Quality, productivity, energy and costs of woodchip produced by Cedrus deodara plantations: A case study in Italy
2016
Manzone, Marco
The main tree species planted for woodchips production for energy use are: poplar (Populus spp.), willow (Salix spp.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.). Nevertheless, in the course of the years, other tree species were planted (i.e. Pinus strobus L.; Pauwlonia spp …). The scope of this study is the evaluation of energy and economic advantages, and quality of woodchip produced by a Cedrus deodara plantation situated in Italy.The plantation had a surface of 1.2 ha and trees were 14 years old.An amount of 363 t of fresh comminuted wood (about 300 t ha−1) was produced by the plantation considered. A total time of 39.5 h (about 5 days) was required to transform all trees in woodchip. The moisture content of woodchip produced was 52%, while the average Low Heating Value (HHV) was 8.51 MJ kg−1. In this study, economic (production cost = 93 € t−1 DM) and energetic (output/input ratio = 74) evaluations of woodchip produced by Cedrus deodara plantations were positives. Nevertheless, the results obtained in this experimentation are close to the climate conditions and soil characteristics of Northwestern Italy.
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