Newsletter on Poplars, Willows, and Robinia in Short Term

Cultivation of Energy Trees

Late in March to at latest mid-May (highlands)
Set/plant saplings (about 20 cm), rods (1-2 m) or one-year-old rooted cuttings (1-2 m), 20-max. 50 cm into the soil and press well down
Plantation spacing as a single row (1,500-8,000 pcs) or in two rows (40-80 in each row), a passage (2.5-3 m, about 13,000 pcs/ha) between them
There are no high demands for soild or climate (different depending on the sort, also possible on marginal yield soils), however, the yields are higher on good farmlands
Planting: Tilling/ploughing farmlands in autumn, preparing them in fine crumbs in spring. You can still treat up to 0.5 ha manually, but it would be reasonable to use planting machines (we can also render this service for you within about 200-300 km around our place). You can also plant rods and rooted plants directly in greenland without further cultivation.

in the year of planting, you should keep saplings as free of weeds as possible, mechanical or chemical control
starting from the 2^nd year till the end of the useful life, no further processing is necessary
so far, just some insignificant occurrance of important harmful organisms or diseases

not unconditionally necessary; however, some insignificant growth in yields is possible (up to 100 kg N/ha)
in the year of planting, no fertilizing (bad maturing in autumn!)
reasonable would be fertilizing using compost, manure, and ash, as available

during the pause of vegetation between December and March
depending on planting distances and sorts, every 2-10 years (willows and robinia more often than poplars, at closer plant spacing or fully mechanized harvesting more often than at larger plant spaces and extensive harvesting methods)
using re-constructed maize choppers and special one-off products is possible; economically reasonable for not too wide accesses and areas starting from about 3 ha
partly mechanized, using a chainsaw and a loader for smaller areas
about 5 harvests (20-25 years of useful life), after that grubbing using a wood mulcher, and new planting or another agricultural use
heating devices: customary wood chip heatings after drying to water content of under 30% or harvest-fresh directly at heating plants

Fresh Chopped Material of a Full Harvester.

7-15 air dry tons (absolutly dry = dry mass) per ha and year, up to 20 air dry tons for poplars at optimal conditions

up to 10 years upon planting, register with commune or or regional authorities
Consider the distances to neighboring lands: min. 3 m to max. 10 m (recommended as turning circle)
Please check the relevant local laws before ordering!