Biomass production and nutrient cycling in Eucalyptus short rotation energy forests in New Zealand. : I: biomass and nutrient accumulation

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2002-12, Vol.85 (3), p.273-283
• Main Authors: Guo, L.B, Sims, R.E.H, Horne, D.J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abattoirs; Accumulation; biogeochemical cycles; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; biomass production; calcium; Calcium - metabolism; Ecosystem; Effluent land treatment; energy; Eucalyptus; Eucalyptus - classification; Eucalyptus - growth & development; Eucalyptus - metabolism; Fertilizers; Forestry; Forestry - methods; forests; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; irrigated conditions; leaf area index; magnesium; Magnesium - metabolism; manganese; Manganese - metabolism; New Zealand; nitrogen; Nitrogen - metabolism; Nutrients; phosphorus; Phosphorus - metabolism; potassium; Potassium - metabolism; Production. Biomass; Refuse Disposal - methods; Sensitivity and Specificity; Short rotation forest; Species Specificity; Trees - metabolism; wastewater irrigation
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/S0960-8524(02)00118-9

Accumulation of biomass and nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Mn) was measured during the first 3-year rotation of three Eucalyptus short rotation forest species ( E. botryoides, E. globulus and E. ovata) irrigated with meatworks effluent compared with no irrigation. E. globulus had the highest biomass and nutrient accumulation either irrigated with effluent or without irrigation. After 3-year growth, E. globulus stands irrigated with effluent accumulated 72 oven dry t/ha of above-ground total biomass with a total of 651 kg N, 55 kg P, 393 kg K, 251 kg Ca, 35 kg Mg and 67 kg Mn. Effluent irrigation increased the accumulation of biomass, N, P, K and Mn, but tended to reduce the leaf area index and leaf biomass, and decreased the accumulation of Ca and Mg.