Sustainable biomass production in agroforestry systems W.R. Schroeder, H. de Gooijer, J. Kort and C. Stefner AAFC-AESB Agroforestry Development Centre Guelph, Ontario March, 2011 Agriculture and Agriculture et Agri-Food Canada Agroalimentaire Canada
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 Agriculture et Agri-Food Canada 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? Agriculture and Agriculture et Agri-Food Canada Agroalimentaire Canada
Harvested Plot December 2009 2.0m 0.75m 6666 stems/ha Agriculture and Agriculture et Agri-Food Canada Agroalimentaire Canada
Annual biomass yield at two riparian sites (6666 stems/ha) -1 yr -1 ) 35 30 Yield (tDM ha 25 20 NO 3 -N NO 3 -N 15 NO 3 -N 48.6 41.6 10 NO 3 -N 46.7 NO 3 -N NO 3 -N 5 38.1 22.8 10.4 0 Waugh Hovingh 2 Hovingh 3 Waugh Hovingh 2 Hovingh 3 Dasyclados 'SV1' Viminalis '5027' Clone and Site Agriculture and Agriculture et Agri-Food Canada Agroalimentaire Canada
Annual Biomass Yield (tDM ha -1 yr -1 ) Waugh Site (6666 stems/ha) Viminalis '5027' 20.49 Coppiced Not 15.08 Coppiced Dasyclados 'SV1' 15.97 Coppiced Not 11.62 Coppiced Agriculture and Agriculture et Agri-Food Canada Agroalimentaire Canada
Annual above and below-ground N & P Accumulation Annual Total Nitrogen Accumulated 200 180 160 140 Total N kg/ha/yr 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Not Coppiced Coppiced Annual Total Phosphorous Accumulated 80 70 60 Total P (kg/ha/yr) 50 40 30 20 10 0 Not Coppiced Coppiced Viminalis '5027' Agriculture and Agriculture et Agri-Food Canada Agroalimentaire Canada
Buffer Recommendation Agricultural land 75cm 50cm 200cm 600cm River/Wetland 8000 stems/ha (4 double rows) Plastic mulch for weed control Coppice after year 1 Harvest on three year cycle Agriculture and Agriculture et Agri-Food Canada 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 Agriculture et Agri-Food Canada 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 Activity Cost per dry tonne Plant material - Planting and maintenance - Harvest (tractor, Bio-Baler, twine, fuel, labour)* 45 Transport - willow ring to bale yard (20 km) 5 Total Cost $50 * 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??? Agriculture and Agriculture et Agri-Food Canada Agroalimentaire Canada
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