273-2 Bioenergy Production and Soil Sustainability In the Pacific Northwest.



Tuesday, October 18, 2011: 8:30 AM
Henry Gonzalez Convention Center, Room 217D, Concourse Level

Robert Harrison1, Kim Littke1, Austin Himes1, Paul Footen1, Dave Briggs1, Thomas Terry2, Constance Harrington3, Tim Harrington3, Warren Devine3, Scott Holub4, Stephen H. Schoenholtz5 and Robert Slesak6, (1)University of Washington, Seattle, WA
(2)Weyerhaeuser Corporation (retired) and USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station, Olympia, WA
(3)Pacific Northwest National Lab., Olympia, WA
(4)Weyerhaeuser Co., Albany, OR
(5)Virginia Tech, Blackburg, VA
(6)MN Forest Resources Council, St. Paul, MN
Though it has often been couched in other terms, the basis of sustainability of bioenergy production in the Pacific Northwest is primarily soil-centered, dependent on the extent and avaialability of soil nutrient pools. Some PNW forest soils are very low in total and available nutrients relative to the current pools and inputs, and would be sensitive to normal harvesting, whereas many soils are very rich in nutrients relative to intensive removals, and are very resilient to high rates of biomass removal. Research at Fall River, Matlock and Molalla long-term soil productivity projects show high resilience based on soil nutrient levels in the PNW, though other work in 72 forest sites from northern Vancouver Island, Canada to southern Oregon show a wide range of soil nutrient pools, and potentially-sensitive sites. Some fire-driven systems would benefit from removal of biomass for bioenergy by reducing susceptibility to fire. In nearly all cases, high rates of biomass removal can substitute for loss of additional nutrients relative to tree growth; however, environmental and social considerations are typically the driving forces that limit expansion of biomass-to-energy growth in the region.
See more from this Division: S07 Forest, Range & Wildland Soils
See more from this Session: Symposium--Bioenergy and Soil Sustainability: Forest, Range and Wildlands: I