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Forests
Special Issues
Agroforestry Systems for Timber and Woody Biomass Production
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Agroforestry Systems for Timber and Woody Biomass Production

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Wood Science and Forest Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2022) | Viewed by 8126

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Gianni Picchi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CNR-IBE, via Madonna del Piano 10, I-50139 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
Interests: biomass from agroforestry residues; biomass crops; forest mechanization; quality of biomass fuel; precision forestry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Agroforestry systems include a wide range of solutions using trees outside forests: riparian vegetation, windbreaks, short rotation coppices, and tree plantations in arable land, either as monoculture or associated with other crops. In these systems, timber and/or woody biomass production is often combined with further products or services. Some examples are the protection of food crops and the control of erosion and pollution, among others.

Agroforestry systems compete with intensive food and industrial crops for land use; therefore, the sum of their products and services must offset the value of the alternatives. Additionally, they are generally more complex and labor-demanding, leading to higher tending costs. Nonetheless, the growing reduction of fertile land combined with the increasing human population requires systems that can maximize the products and services yielded by each unit of land, while preserving it from erosion and pollution. Properly planned and managed agroforestry systems can cope with these challenges. However, an adequate and comprehensive knowledge is required to make proper decisions, ranging from the selection of the most appropriate species/clones for the specific site to the most efficient harvesting systems.

The Special Issue aims to collect research contributions that will provide a comprehensive vision of agroforestry systems. Although timber and woody biomass are the main products considered, any other product or service associated with trees outside forests will be positively evaluated. Therefore, authors are invited to contribute original manuscripts covering the following subjects:

  • Tree genetic resources for timber and biomass production;
  • Fast growing plantations;
  • Intercropping;
  • Short rotation coppice;
  • Pest and disease control;
  • Interaction of crops (woody and herbaceous);
  • Tending techniques and equipment;
  • Harvesting systems and machinery;
  • Erosion and pollution control;
  • Energy and economic balances;
  • Phytoremediation;
  • Riparian vegetation;
  • Industrial timber;
  • Biomass fuel.

Dr. Gianni Picchi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Tree genetic resources for timber and biomass production
  • Fast growing plantations
  • Intercropping
  • Short rotation coppice
  • Pest and disease control
  • Interaction of crops (woody and herbaceous)
  • Tending techniques and equipment
  • Harvesting systems and machinery
  • Erosion and pollution control
  • Energy and economic balances
  • Phytoremediation
  • Riparian vegetation
  • Industrial timber
  • Biomass fuel.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 2439 KiB  
Article
Above-Ground Biomass and Nutrient Accumulation in Ten Eucalyptus Clones in Leizhou Peninsula, Southern China
by Peng Zhang, Zhiyi Cui, Xiaojin Liu and Daping Xu
Forests 2022, 13(4), 530; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13040530 - 29 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1556
Abstract
Selecting suitable clones and regulating nutrients for Eucalyptus plantation are a key management practice for improving productivity and nutrient use. Therefore, this study evaluated growth performance, above-ground biomass, nutrient content (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) of ten [...] Read more.
Selecting suitable clones and regulating nutrients for Eucalyptus plantation are a key management practice for improving productivity and nutrient use. Therefore, this study evaluated growth performance, above-ground biomass, nutrient content (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) of ten Eucalyptus Clones for three sites in Leizhou Peninsula. The present study showed a significant genetic variation among clones in growth parameters. Organs have different characteristics in biomass and nutrient content. Stemwood had the highest biomass but lowest total nutrient concentration. While, the stembark exhibited high contents of nutrients and biomass. On average, the NUE of clones was in the following order: phosphorus > magnesium > nitrogen > potassium > calcium. Taken together, among ten clones tested, clones LH1-9211, TH9224, DH32-13, M1 and DH32-22 showed consistently growth and production performance, as well, their NUE were superior in ten clones. Maximum amount of biomass was allocated to economically harvestable component (stemwood) and nutrients in non-harvestable components (stembark and foliage). While nutrients are removed from the planting area as part of the harvest, we can calculate nutrients loss by NUE and biomass. These findings provided useful insights for selection of Eucalyptus Clones and regulating nutrient export during the harvest of Eucalyptus Clones from a planted forest system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroforestry Systems for Timber and Woody Biomass Production)
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15 pages, 4485 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Juvenile, Drought Tolerant Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) Clones with Regard to Plant Physiology and Growth Characteristics in Eastern Hungary: Early Evaluation
by Tamás Ábri, Zsolt Keserű, Attila Borovics, Károly Rédei and József Csajbók
Forests 2022, 13(2), 292; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13020292 - 11 Feb 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1590
Abstract
(1) Background: The aim of our study is to present the results of initial growth and plant physiology studies of newly selected, vegetative propagated black locust clones, with a view to assess their suitability for the establishment of fast growing tree plantations for [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The aim of our study is to present the results of initial growth and plant physiology studies of newly selected, vegetative propagated black locust clones, with a view to assess their suitability for the establishment of fast growing tree plantations for the production of high quality timber in marginal (semi-arid) sites. (2) Methods: In the spring (May) and autumn (November) of 2021, full inventories were carried out in the black locust industrial tree plantation. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values were observed monthly from May to September 2021. For measuring the assimilation parameters the net assimilation, transpiration, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, and other physiological parameters were recorded. (3) Results: Robinia pseudoacacia ‘NK2’ clone showed the highest assimilation rate and it produced the most height increment in the growing season, from May 2021 to November 2021. The discriminant analysis classified successfully the black locust clones, 86.7% of original grouped cases were correctly classified. (4) Conclusions: The study of industrial tree plantations is of great practical importance. As black locust can tolerate even marginal site conditions, the lack of timber can be reduced in the future by establishing black locust industrial tree plantations. To be able to produce good quality industrial wood on the plantations, it is essential to study the phytophysiological properties of the trees (biomass production, vegetation activity of plants, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic activity) in addition to the traditional stand full inventories. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroforestry Systems for Timber and Woody Biomass Production)
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16 pages, 6189 KiB  
Article
Thinning and Gap Harvest Effects on Soil, Tree and Stand Characteristics in Hybrid Poplar Bioenergy Buffers on Farmland
by Julien Fortier, Benoit Truax, Daniel Gagnon and France Lambert
Forests 2022, 13(2), 194; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f13020194 - 27 Jan 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2325
Abstract
Linear bioenergy buffers planted with fast-growing trees along field edges are increasingly used to address challenges related to sustainable biomass production, climate change mitigation (i.e., carbon storage and microclimate regulation), water quality protection, and forest habitat connectivity in agricultural landscapes. This study assessed: [...] Read more.
Linear bioenergy buffers planted with fast-growing trees along field edges are increasingly used to address challenges related to sustainable biomass production, climate change mitigation (i.e., carbon storage and microclimate regulation), water quality protection, and forest habitat connectivity in agricultural landscapes. This study assessed: (1) the extent to which 15 m wide hybrid poplar bioenergy buffers (1666 stems/ha) with closed canopy responded to thinning (diamond pattern of tree removal); (2) the regrowth of poplars from cut stumps following gap harvesting; (3) the effects of harvesting treatments on soil microclimate and nutrient availability; and (4) the spatiotemporal pattern of tree growth in unthinned plots. After three post-thinning years, results showed a strong growth response of seven-year-old hybrid poplar trees to thinning (12% increase in diameter and 30% increase in individual stem volume), accompanied by a slight decline in stand productivity. Gap harvesting was not an effective treatment to regenerate the stand from shoots growing from cut stumps because of the high deer browsing. Overall, thinning had marginal effects on soil nutrients and microclimate, compared with gap harvesting, which increased soil temperature, soil moisture, and the availability of several macro and micronutrients. However, harvest effects on soil nutrients were mostly observed during the first postharvest year, with the exception of soil nitrate, which was lowest in the gap treatment during the second postharvest year. Finally, the spatial pattern observed in tree growth between the buffer rows suggests that other more operational thinning patterns (row or corridor thinning) need to be evaluated in linear buffers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroforestry Systems for Timber and Woody Biomass Production)
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16 pages, 2743 KiB  
Article
Influence of INGER and TORDIS Energetic Willow Clones Planted on Contaminated Soil on the Survival Rates, Yields and Calorific Value
by Cezar Scriba, Aurel Lunguleasa, Cosmin Spirchez and Valentina Ciobanu
Forests 2021, 12(7), 826; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/f12070826 - 23 Jun 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1518
Abstract
The paper presents some forestry aspects of using Inger and Tordis willow clones to obtain woody biomass and remedy degraded soils. The methodological aspects regarding the planting of willow seedlings, the evaluation of the survival rate, the evaluation of the biomass quantity and [...] Read more.
The paper presents some forestry aspects of using Inger and Tordis willow clones to obtain woody biomass and remedy degraded soils. The methodological aspects regarding the planting of willow seedlings, the evaluation of the survival rate, the evaluation of the biomass quantity and the enrichment of the soil are analyzed. The results of the experiments showed that the degraded soil decreased the viability rate of the cuttings by 16.6% for the Tordis clone and 35.8 for the Inger clone. The analysis of the soil samples showed that it was enriched in nutrients after 2 years of cultivation, by the decomposition of the fallen leaves on the soil and by the absorption of the substances from the soil. Regarding the amount of biomass, its mass per hectare after the first year of cultivation was 0.64 t/ha for the Inger clone and 0.66 t/ha for the Tordis clone, while the calorific values of 19,376 kJ/kg for Inger and 19,355 kJ/kg for Tordis were good values. The final conclusion of the paper highlights that Osier willow is a viable solution for obtaining energetic biomass and putting it back into the productive circuit of degraded soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agroforestry Systems for Timber and Woody Biomass Production)
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