Short-Rotation Woody Biomass as a Crop on Marginal Lands in Iowa

There is increasing interest in producing woody biomass on marginal lands in Iowa, but there is little information about its economic feasibility. To address this issue, a study was initiated in 1995 to analyze growth of certain fast-growing tree species, clones of hybrids, and selectedclones, which will be referred to as entries, on marginal lands. Three entries, including the “Crandon” clone (Populus alba × Populus grandidentata), the “Eugenii” clone (Populus × canadensis), and silver maple (Acer saccharinum),were established in test plantings on three land types”bottomland, steep slopes, and upland agricultural land”across the state. Trees generally were measured annually. Two types of yield models were developed to predict biomass per hectare over time for the three aforementionedentries. Crandon had the highest rate of biomass production on all land types. Economic analyses were conducted on the three entries, and Crandon produced the highest economic return on all land types.