Developing a Saskatchewan model for short rotation willow biomass production and GHG benefits

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Saskatchewan has a large agricultural land base, some of which exists due to the previous deforestation of the native forest during the last 90 years. In addition, farmers are losing income from traditional crops due to increasing input and transportation costs and poor commodity prices. Are there other innovative ways to manage this agrarian ecosystem and capture value that would benefit not only farmers but also address renewable energy concerns and create healthy ecosystems through a changing climate? Could woody species be established that would also address Saskatchewan's vision to plant 4 M acres of arable land to trees in 20 years and have 1/3 of our electricity from renewable energy by 2030? One solution would be the introduction of high density willow plantations; however, nothing is known about which willow clones and cultural practices to use, the biomass yields possible or the associated risks of diseases and pests for the prairies. Converting traditional crops to willow over a large area could alter biogeochemical cycling and future long-term productivity as well as impact carbon stocks. This project focuses on growing short rotation willow biomass plantations on agricultural land and how these plantations will impact (1) biogeochemical cycling at a stand level and (2) carbon stocks at a landscape scale through both field and modeling studies. High density plantations will be established at several locations to research biomass yields, markers for identifying willow clones, nutrient cycling (atmosphere, plant and soil) for pure and mixed (intercropped with caragana) willow plantations, water use efficiencies, disease risks and carbon accumulation. Environmental and soil databases as well as field measured processes will be used to model climate scenarios on carbon storage and nutrient cycling at different temporal and spatial scales. Knowledge from this project will assist Canada in providing another strategy to meet its Kyoto commitments through short rotation woody plantations, provide the energy sector with suitable willow clones for large scale biomass plantations as a renewable energy source, diversify farmer income and benefit rural economies by creating jobs through a developing bioeconomy in Saskatchewan.