Ecophysiology of Short Rotation Forest Crops

Short rotation forestry is a silvicultural regime designed to optimize production from lignocellulosic crops. Such systems are being developed as a means of producing a feedstock for energy and industry, as an alternative use for agricultural land, and as a means to sequester the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. This text has been compiled as a result of collaboration within the International Energy Agency Bioenergy Agreement. Its aim is to review the state of the art with respect to research and practical implications in order to aid the development of the technology for short rotation forestry production. Topics covered include: growth dynamics and canopy structure; nutritional dynamics; water relations; roots; clonal testing; coppicing ability and sustainability; pests, diseases and injuries; sustaining production; ecophysiological growth process models; feedstock characteristics and quality; and genetic improvement. The book is primarily aimed at researchers and practitioners of short rotation forestry, but should also be of interest to researchers involved with ecophysiology of other trees. It has far-reaching consequences for a wide range of disciplines including tree breeders, silviculturalists, pathologists, computer modellers and conversion experts.