Biomass production of hybrid aspen growing on former farm land in Sweden

Abstract

We construct dry weight equations for hybrid aspen growing on former farmland in Sweden. Dry weight equations for fractions of hybrid aspen trees were also made. We estimated biomass production in 24 stands. The stands were located in Sweden at latitudes ranging from 55 to 60° N. The mean age was 18 years (range 15–23), the mean stand density 1090 stems·ha⁻¹ (range 378–2374), and the mean diameter at breast height (over bark) 178 mm (range 85–244 mm). Soil types in the hybrid aspen stands were mainly clay (21 stands), tills (2 stands) and other (1 stand). The mean total standing dry weight above stump level (≈ 200 mm) for the hybrid aspen stands was 135±53 t·ha⁻¹ with a range of 42–219 t·ha⁻¹. In addition to estimating conventional dry weights of trees and tree components, basic density, specific leaf area (SLA), projected leaf area (PLA) and leaf area index (LAI) were estimated and were in agreement with published figures.

Keywords

basic density / biomass production / farmland / hybrid aspen / MAI / plantation forestry