Biomass Production By Forest Type

The utilization of biomass needs to fit into the silviculture commonly being applied for different categories and types of forests in the Southern United States. In this section, the focus is on highlighting these possibilities. Six broad forest types are recognized:

• Planted Pine
• Natural Pine
• Mixed Oak-Pine
• Upland Hardwoods
• Lowland Hardwood
• Short Rotation Woody Crops

For each broad category, the common regeneration and density management strategies are first briefly outlined. How silviculture could be adapted to enhance biomass removal for bioenergy and bio-based products is then discussed. While bioenergy harvesting could potentially be used in most forest types, the most in-depth knowledge is with planted and natural pines and short rotation woody crops. Background information on best silvicultural practices, and therefore on how to integrate bioenergy production into their silviculture, is weakest with the mixed oak-pine forests. It is also less clear how to integrate bioenergy harvesting into lowland hardwood forests. There is little published information on bioenergy harvesting in the Southern United States or how it relates to silviculture and forest management.

Short rotation woody crops differ from the other five forest types, because although it has been extensively researched worldwide, it has been practiced on only a very small scale. The other forest types occur in areas ranging betwee 29 and 64 million acres.

When using this information, it is important to match the actual proposed silviculture for a site to the individual owners circumstances and management objectives. Carefully plan how to integrate bioenergy production into the silviculture for the site so as to optimize the benefits.