Piloting on Agro-forestry and renewable energy possibilities
Piloting on Agro-forestry and renewable energy possibilities
-Biomass production-
Background
Biomass produced from wood is increasingly used for energy, especially heating. Currently in Macedonia, Balkan region however mainly firewood (wood logs traditional system) is used. Modern production of wood chips and/or pellets is limited used. This market is increasing rapidly. Fast growing wood species offers a good option for production of biomass for energy.
In Macedonia many agricultural lands are not or marginal used. Some of these lands are not very suitable for agricultural farming, but can be used well for fast growing trees species, producing biomass. Such trees can also be integrated in existing farm land on borders, windshields, over corners. Besides the production of biomass from the trees, tree belts also fulfilling other functions as wind protection reducing water inundation in wet areas, improvement of micro climate conditions or erosion control of river banks.
In Europe several fast growing species are introduced and used for producing biomass. These are not used yet in Macedonia and its region. In Hungary trees a propagated for improving their production. One of the varieties is (White Willow) Salix alba, a fast-growing variety Express, used for plantation growing and production of biomass for energy in Hungary.
Above the growth difference are shown for a regular Salix alba at three years growth and an improved fast growing Salix alba express as well at three years.
Biomass production in Macedonia
Since the agro-forestry concept is new in Macedonia it was a challenge to plant the fast growing species on agriculture land. In 2010 this species is introduced on some pilot schemes at limited scale, but gives good results in growth and potential. A total of 10 different sites are used in Macedonia with different conditions. Besides Salix alba also some Acacia (Robinia pseudo acacia) were used. Salix if used preferably on the moist, wet sites, while Robinia can be used well on dry lands.
Process of information collection, consultation and explanation was conducted among farmers. The pilot focused on small scale farmers using their land. Sites were selected in consultation with the farmers. Farmers indicated small plots not in use, marginal land, along side agricultural land for protection (erosion control from river, wind etc), while at the same time producing biomass. Important factor for best results is the willingness, dedication and understanding of the farmer. In the final results owners were satisfied agreeing that this should have been done long time ago.
“When these trees grow up and the other land owners see what we have done, I hope that they will understand the meaning of agro forestry and the idea of biomass production”.
Biomass cultivation data
The pilots are in the villages Amzibegovo, Mustafino and Meckuevci located close to Sveti Nikole (East Macedonia) and in Taor near to Skopje (North Macedonia).
Sites in the village of Amzibegovo have been grouped on four locations:
- Site 1, located along the river out of the village, owned by one farmer
- Site 2, located on the right side in side the village, 10 m higher than the level of the river along it side owned by 2 owners
- Site 3, located along the river, on the left side of the village owned by 2 owners
Site 4, located along the river, on the left side of the village owned by 1 owner. Parcel had big possibility for spread of reed.
In the village of Mustafino all sites have been grouped as one location due to very similar growing conditions.
Village of Mechuevci has only one planting site, of which one parcel is planted with Salix and one with Robinia.
In the village of Taor there are four different sites, of which three parcels are planted with Salix and one with Robinia.
In consultation with the Hungarian institute and experts from the Faculty of Forestry in Skopje, a model for planting the fast growing willow was developed.
- Planting of 10.000 stumps/ha
- Planting is done with tree stumps/cuttings of 20-30 cm length and diameter of 1.5-3 cm. The stumps need to have several buds from where the tree will sprout.
- Soil preparation was done mechanical, plowing the soil up to 25-30 cm deep.
- Cuttings are made at the end of the winter, immediately prior to planting. This is done in March before the growing season starts. Since this variety is not yet available in Macedonia stumps were imported from Hungary. The costs come to around 0.2 euro/stump. With an average of 10.000 pc/ha
- Planting (striking) of cutting is done by hand. It can however also be done by machine in large scale plantings. The stumps need to be pushed vertical and tightly in the soil, leaving only 2 cm above the surface. On suggestion of the Hungarian producer while visit in 2011, the planting need to be done pushing the stumps completely under the soil (1-2 cm) to protect them from evaporation. This way of planting is giving better success rates.
- Planting schemes is done on average of 10.000 species/ha in the pilot. Planting schemes can vary and also depending on harvest method. If mechanical harvesting is done via harvester or trailed chipper spacing in plantations should be fit for the machinery. In the small scale pilots, where willow is planted closer, manual harvesting is foreseen. The following planting schemes were used:
Single row technology
Spacing in row/between rows (in m) 1 x 2 1 x 1 0.7 x 1
Amount of cuttings (pc) 10.000 10.000 10.000
Rotation (yrs) 2-3 years 2-3 years 2-3 years
- Tending: After planting manual weed control was done 1-2 times to avoid overgrowing by weeds. Chemical weed control can be done, but was not practiced in the pilots and appeared not necessary. In case of a dry spring irrigation might be needed, but was not applied in the pilots. However a favorable spring was experienced. Second year mechanical tending might be needed.
- Harvest can be done in 2-3 cycles. At least 6-8 cycles can be made having a lifespan of 12 – 25 years minimum.
- After harvest the remaining stumps may be sprayed with Vegesol eReS 4-5 l/ha. A basic treatment to increase protection of the stumps from fungal and bacterial infection and increase the life cycle and yield of the plantation. Pest control is under normal field conditions not needed. Nutrients supply is sufficient from the remaining (mulching) after the harvest. To stimulate growth in the second year 80-100 kg of nitrogen per ha at each two years’, before the stems start to shoot can be applied. In the Macedonia pilots however only mechanical weeding is applied when needed, to reduce cost and make it applicable for farmers.
Biomass production data
Since this is a pilot in Macedonia the real field data are only available from coming year onwards.However, almost all sites showed a survival rate of over 90% of the plants. All sites showed a very good growth reaching in the first growing season a height of 1,5 to over 2 meter. The best sites were those having a high water table with moist clay soils. With very limited tending and no additional costs for irrigation, fungal, bacterial or pest control and nutrients supply, it is estimated that in the first year of growth the planting site of 1ha could give 3.8 m3 of biomass.
1 willow = 0,000377 m3 (high = 2 m, d = 3 cm) x 10.000 pieces = 3.8 m3/ha
Based on the production experience in Hungary, a biomass production of 23 ton/ha in the first year was achieved. This would lead to at least 65 ton/ha on a three year cycle. Higher production even since growth in second and third year is expected to be higher.
Based on the initial experiences this practice could be implemented on a large scale economic basis.
Conclusions and recommendations
Based on the experiences and results gained from piloting of planting fast growing species, there is opportunity for the land owners to improve the income for their households. Planting fast growing species provides opportunity to land owners to supply itself with that important resource for the household. Planting fast growing species on the corners of the land that is not maintained or as a windbreak belts also contributes to very different aspects such as wind protection and evaporation control, erosion control on the river banks, improvement of biodiversity etc. All these activities are related to the measures of EU Rural Development policy: agroforestry, a forestation on agriculture land, diversification of economy etc.
The result from the pilot sites will be used to present, aware and promote support for activities related to plant fast growing species on small scale farming with inclusion of national Rural Development program.