Reducing the establishment costs of short rotation willow coppice (SRC) – A trial of a novel layflat planting system at an upland site in mid-Wales

Two mechanical planting systems, the traditional Turton Step planter and a prototype layflat planter, were compared for the planting and establishment of short rotation willow coppice (SRC) at an upland site in Mid-Wales. Planted during March 2000, both plots were monitored for three seasons and after this establishment phase monitoring continued for the layflat planted plot until year three of a second rotation. Establishment parameters of stem density, survival rates and estimated biomass yields of a range of willow varieties during the first three years growth were greater for the layflat planted willows than step planted. At the first harvest (4 growing seasons), layflat planted willows achieved mean yields of 6.22 odt ha−1 yr−1, three years into the second rotation estimated yields ranged from 1.99 odt ha−1 yr−1 to 12.34 odt ha−1 yr−1 (mean of 8.14 odt ha−1 yr−1). Since layflat planting has been shown to reduce planting costs by up to 48%, and yields achieved were equivalent to traditionally planted SRC, it is clear that this method of planting could provide an economic alternative to the traditional step planter. It is recommended that further trials take place using new varieties available, particularly to investigate stem density/thinning effects and harvesting time, and also to test recent modifications to the planter which allow adjustable planting depth for planting under drier soil conditions.