Influence of the agricultural management practices on the yield and quality of poplar biomass (a 9-year study)

The aim of this work is to study the effect of different agricultural management on the yield and quality of two poplar biomass clones (AF2 and I-214 clones) in short rotation coppices (SRC), which were harvested using different alternatives (with and without cutting and sprouting after the first year), with two fertilisation doses and through three different 3-year rotation cycles. The plantation was established in 2006 in a marginal land at 1100 m above sea level in central-northern Spain. Yields were evaluated and biomass samples were analysed to determine the quality of the biomass for energy purposes. Biomass quality was estimated taking into account calorific value, volatile matter, ash content, carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and chlorine contents, as well as the chemical composition and melting behaviour of their ashes.