Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Short-rotation wood production systems for marginal land in the Great Lakes region: Final report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6846658
Over the long-term, short-rotation wood production systems can provide a sustained supply of wood as a renewable energy resource. Short-rotation forestry is an alternative to conventional agriculture on marginal land. Since several harvests occur from a single planting, short rotation systems provide relatively permanent vegetation. The potential for improved land use and resource conservation exists in conversion of marginal land to short-rotation systems. Short-rotation forestry involves fast-growing, deciduous woody species planted at close spacings and harvested over short time periods (4 to 10 years). Harvested trees resprout from established rootstocks and supply wood through coppice production. Tree planting densities from 5000 trees/ha to 10,000 trees/ha appear favorable. Thirteen species seem promising for the Great Lakes region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin). Average annual yields in the US have been 8 to 9 dry Mg/ha. Maximum yields on good sites with optimum species have been 20--30 dry Mg/ha yr. Annual yields on marginal sites are expected to range from 4 to 15 dry Mg/ha considering both seedling and coppice productivity. Recommendations are discussed for short-rotation wood production on marginal land in the region. 38 refs., 6 figs., 6 tabs.
Research Organization:
Illinois Univ., Urbana (USA). Dept. of Forestry
DOE Contract Number:
FG05-83OR21390
OSTI ID:
6846658
Report Number(s):
DOE/OR-21390-T18; ON: DE88015077
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English