Short rotation woody biomass plantations: Technical requirements and costs for establishment

Abstract The establishment of short rotation, intensive culture, (SRIC) woody biomass plantations using hybrid poplar was cost analyzed on a financial and energy input basis. Establishment operations were at a commercial scale and met the power requirements of each task in a cost-efficient manner. Total establishment costs amounted to $1249 ha −1 and, on an energy cost basis, 16205 MJ ha −1 . The planting operation was the largest expense, involving 73% of the total financial and energy costs in establishment. The second largest expense was herbicide spraying, costing approximately 22% on a financial and energy basis. In turn, establishment represented 36% of the total production costs in the 4-year rotation of non-fertilized plantations.