Willow biomass production under conditions of low-input agriculture on marginal soils

In this study, the biomass yield and morphological traits of plants were reported from an experiment involving six genotypes of willow in northern Poland. Willow was planted using a pole cutting system, which we designated Eco-Salix, on sites that were unsuitable for food crops. The results presented here are from the first rotation of a four-year cutting cycle. In the field trial, the average willow biomass yield of oven-dry matter was 7.87 Mg ha−1 year−1. Willow plants that were planted as pole cuttings after four growing seasons reached a height of 6.64 m and a stem diameter of 50.5 mm. Clone UWM 043 produced higher yields and more favourable morphological traits when compared to registered Polish cultivars. The willow biomass yield obtained on peaty muck soil was significantly higher than from willow that was grown on heavy textured silt soil. The biomass harvested from plots planted at a density of 5,200 plants ha−1 was 14% lower than plots that had a density of 7,400 plants ha−1.

► Eco-Salix as a new willow plating system.
► This method combines biomass production with protection of environmental values.
► Eco-Salix – low input requiring system of biomass production on marginal soils.