Increasing production of willow energy crops through off-grid irrigation and biosolids fertilization

新喀里多尼亚学院正在与PRT Growth Services Ltd.、Bionera Resources Inc.和Sylvis Environmental Services Inc.合作，研究离网灌溉和生物固体肥料对柳树能源作物的影响。快速生长和易于繁殖的柳树种植园有几个应用：(I)城市和工业废水使用的环境解决方案，(Ii)污染土壤的现场修复，以及(Iii)可再生能源的大量生物质生产。 该项目将使加拿大绿色能源部门受益，研究多样化和提高能源作物生产的方法，以建立长期的碳中性生物质原料供应，同时为废水处理和土地修复提供环境解决方案。学院有机会为能源作物生产和废物管理项目扩大在短轮作柳树林木领域的应用研究。 参与这项研究的大学生将(I)在能源作物生产和清洁能源技术的集约化林业实践领域获得宝贵的技能，(Ii)获得关于残渣管理领域的知识和培训，以及(Iii)有机会销售一种独特的产品：用于无性繁殖的柳条，用于建立柳树种植园，用于生物质或土壤修复项目

The College of New Caledonia is partnering PRT Growing Services Ltd., Bionera Resources Inc. and Sylvis Environmental Services Inc. to research the effect of off-grid irrigation and biosolids fertilization on willow energy crops. There are several applications of the fast growing and easily propagated willow plantations: (i) environmental solutions for the use of municipal and industrial wastewater, (ii) site remediation of contaminated soils, and (iii) significant production of biomass for renewable energy. This project will benefit Canadian green energy sector with researching ways of diversifying and enhancing energy crop production for establishing long-term supplies of carbon neutral biomass feedstock, while providing environmental solutions for wastewater disposal and land remediation. The College has the opportunity to expand applied research in the field of short-rotation willow coppice, for both energy crop production and waste management projects. College students involved in this study will (i) acquire valuable skills in the fields of intensive forestry practices for energy crop production and clean energy technology, (ii) gain knowledge and training in the area of residuals management and its economic and environmental implications on regional and national scale, and (iii) have the opportunity to exercise marketing a unique product: willow cuttings for vegetative propagation used to establish willow plantations for biomass or soil remediation projects