Field performance and bioenergy characteristics of four commercial eucalyptus grandis cultivars in Florida
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For several methods utilizing woody biomass for energy (Rockwood and others 2008), one of the challenges is the large, continuous fuel supply required. For example, proposed biomass plants in Florida may each require one million tons of biomass/year. When supplies of forest residues and urban wood wastes are limited, short rotation woody crops (SRWC) are a viable alternative (e.g., Langholtz and others 2007). Eucalypts are ideal as SRWCs because of their fast-growth and site tolerance (Rockwood and others 2008). Their coppicing ability also provides 2-5 coppice harvests before replanting (Langholtz and others 2007). Eucalypts could be grown throughout Florida, and their potential uses range from landscape mulch to biofuel production (Rockwood and others 2008).