Poplar biomass of high density short rotation plantations as raw material for energy production.

Th e aim of this study is to present the results of examination of mean annual increment and estimated energy production of plantations with a high number of poplar plants per hectare: seven experimental clones of eastern cottonwood P. deltoides cl. B-229, cl. B-81, cl. 129/81, cl. 182/81, cl. 181/81, cl. PE 4/68, cl. 665 and Euramerican black poplar P. x euramericana cl. M-1 (16667 plants per hectare). Based on measured parameters of growth elements of mean trees in two plantations, biomass (oven dry) weights per hectare were calculated after one year and two years, and the potential energy obtained by combustion of the total aboveground biomass (stem and branches, without leaves) was estimated. Th e estimated average energy yield of 64.883 GJ/ha (for all clones) in the fi rst year, is signifi cantly higher in the second year and amounts to 260.741 GJ/ha, which is the increase by about four times, with signifi cant interclonal diff erences.

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