Project method

We needed to create models of the growth of short rotation coppice. To properly calibrate the models, sufficient data had to be collecting, and of the right kind and quality. This meant almost the all of the early life of the project was spent:

• devising the experimental design for the field trials
• devising the methodology necessary for collecting the data
• collecting the data from the sites
• storing the data
• quality assuring the data
• working on the models to predict standing biomass non-destructively.

Additionally, work was done at the beginning of the project to test the techniques necessary for planting and harvesting the field trials.

Experiment design
To make the results as applicable to what could be expected in a commercial context, the field trial sites were established and planted in line with the current best practice at that time.

A number of different types of field trials were established to fulfil the need for data:

• Extensive (pure) sites - the most common type of sites, intended to show the effect of site factors such as soil and climate on three commonly used varieties each of poplar and willow, grown in pure plots
• Extensive (mixture) sites - these experiments an pure experiment, but also have plots where the varieties are planted in 'intimate mixtures', as this is a widely used technique to mitigated the effect of insects and disease, particularly rust
• Intensive sites - these are the fewer in number, but include thirteen varieties each of willow and poplar in addition to the 'extensive' varieties, to investigate the potential of a wider range of varieties
• Physiological sites - these are sites where measurements are taken on the physiology of the extensive varieties, rather than directly measuring yield.
• Wishanger - this site is a spacing trial set up for a previous DTI funded experiment, but which was kept on to investigate an older SRC plantation.

Climatic factors
In order to help establish the effect of climate on the potential of SRC, sites were allocated a 'climate' of between 'cool wet' to 'warm dry' chosen to give as wide a spread as possible.

To help establish the effect of climate, the sites were established in 2 phases:

• Phase 1 was planted in 1995
• Phase 2 was planted in 1996.

Due to the poor establishment of some sites, which either had to be replanted, or in one case have cutback delayed for a year, a slightly altered definition was used during the modelling:

• Phase 1 - cutback in 1996
• Phase 2 - cutback in 1997.

What's of interest

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