Growing Season Harvests of Shrub Willow (<i>Salix</i> spp.) Have Higher Nutrient Removals and Lower Yields Compared to Dormant-Season Harvests

The commercial establishment of shrub willow (<i>Salix</i> spp.) biomass crops with three- or four-year harvest cycles raises concerns about nutrient removal (NR). In addition, leaf-on harvests outside of the typical harvesting window are becoming more prevalent with a changing climate,...

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Main Authors: Daniel P. De Souza, Mark H. Eisenbies, Timothy A. Volk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-11-01
Series:Forests
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/11/1936
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author Daniel P. De Souza
Mark H. Eisenbies
Timothy A. Volk
author_facet Daniel P. De Souza
Mark H. Eisenbies
Timothy A. Volk
author_sort Daniel P. De Souza
collection DOAJ
description The commercial establishment of shrub willow (<i>Salix</i> spp.) biomass crops with three- or four-year harvest cycles raises concerns about nutrient removal (NR). In addition, leaf-on harvests outside of the typical harvesting window are becoming more prevalent with a changing climate, and require a better understanding of the potential impact of these changes on biomass production and NR. This study examined the time of harvest effects for six harvest dates on the nutrient and biomass removal of four shrub willow cultivars in central New York State. There were significant differences in biomass in the first-rotation harvest; yields ranged between 77 and 85 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup> for the time of harvest treatments during the growing season, and between 93 and 104 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup> after dormancy. Harvest timing had significant effects on N and K removal in the combined wood and foliar biomass. Willow harvested in October removed comparatively higher amounts of N (77.1 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>) and P (11.2 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>) than other harvests. Potassium removal was greater for plants harvested in June (51.2 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>) and August (52.5 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>). Harvest timing and cultivar interactions suggest that targeted cultivar selection and deployment could maintain yields and limit excess nutrient losses.
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spelling doaj.art-216f8167fa034effb1d35fe322ae4f742023-11-24T08:24:20ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-11-011311193610.3390/f13111936Growing Season Harvests of Shrub Willow (<i>Salix</i> spp.) Have Higher Nutrient Removals and Lower Yields Compared to Dormant-Season HarvestsDaniel P. De Souza0Mark H. Eisenbies1Timothy A. Volk2College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY 13244, USACollege of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY 13244, USACollege of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY 13244, USAThe commercial establishment of shrub willow (<i>Salix</i> spp.) biomass crops with three- or four-year harvest cycles raises concerns about nutrient removal (NR). In addition, leaf-on harvests outside of the typical harvesting window are becoming more prevalent with a changing climate, and require a better understanding of the potential impact of these changes on biomass production and NR. This study examined the time of harvest effects for six harvest dates on the nutrient and biomass removal of four shrub willow cultivars in central New York State. There were significant differences in biomass in the first-rotation harvest; yields ranged between 77 and 85 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup> for the time of harvest treatments during the growing season, and between 93 and 104 Mg ha<sup>−1</sup> after dormancy. Harvest timing had significant effects on N and K removal in the combined wood and foliar biomass. Willow harvested in October removed comparatively higher amounts of N (77.1 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>) and P (11.2 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>) than other harvests. Potassium removal was greater for plants harvested in June (51.2 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>) and August (52.5 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>). Harvest timing and cultivar interactions suggest that targeted cultivar selection and deployment could maintain yields and limit excess nutrient losses.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/11/1936short rotation woody cropsshort rotation coppice<i>Salix</i>harvest strategybiomass productionnutrient management
spellingShingle Daniel P. De Souza
Mark H. Eisenbies
Timothy A. Volk
Growing Season Harvests of Shrub Willow (<i>Salix</i> spp.) Have Higher Nutrient Removals and Lower Yields Compared to Dormant-Season Harvests
Forests
short rotation woody crops
short rotation coppice
<i>Salix</i>
harvest strategy
biomass production
nutrient management
title Growing Season Harvests of Shrub Willow (<i>Salix</i> spp.) Have Higher Nutrient Removals and Lower Yields Compared to Dormant-Season Harvests
title_full Growing Season Harvests of Shrub Willow (<i>Salix</i> spp.) Have Higher Nutrient Removals and Lower Yields Compared to Dormant-Season Harvests
title_fullStr Growing Season Harvests of Shrub Willow (<i>Salix</i> spp.) Have Higher Nutrient Removals and Lower Yields Compared to Dormant-Season Harvests
title_full_unstemmed Growing Season Harvests of Shrub Willow (<i>Salix</i> spp.) Have Higher Nutrient Removals and Lower Yields Compared to Dormant-Season Harvests
title_short Growing Season Harvests of Shrub Willow (<i>Salix</i> spp.) Have Higher Nutrient Removals and Lower Yields Compared to Dormant-Season Harvests
title_sort growing season harvests of shrub willow i salix i spp have higher nutrient removals and lower yields compared to dormant season harvests
topic short rotation woody crops
short rotation coppice
<i>Salix</i>
harvest strategy
biomass production
nutrient management
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/11/1936
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