COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF ROMANIAN AND INTRODUCED SALIX CULTIVARS FOR SHORT ROTATION COPPICE

Willow cultivars have potential to be used as biomass sources for energy production. This study is focused on evaluation of 4 willow cultivars ('Fragisal', 'Robisal', 'Pesred' and 'Cozia 1') selected from local flora of Romania. The cultivars were named by University of Craiova - SCDP Vâlcea and CET Govora as a result of a research project. The 4 Romanian cultivars were tested in a trial along with 2 Swedish willow cultivars: 'Tordis' and Inger'. Romanian cultivars produced high biomass yields comparable with the foreign varieties and proved less susceptible to leaf rust. Romanian willow cultivars proved valuable, better adapted to local environment conditions and suited to be grown in SRC type cultures.