SOIL MAP OF PEDOLOGICAL LIMITATIONS TO THE GROWTH OF POPLAR CLONES FOR BIOMASS PRODUCTION IN EMILIA – ROMAGNA REGION (ITALY)

摘要

Soil maps can be considered as tools that allow communication and interaction between soil scientistsrnand specialists in the planning and use of natural resources. In this project, a new method has been applied to suggest,rnaccording with the soil type, the most suitable poplar clones for bioenergy plantation. An interdisciplinary workrngroup has been created. It is composed by soil scientists and experts of public Research Center and stakeholders ofrnbioenergy sector. The pedological characterization has been performed in some poplar trials. The characterization ofrnthese sites has allowed to perform a dataset of information on the grounds and on the biomass production of differentrnpoplar clones. An evaluation chart that correlates the soil characters and the limitations to the growth of the poplarrnclones has been elaborate. A map of the pedological limitations to the growth of different poplar clone for biomassrnproduction has been obtained applying the results of the evaluation chart to the regional map of the soil. This allowsrnto know the soil characteristics that mostly influence the growth of the biomass crops (water content for instance) andrnto locate preferential areas for the biomass cultivation contributing to the correct territorial planning.