Browsing by Author "Leveroos, Maura"

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    Economic Viability of Woody Bioenergy Crops as a Potential Mine Reclamation Procedure
    Leveroos, Maura; Sullivan, Jay; Evans, Daniel M. (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2012)
    Planting woody biomass for energy production can be used as a mine reclamation procedure to satisfy the SMCRA and provide renewable energy for the United States. This study examines the productivity of woody biomass on previously mined lands using four species planted at two densities; one-half of the trees were fertilized in year two. This report summarizes the current and predicted volume of these species as well as the effect of planting density and fertilizer application. After four years, black locust has the highest volume of any treatment with the other species an order of magnitude behind. Black locust and sycamore trees have reached a point where it is clear that planting at lower density can increase per tree biomass. Future projections indicate planting at low density with fertilization will produce the greatest amount of biomass per tree.
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    Fertilizer and Density Treatment Effects on Woody Bioenergy Production on Mined Lands: Year Five Report
    Leveroos, Maura; Sullivan, Jay (Virginia Tech. Powell River Project, 2013)
    Planting woody biomass for energy production can be used as a mine reclamation procedure to satisfy the SMCRA and provide renewable energy for the United States. This study examines the productivity of woody biomass on previously mined lands using five species planted at two densities, with and without fertilizer. This report summarizes the current volume of these species as well as the effect of planting density and fertilizer application. After five years of growth, black locust has the highest volume of any treatment. Low density treatments out-produce high density treatments on a per-tree basis and significant differences were found between the species as well as treatments.