Short-rotation willow productivity and nutrient dynamics after three years of irrigation and fertilization

Hangs, R.D.; Schoenau, J.J.; Van Rees, K.C.J.

Short-rotation willow productivity and nutrient dynamics after three years of irrigation and fertilization

dc.contributor.author	Hangs, R.D.
dc.contributor.author	Schoenau, J.J.
dc.contributor.author	Van Rees, K.C.J.
dc.date.accessioned	2018-07-24T18:18:15Z
dc.date.available	2018-07-24T18:18:15Z
dc.date.issued	2012-03-13
dc.description.abstract	Purpose-grown shrub willow (Salix spp.) represents a viable bioenergy feedstock; however, there needs to be sufficient biomass production to support the economic viability of these plantations. The objective of this three-year study was to determine the effect of irrigation and fertilization on willow biomass feedstock quantity. A split-split-plot experimental design was used on a Sutherland clay soil in Saskatoon, SK and consisted of two willow varieties (SV1 and Charlie), three irrigation treatments (no irrigation, 75%, and 100% field capacity), and three fertilization treatments (no fertilizer, 1x, and 2x recommended fertilizer rate). During the final growing season, 15N-labelled fertilizer was used to determine the fate of the applied fertilizer. For both willow varieties, after the three-year rotation there was a highly significant (P values < 0.0001) growth response to irrigation, with no significant (P values > 0.05) effects of fertilization or irrigation x fertilization. Sixty-seven percent of the applied fertilizer N was accounted for, with approximately 30% present within the willow tissues (e.g., stems, leaves, and roots). The positive willow growth response to irrigation is indicative of the importance of soil moisture within the semi-arid climate of Saskatchewan. The lack of fertilizer effect probably reflects the fertile soil at the site and the apparently low nutrient requirement of willow.	en_US
dc.description.version	Non-Peer Reviewed
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10388/9115
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Soils and Crops Workshop
dc.rights	Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada	*
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ca/	*
dc.subject	biomass energy	en_US
dc.subject	fertilization	en_US
dc.subject	irrigation	en_US
dc.subject	15N-labelled fertilizer	en_US
dc.subject	willow productivity	en_US
dc.title	Short-rotation willow productivity and nutrient dynamics after three years of irrigation and fertilization	en_US
dc.type	Presentation	en_US