Weih, Martin
- Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
Fast-growing willows (Salix spp.) provide alternative sources of renewable energy generation, but need an adequate nutrient availability in the soil for high biomass production. In general, species mixtures can be more nutrient-efficient than pure cultures, but this is scarcely known for Salix spp. Therefore, this study evaluates the nutrient availability and P mobilization under two willow species, Salix dasyclados var. 'Loden' and S. schwerinii x viminalis var. 'Tora', grown as pure and mixed cultures at non-fertilized former arable sites in Germany (Stagnic Cambisol) and Sweden (Vertic Cambisol). The plant availability of potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P) and soil phosphatase activities in the topsoil were measured in spring of the year of planting (initial) and under 4 years-old stocks (one year after the first 3-year cutting cycle). The initial plant availability of the nutrients significantly differed between the sites and the two sampling dates at both sites. The plant availability of K and Mg was optimal to high at both sites and sampling dates, but rather low for P (after 4 years
Keywords
short rotation coppice; phosphatase activity; nutrient content; growth stages; biomass; willow; Salix
Published in
Forests
2021, volume: 12, number: 9, article number: 1226
Publisher: MDPI
SLU Authors
Global goals (SDG)
SDG7 Affordable and clean energy
UKÄ Subject classification
Forest Science
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/f12091226
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/113885