With the increase in human demands for energy, purpose-grown woody crops could be part of the global renewable energy solution, especially in geographical regions where plantation forestry is feasible and economically significant. However, up to now, it is still a challenging task to accurately and rapidly estimate forest biomass. Various solutions have been developed for estimating forest biomass. As we know, the only way to measure forest biomass implies directly cutting and weighing the mass of all trees in a plot. Unfortunately, the measurements of national-wide forest biomass cannot be conducted now due to restrictions like labor cost, non-destructive measurement requirements, etc. Meanwhile, obtaining permission to fell trees only for scientific purposes in China is difficult. Therefore, in my study, biomass is defined as the aboveground volume of trees as well as stands. Collecting this information at a national scale has been difficult for China because the data are scarce. The forest biomass inventory in some regions of China was designed to use available inventory data, especially volume, to derive biomass estimates. So volume-derived biomass methods have been applied in estimating forest biomass conventionally. In many research sites of my study, only the volume-related information is available in the forest inventory, which requires the volume-based method to understand the biomass yield in practice. Also, many forest scientists use volume-based models and conversion factors (e. g. from a wood density database) to derive the actual forest biomass arithmetically. Therefore, the output of a volume-based model may support many other calculations relevant to the evaluation of tree growth, potential productivity, and carbon stock. There are relatively few studies on biomass models of Short Rotation Forest(SRF) in China, and there is a lack of a general SRF biomass model. Therefore, we carried out a broad survey and critical review of all data from the different regions in China and formed a normalized tree biomass dataset for China. Based on these reasons, the biomass simulation of poplar plantations was carried out. The growth mechanism of SRF was studied on the stand scale. The influence of climate conditions and stand density on tree growth was discussed to achieve a breakthrough in scientific research at the model level. A general SRF biomass model based on growth conditions and planting density was established based on the stand height growth equation. We can summarize the research objectives as follows： ◆To find the influencing factors on the growth of short rotation poplar plantations ◆To find the relationship between biomass and tree height in short rotation poplar plantations ◆Construction and validation of tree height model of short rotation poplar plantations ◆Construction and validation of biomass model of short rotation poplar plantations

No description available.

Land use change is a major driver of species loss worldwide, the extent and intensity of agricultural land use poses particular pressures for biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides. In recent years, agroecosystems have seen the introduction of 2nd generation bioenergy crops in order to tackle anthropogenic climate change, providing a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. In this thesis I study the impact of cultivating two commercial perennial energy crops (PECs), Miscanthus x giganteus and willow short-rotation coppice, when compared to the cereal crops they replace. I investigate processes relevant to the provisioning of pollination and decomposition services and explore patterns of soil element bioaccessibility alongside analyses of the similarity and diversity of soil bacterial communities. When compared to cereals, I find a consistent increase in pollinator (hoverfly, bumblebee and butterfly/moth) wildflower visitation in the margins of willow but not Miscanthus. In Miscanthus, opposing trends arose for different pollinator taxa: butterflies/moths were more frequent flower visitors in Miscanthus margins than cereal margins, while hoverfly flower visits were most frequent in cereal margins. Furthermore, the availability of margin wildflowers was enhanced in willow but not Miscanthus and the seed set of margin phytometers was similar between Miscanthus and cereals. Cultivation of willow, in particular, may therefore yield local conservation benefits for both wildflowers and pollinators. However, there was no evidence for enhancement of pollinator activity in cereals adjacent to either PEC, indicating that the strategic cultivation of these crops is unlikely to enhance pollinator service provision in the wider agri-environment. For investigated soil elements, bioaccessibility in PECs did not differ significantly to cereal controls, and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) revealed no difference in the diversity of bacterial communities. Similarly, DGGE fingerprint patterns did not indicate the development of crop specific assemblages, demonstrating that the mobility of soil elements and structure of bacterial communities were principally determined by factors other than the identity of the crop cultivated. Investigation of meso-microfaunal decomposition rates in Miscanthus using litter bags demonstrated an impact on decomposition processes, with a significant increase in winter decomposition rates in the PEC when compared to cereals.

Bei dem Begang einer Kurzumtriebsplantage bei Großschirma (Sachsen) im August 2011 fiel in einem 500 m x 25 m breiten Streifen der Sorte Max 4 starker Fraß durch Blattwespenlarven auf. Andere Sorten waren nur an den Randbereichen zu Max betroffen. Die Blattwespen hatten, von unten beginnend, 50 % bis 70 % der dreijährigen Pappeltriebe kahl gefressen. Der Hymenoptera-Experte Dr. A. Taeger vom Senkenberg-Institut in Müncheberg bestimmte die Art als Nematus papillosus (Retzius, 1783) (Syn. Nematus melanapsis Hartig 1840). 2012 breitete sich die Massenvermehrung rasch auf angrenzende Flächen aus und führte dort, vor allem in einem Mutterquartier, zu erheblichen Schäden.

L'objectif principal de ce travail de thèse est d'améliorer la prise en compte des peuplements de taillis dans les logiciels d'analyse trajectographique.Dans un premier temps, un modèle numérique permettant de créer des peuplements virtuels de taillis à l'échelle du versant a été développé et validé sur la base d'inventaires forestiers réalisés dans des taillis.Deux modèles numériques permettant de simuler des impacts de blocs sur des franc pieds et des cépées ont été également développés en utilisant la Méthode des Éléments Discrets (MED).Ces modèles ont été calibrés par des essais d'impact sur des tiges de hêtre.Ils permettent d'intégrer l'influence du houppier et du système racinaire, de modéliser explicitement le contact entre le bloc et les tiges impactées, et d'intégrer les non-linéarités matérielles (rupture des tiges, délaminage) se développant dans le tronc au cours de l'impact.Ces travaux ont conduit à la construction d'un modèle trajectographique MED permettant de simuler la propagation d'un bloc dans une forêt de taillis à l'échelle du versant. Finalement, le rôle protecteur de différents peuplements de taillis contre l'aléa de chute de bloc a été caractérisé à l'aide de ce modèle. / This research work is dedicated to improve the integration of coppice stands in rockfall analyses.First, a model was built to create virtual coppice stands. This model was validated using field inventories in coppice stands.Two numerical models were developed to simulate impacts of blocks on single trees and coppice stools using the Discrete Elements Method (MED).These models were calibrated using laboratory impact tests on beech stems.They account for the influence of the root system and of the crown on the tree dynamic response, the explicit modeling of the contact between the block and the impacted stem and the non-linearity evolution into the trunk during impact.Finally, a DEM rockfall software was developed to model rockfall propagation in coppice stands.The protective role against rockfall hazard of different coppice stands was characterized with this model.

Thesis is concerned with relation of usable energy and space as it's widely spread source. For this purpose are introduced not only a few indicators suitable to energy management description, but also principles of environmental assessment thinking are expained, as these help to distinguish the really sustainable ways of deriving energy from space. As examples of energy-from-space extraction are introduced photovoltaics, liquid biofuels and fast growing energy plants. After a brief entry to heat supply problematics, focus is remains on a simple case study: quantifying relationship between local heat demand and local potential production of solid biomass from short rotation coppice. This so far rather hypothetic relation is examined at the municipal level, while Central and South Bohemia regions are the target area. Soil characteristics and population census data (2001) about residental habitats are used.

Worldwide there is an increasing demand of natural resources. In future, non renewable resources get substituted by renewable resources in the energetic sector as well as in the material sector. That implies a stronger usage of renewable resources especially - wood. In 2009 there was a usage of 77 million cubic meters of wood for material applications and a quantity of 55 million cubic meters for energetic applications in Germany alone. Furthermore, there is an increasing demand on wood for energetic purposes. In 2007 this problematic development led to the first supply bottlenecks. To meet the increasing demands of the future, Short Rotation Coppices (SRC) can help to improve the wood provision. An SRC is a planting of fast growing coppice on agricultural areas, which is managed more intensively than usual forestry practices for a quicker production of wooden biomass. With a comparative LCA of conventional wood and wood from SRC the present study evaluates if wood from SRC is reasonable to cover the increasing demand of wood for material and energetic purposes in an environmental friendly way. A comprehensive literature research regarding LCAs of wood and wooden products shows that there are no previous studies comparing the two types of wood. Hence, the present study examines a particleboard production as the material scenario and the combustion of woodchips in a firing system as the energetic scenario to compare the ecological advantages and disadvantages of wood from SRC and conventional wood. The LCA is implemented with the Gabi software designed by PE International. Data is obtained from previous LCA studies evaluating the production of wood, the particleboard production and the combustion of wood. Additionally, data from the Ecoinvent database is used. Functional units are the production of 1m3 particleboard and the production of 1 MJ of thermal energy. The LCIA is implemented with the “Ecoindicator” as endpoint- and “CML 2001” as midpoint approach to cover broad range of environmental issues. Moreover a sensitivity analyses shows the impact of decisive variables on the results of “Ecoindicator” and “CML 2001”. Results reveal that outcomes of the LCIA are dependent of the assessment method and the processed part of trees from conventional forestry. The present study shows, that with an efficient land use, wood from SRC can help to cover the increasing demand of wood for material and energetic purposes in a sustainable way. However, an immediate usage of wood for energetic purposes has to be seen critical. Instead, a cascaded and sustainable utilization of wood is recommendable to counteract climate change and to improve the efficient use of the renew-able resource - “wood”.

Neste trabalho foi avaliada a variação espacial da regeneração natural das espécies nativas no sub-bosque de um povoamento de Eucalyptus saligna Smith. localizado na Estação Experimental de Itatinga do Departamento de Ciências Florestais da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo, que vem sendo manejado ha 50 anos pelo sistema de talhadia simples. A Estação Experimental de Itatinga ocupa uma área aproximada de 675 ha localizados na região fisiográfica denominada Planalto Ocidental Paulista. O uso da terra é caracterizado pelos plantios monoculturais de espécies exóticas, principalmente Eucalyptus sp. e Pinus sp., e fragmentos florestais naturais representativos de floresta estacional semidecidual, floresta ripária, cerradão e cerrado, em diferentes níveis de perturbação. A área experimental compreende 2 sítios distantes entre si em aproximadamente 250 metros e com desnível topográfico de 30 metros, diferenciados principalmente pela fitofisionomia da vegetação, declividade do terreno e pelas diferentes características de fertilidade e capacidade de retenção hídrica dos solos. Foram alocadas aleatoriamente 8 parcelas permanentes de 625 m 2 em cada sítio. Em cada parcela foi realizado o inventário das espécies nativas arbóreas ou arbustivas em via de regeneração, abrangendo os indivíduos com altura maior que 1,5 metros, bem como as brotações das cepas de Eucalyptus saligna existentes. No sítio de solo Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo (LVA), que apresentou área basal média de 6,12 m 2 /ha para as brotações das cepas de Eucalyptus saligna, foram amostrados 92 indivíduos distribuídos em 24 espécies, com destaque para Pouteria torta, Didymopanax vinosum, Ouratea spectabilis , Piptocarpha rotundifolia , Pouteria ramiflora e Anadenanthera falcata. No sítio de solo Latossolo Vermelho (LV), que apresentou área basal média de 13,81 m 2 /ha para as brotações das cepas de Eucalyptus saligna, foram amostrados 991 indivíduos, distribuídos em 90 espécies com destaque para Copaifera langsdorffii, Psychotria sessilis , Pithecolobium incuriale, Myrcia rostrata e Actinostemum communis. No total foram identificadas 107 espécies, sendo 7 espécies comuns aos dois sítios, distribuídas em 72 gêneros e 34 famílias. Os índices de diversidade de Shannon-Wienner (H’) obtidos para o sítio LVA e LV foram respectivamente 2,51 e 3,75. Embora os dois sítios estudados estejam espacialmente próximos, as diferenças com relação a quantidade de indivíduos amostrados e o número de espécies identificadas foram significativas. Analisando-se os resultados pode-se concluir que as variações quantitativas e qualitativas da regeneração natural entre os dois sítios dependem principalmente das condições de umidade e fertilidade do solo. A influência das brotações do Eucalyptus saligna ocorre principalmente no sítio LV em decorrência das condições microclimáticas determinadas pelo dossel desuniforme existente, promovendo diferentes condições de sombreamento e umidade do ar e do solo, as quais possibilitaram o crescimento de espécies de diferentes estádios de sucessão. No sítio LVA, onde as brotações de Eucalyptus saligna ocorreram em menor densidade e tamanho, promovendo menor variação nas condições microclimáticas, pode-se concluir que houve pequena influência sobre a regeneração natural. / This study was carried out to evaluate the spatial variation of the native species naturally regenerating in Eucalyptus saligna stand understory. This stand which is located at Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", Universidade de São Paulo (Itatinga Experimental Station, Forest Sciences Department), has been managed through lopping system for fifty years. The Itatinga Experimental Station, with an area of 675 hectares, is located on the physiographic region named São Paulo West plateau. This region is characterized by monoculture plantations of exotic tree species, mainly Eucalyptus sp and Pinus sp, besides representative remnants of natural forest formations like semideciduos seasonal forest, riparian forest and savannah (Cerradão e Cerrado) with different dis turbance degrees. The experimental area encompasses two sites separated from each other around 250 m, differing 30 m in altitude. These two sites are different mainly in phytophysionomy, land slope and soil fertility and soil hydric retention capacity. Eight permanent plots of 625 m 2 in each site (LVA and LV) were randomly sampled. The woody species individuals with height equal or bigger than 1,5 m and the Eucalyptus saligna coppicings were surveyed in each plot. On the LVA site, with an average basal area of Eucalyptus coppicings of 6,12 m 2 /ha, 92 individuals were sampled, distributed in 24 species and the most important ones were Pouteria torta, Didymopanax vinosum, Ouratea spectabilis, Piptocarpha rotundifolia, Pouteria ramiflora and Anadenanthera falcata. On the LV site, 991 individuals were sampled, distributed in 90 species and the most important ones were Copaifera langsdorffii, Psychotria sessilis, Pithecolobium incuriale, Myrcia rostrata and Actinostemum communis. A total of 107 species were identified and 7 species were common to both sites, distributed into 72 genera and 34 families. The Shannon-Wiener (H´) diversity indexes obtained for LVA and LV site were respectively 2.51 and 3.75. Although both studied sites were close to each other, the differences related to the abundance of the sampled individuals and the number of species were significant. Based upon the results it is possible to conclude that the quantitative and qualitative variations of the natural regeneration between the two sites depend mainly on the soil humidity and fertility. The Eucalyptus saligna influence occurs mainly on site LV due to the different microclimate conditions promoted by the uneven canopy, generating different conditions of shading, soil and air humidity, allowing the growth of species of different successional stages. At the LVA site, were the Eucalyptus saligna coppicing were at a smaller density and size, promoting a smaller variation at the microclimatic conditions, we may conclude that the influence at the natural regeneration was also smaller.

Kurzumtriebsplantagen (KUP) besitzen das Potenzial, beträchtliche Mengen Biomasse für die Versorgung mit erneuerbaren Energien und nachwachsenden Rohstoffen bereitzustellen. Es ist bekannt, dass KUP auf landwirtschaftlichen Flächen mehr Ökosystemdienstleistungen hervorbringen können als üblicherweise angebaute einjährige Ackerfrüchte oder Energiepflanzen wie Raps und Mais. Trotzdem gibt es nur wenige Informationen über den Wasserverbrauch und die Transpiration von Pappelarten und ihren Hybriden unter den spezifischen Standortsbedingungen in Deutschland. Darüber hinaus bestehen Wissenslücken für die Abschätzung langfristiger Auswirkungen von KUP auf bodenökologische Aspekte. Um diese Defizite zu minimieren wurden auf einem Standort im mittelsächsischen Löss-Hügelland Felduntersuchungen durchgeführt. Für die Untersuchung der Effekte von KUP auf die Bodenwasserbilanz wurden Saftfluss- und Bodenfeuchte-Messungen in einer 10jährigen Hybrid-Pappelplantage durchgeführt. Darüber hinaus wurden Biomasseakkumulation, Nährelementverteilung und bodenökologische Parameter erforscht. Die Daten wurden genutzt, um ein prozess-orientiertes Wasserhaushaltsmodell zu parametrisieren und zu kalibrieren. Das validierte Modell wurde danach für die Untersuchung und Bewertung des Einflusses von Pappel-KUP und Winterweizen auf die Wasserbilanz verschiedener sächsischer Standorte genutzt. Schließlich wurden die standortsspezifischen Biomasseerträge von KUP hergeleitet. Diese Informationen wurden mithilfe eines Geografischen Informationssystems (GIS) mit den Flächen verschnitten, auf denen der Anbau von KUP zu Synergien bzw. potenzielle Risiken für den Bodenschutz sowie den Natur- und Landschaftsschutz führen kann. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Hybrid-Pappelplantagen deutlich mehr Wasser als Ackerkulturen und einheimische Forstbaumarten verbrauchen. Es kann daraus abgeleitet werden, dass die Anlage von KUP auf Ackerflächen den wassergebundenen Nährstoffaustrag sowie den Austrag von Schadstoffen reduziert. Auch das Erosionsrisiko würde verringert. Andererseits kann eine im vergleich zum Einzugsgebiet großflächige Anlage von KUP in Regionen mit negativer klimatischer Wasserbilanz zu einer geringeren Grundwasserneubildung führen. Eine ausreichende Wasserversorgung ist unverzichtbar, um die Wuchspotenziale von Pappel-Hochleistungssorten voll auszuschöpfen. Pappel-KUP können weitgehend ohne zusätzliche Düngung bewirtschaftet werden. Ehemals intensiv genutzte Ackerböden enthalten ausreichend Nährstoffe und Elemententzüge über die geerntete Biomasse werden durch atmosphärische Depositionen ausgeglichen. Auf lange Sicht kann der KUP-Anbau jedoch zu einer Verringerung des pH-Wertes und der Kationen-Austauschkapazität im Boden führen. Für die Vermeidung negativer Folgen für die Bodenfruchtbarkeit und das Pflanzenwachstum wären dann angepasste Konzepte für die Kalkung und Düngung notwendig. Die GIS-basierte Analyse unterstreicht, dass in Sachsen beträchtliche Flächenpotenziale für die Anlage von KUP existieren. Auf einem großen Teil würde die Anlage von KUP auch andere Ökosystemdienstleistungen aus dem Bereich Boden- und Naturschutz verbessern. Auch künftig sollte bei der Anlage von KUP-Flächen eine ökologische Begleitforschung erfolgen. Es besteht unter anderem der Bedarf, die ökologischen Aspekte von anderen schnell wachsenden Baumarten im Kurzumtrieb, zum Beispiel Robinie zu bewerten. Ein weiteres ziel könnte die Verbesserung von Anlage- und Rückumwandlungstechnologien sein, um die Stabilität von akkumulierter organischer Bodensubstanz zu erhalten. Es wird geschlussfolgert, dass die künftige praktische Bedeutung von KUP eher von den sozioökonomischen Rahmenbedingungen und der regionalen Umsetzung der gemeinsamen Agrarpolitik der Europäischen Union abhängen wird als von unzureichenden Standortsbedingungen. / Short rotation plantations and short rotation coppice (SRC) have the potential to contribute significant amounts of biomass to the sectors of green energy and of renewable raw materials. It is generally accepted that SRC may provide more ecosystem services on agricultural land than common annual arable or even energy crops like oil seed rape or maize do. However, only sparse information exists about the water demand and transpiration of poplar species and their hybrids for site conditions in Germany. Furthermore, there is a lack of knowledge about the long-term impact of short rotation plantations on soil ecology. To overcome these shortcomings, field investigations were conducted at a site in the hilly loess region of Saxony. To study effects of SRC on the soil water balance, sap flow and soil moisture measurements were conducted in a 10 years old hybrid poplar plantation. Moreover biomass accumulation, nutrient allocation and soil ecological parameters were determined. The data were used to parameterize and calibrate a process-oriented hydrological model. The validated model was subsequently used to determine and assess the impact of short rotation poplar plantations and winter wheat on the water balance of different sites in Saxony Finally, site specific yields of SRC were determined and areas with synergies and potential risks for soil protection, nature conservation at the regional scale were identified using Geographical Information Systems. The results show that hybrid poplar plantations consume significantly more water than arable crops and native tree species. Thus, it can be expected that the establishment of short rotation coppice may reduce the export of nutrients and pollutants or lower the risk of soil erosion. On the other hand, the large-scale establishment of short rotation coppice at catchments with negative climatic water balance may lead to a decrease of groundwater recharge. A sufficient water supply is indispensable in order fully to exploit the growth potential of high yielding polar clones. Short rotation plantations with poplar on arable land may be extensively managed without fertilization. Former intensively used agricultural soils provide sufficient nutrients and element exports by harvested biomass may be balanced by atmospherical deposition. However, it might be that in the long run cation exchange capacity and pH of the soils will decrease. This would require appropriated concepts for liming and fertilization. The GIS based analysis shows that there exist a substantial potential of arable land for the cultivation of SRC in Saxony. There, the establishment of SRC may improve other ecosystem services as soil protection and nature conservation too. Future research should be included into the ecological evaluation of new SRC plots. There is a need to asses ecological aspects of other fast growing tree species in SRC, in particular Black Locust. Another task could be the improvement of conversion practices to ensure the stability of accumulated soil organic matter during establishment and reconversion of SRC sites. It can be concluded that the future practical relevance of SRC is rather dependant on socio-economic framework conditions and the regional implementation of the common agricultural policy within the European Union than on insufficient site condition.

Während der letzten Jahre ist die mit Kurzumtriebsplantagen bestockte Fläche in Deutschland deutlich angestiegen. Derzeit geht man von etwa 5 000 ha aus [1]. Der Hauptteil dieser Flächen ist mit Pappeln bestockt, während Weiden einen geringeren Anteil einnehmen. In anderen Ländern wie Großbritannien oder Schweden ist das Verhältnis dagegen umgekehrt und es finden sich große, zusammenhängende Weidenkulturen. Hier tritt der Blaue Weidenblattkäfer (Phratora vulgatissima) schon seit Jahren als Hauptschadinsekt auf und verursacht die Entlaubung ganzer Plantagen. Auch in Deutschland ist der Blaue Weidenblattkäfer die am häufigsten vorgefundene Schadinsektenart an Weiden im Kurzumtrieb.