Assessing the sustainability of short-rotation forestry for energy production in New York State.

摘要

Development of a sustainable short-rotation forestry (SRF) system for fuel and fiber is complicated by the need to consider simultaneously its utility to humans, its efficiency of resource use, and its ability to maintain a stable environment. This thesis considers several aspects of a complex relation between SRF in New York, economics, and the environment: (1) a biophysical assessment of SRF as an alternative energy source; (2) the effects of SRF crops on soil biodiversity; and (3) the effects of SRF crops on surface energy balance and water loss to the atmosphere.; The ratio of energy gain from SRF biomass in NY to energy invested in its production is highly dependent on biomass yields and transportation distances, and is ∼34:1 at the edge-of-field, exceeding that for most agricultural crops, U.S. petroleum and U.S. natural gas. Large-scale SRF production has the potential to increase water loss to the atmosphere—e.g., converting grassland into SRF willow may increase the evapotranspiration (ET) by 1.6 × 104 liters ha−1 day−1 (∼60%) during the vegetative season; the ET from SRF willows did not exceed the ET from forest stands. Although cropping activities cause the initial loss of soil biodiversity during establishment of SRF crops, the absence of soil disturbance in the years thereafter promotes the recovery of soil communities, and soil mite biodiversity under SRF willows approaches that of early stages of forest succession.; Sustainability of a land use is a complex concept, that cannot be evaluated with a single measure. The economic objectives can be in trade-offs with other objectives, e.g., to maintain biological health of soil, or to control water use. This study exemplifies how to evaluate crop production with respect to energy benefits, water use, and soil biodiversity, facilitating the optimal land management. I conclude that SRF willow appears to be a good candidate for sustainable energy in NY.