functions. Our objective is to review existing studies to estimate quantities of residual materials on southern pine forests that may be available, potential nutrient removals, and potential replacement with fertilizer. Regionally, it is estimated that 32 million Mg year^?1 of dry harvest residues may be available as a feedstock. At the stand level, between 50 and 85 Mg ha^?1 of material is left on site after typical stem-only harvests, of which half could be removed using chippers at the landing. Based on these estimates, increase in midrotation fertilization rates of 45% to 60% may be needed on some sites to fully replace the nutrients from harvesting residues removed for bioenergy. Field experiments suggest that residue removals do not degrade forest productivity in many cases, but more data are needed to assess the effects of frequent removals (i.e., from short-rotation systems) over longer periods and identify sites that may be particularly sensitive to the practice. A benefit of developing markets for previously nonmerchantable materials may create incentives for improved forest management by landowners.