Biomass production - exploiting short rotation coppice willow plantation multifunctionality to achieve the joint goals of biomass production and waste water management

摘要

Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) Willow plantations, although essentially grown for the fast production of wood bioenergy, can exhibit useful multi-functionalities such as providing methods to manage and treat waste water streams in an environmentally sustainable, compliant and cost effective manner. The development and application of using SRC willow for biofiltration has been investigated by AFBI over recent years using a range of wastewaters including farm yard waste waters and municipal waste water treatment discharges. Long term trials at AFBI have indicated that wastewater can be sustainably managed while protecting the quality of the groundwater. Soil water analyses indicate that irrigation has given rise to no significant increases in soil waternitrogen or phosphorus concentration however significant increases in electrical conductivity have been detected. Over the years of irrigation, there have been no significant increases in bore hole concentrations of N, P, K, pH or electrical conductivity as a result of irrigation. Increases in soil P were measured however. There were significant varietal differences between 3 year harvest yields however these differences were largely unaffected by irrigation.