Search results for "Forestry"

Assessing hydrological connectivity inside a soil by fast-field-cycling nuclear magnetic resonance relaxometry and its link to sediment delivery proc…

2017

Connectivity is a general concept used to represent the processes involving a transfer of matter among the elements of an environmental system. The expression “hydrological connectivity inside the soil” has been used here to indicate how spatial patterns inside the soil (i.e., the structural connectivity) interact with physical and chemical processes (i.e., the functional connectivity) in order to determine the subsurface flow (i.e., the water transfer), thereby explaining how sediment transport due to surface runoff (i.e., the soil particle transfer) can be affected. This paper explores the hydrological connectivity inside the soil (HCS) and its link to sediment delivery processes at the p…

Evaluation of the surface affinity of water in three biochars using fast field cycling NMR relaxometry

2016

Many soil functions depend on the interaction of water with soil. The affinity of water for soils can be altered by applying soil amendments like stone meal, manure, or biochar (a carbonaceous material obtained by pyrolysis of biomasses). In fact, the addition of hydrophobic biochar to soil may increase soil repellency, reduce water-adsorbing capacity, inhibit microbial activity, alter soil filter, buffer, storage, and transformation functions. For this reason, it is of paramount importance to monitor water affinity for biochar surface (also referred to as ‘wettability’) in order to better address its applications in soil systems. In this study, we propose the use of fast field cycling NMR …

Granulation of fly ash and biochar with organic lake sediments – A way to sustainable utilization of waste from bioenergy production

2019

Abstract The main waste generated during the thermochemical processes of biomass burning used for bioenergy production in cogeneration plants are ash and biochar which can be used as fertilizers in forestry and agriculture. However, several difficulties are attributed to possibilities of practical exploitation of ash and biochar due to the transporting, handling and mode of application. Granulation of energy generation waste has been shown in some circumstances as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method. Production of granules (pellets) from wood ash and biochar leads to improved recycling and logistics of waste as well as helps to control and avoid undesirable environmental ef…

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and methane from food waste and cow slurry: Comparison of biogas and VFA fermentation processes

2018

The effect of forest fuel harvesting on the fungal diversity of clear-cuts

2012

Abstract The removal of logging residues and stumps from clear-cuts has become a common forestry practice. Forest fuel harvesting decreases the initially low volume of dead wood in managed forests, but the biodiversity effects are poorly known. We studied the effects of forest fuel harvesting on decomposer fungi on clear-cut Norway spruce stands in central Finland. The number of occurrences and taxa of polypores, saprotrophic agarics and pleurotoid agarics were determined on 10 forest fuel harvested and 10 control clear-cuts 4–5 years after logging. In total, we recorded 148 fungal taxa. The total number of taxa, the number of polypore occurrences, and the number of polypore species within …

Methane production from maize in Finland – Screening for different maize varieties and plant parts

2012

Abstract The objective of the study was to determine how the harvest time and maize variety (12 varieties) affects the methane yield and dry matter yield per hectare in southern Finland (Piikkio) and in Central Finland (Laukaa). The specific methane yields and methane yields per hectare were also determined for different plant parts (stem, leaves and cobs). The methane yield per hectare varied from 2130 to 9170 m 3  ha −1 . The methane yields per hectare were ∼50% lower in Laukaa than in Piikkio due to a shorter growing season and lower total solid (TS) yields. TS yields were on average 16.7 and 15.5 Mg ha −1 in Piikkio and 8.7 and 6.8 Mg ha −1 in Laukaa in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The …

Torrefaction technology for solid fuel production

2011

One-stage H2 and CH4 and two-stage H2+ CH4 production from grass silage and from solid and liquid fractions of NaOH pre-treated grass silage

2009

Abstract In the present study, mesophilic CH4 production from grass silage in a one-stage process was compared with the combined thermophilic H2 and mesophilic CH4 production in a two-stage process. In addition, solid and liquid fractions separated from NaOH pre-treated grass silage were also used as substrates. Results showed that higher CH4 yield was obtained from grass silage in a two-stage process (467 ml g−1 volatile solids (VS)original) compared with a one-stage process (431 ml g−1 VSoriginal). Similarly, CH4 yield from solid fraction increased from 252 to 413 ml g−1 VSoriginal whereas CH4 yield from liquid fraction decreased from 82 to 60 ml g−1 VSoriginal in a two-stage compared to …

Economic evaluation of introduction of poplar as biomass crop in Italy

2014

Abstract Lignocellulosic biomass production deriving from agro forest species, as well as poplar ( Populus spp.), has denoted an increase in last years in UE also thanks to a series of policies aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and promoting renewable sources. In Italy poplar represents the main agro forest species and it is cultivated according to two different methods: very Short Rotation Coppice (vSRC) and Short Rotation Coppice (SRC). The aim of this paper has been to evaluate the economic feasibility of poplar as energy crop in the southern Italy and specifically to consider its competitiveness with respect to conventional crops. In particular, an economic analysis in a r…

Bio-coal, torrefied lignocellulosic resources – Key properties for its use in co-firing with fossil coal – Their status

2012

Abstract Bio-coal has received generous amounts of media attention because it potentially allows greater biomass co-firing rates and net CO2 emission reductions in pulverised-coal power plants. However, little scientific research has been published on the feasibility of full-scale commercial production of bio-coal. Despite this, several companies and research organisations worldwide have been developing patented bio-coal technologies. Are the expectations of bio-coal realistic and are they based on accepted scientific data? This paper examines strictly peer-reviewed scientific publications in order to find an answer. The findings to date on three key properties of torrefied biomass are pres…