Energy cropping on derelict and waste land
The productivity of broadleaved and coniferous tree species has been determined on a range of derelict and waste land sites. Mean annual yields ranged from 0.54 t ha/sup -1/ for Betula pendula on railway land to 11.8 t ha/sup -1/ for Alnus glutinosa on pulverized fuel ash. Betula pendula, Pinus contorta and Populus robusta yielded more than 4 t ha/sup -1/ on a number of sites. Nutrient analysis show that harvesting a crop of 4 dry t ha/sup -1/ can remove up to 38 kg ha/sup -1/ nitrogen, 2 kg ha/sup -1/ phosphorus and 17 kg ha/sup -1/ potassium. However, 44-68% of the nitrogen, 46-49% of the potassium and 83-94% of the phosphorus in the standing crop at the end of the growing season occur in the foliage. Considerable conservation of nutrients can therefore be achieved by harvesting deciduous species after leaf fall, reducing total yield by about 18%. Nevertheless, in the absence of regular fertilizer additions, repeated harvesting will severely deplete the soil nutrient pool on many derelict sites. Assuming yields equivalent to 4.5 dry t ha/sup -1/ yr/sup -1/, derelict and waste land could yield 520,000 dry t yr/sup -1/ representing an energy yield of about 205,000 t oil equivalent, about 0.1% of the UK energy requirement for the year 2000.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of York, England
- OSTI ID:
- 6008997
- Journal Information:
- J. Environ. Manage.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Environ. Manage.; (United States) Vol. 16:3; ISSN JEVMA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKALI METALS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ELEMENTS
EUROPE
LAND RECLAMATION
METALS
MINERAL CYCLING
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUTRIENTS
PHOSPHORUS
PLANTS
POTASSIUM
PRODUCTIVITY
TREES
UNITED KINGDOM
WESTERN EUROPE