Seminar: The role of genotype identity versus stand diversity in Salix biomass plantations

Brief abstract

Salix grown in short rotation has high biomass production potential in many parts of the world, and may frequently support environmental and ecosystem services.

There is evidence supporting the hypothesis that biomass production, carbon accumulation, nutrient cycling and cropping security can be increased through enhancing the number of tree species or genotypes grown in the stand; but the specific characteristics of the mixed stand components (genotypes) could also be more important than the component richness of the stand.

In the ECOLINK-Salix project, we address the role of genotype identity (4 genotypes, partly belonging to different species) vs. stand component richness (1- to 4-mixes) in willow (Salix spp.) short rotation coppice plantations grown in pure and mixed culture on agricultural land in Sweden and Germany.

Based on data from ten years of research, the role of genotype identity vs. species/genotype richness in willow short-rotation plantations on the stand productivity and ecosystem functions related to productivity, nutrient cycling, soil carbon accumulation and cropping security will be discussed with respect to the implications for management.