Chapter 2 Woody Biomass from Short Rotation Energy Crops

Short rotation woody crops (SRWCs) are ideal for woody biomass production and management systems because they are renewable energy feedstocks for biofuels, bioenergy, and bioproducts that can be strategically placed in the landscape to conserve soil and water, recycle nutrients, and sequester carbon. This chapter is a synthesis of the regional implications of producing four genera of short rotation energy crops as feedstocks for fuels, chemicals, and fibers set in the rich history of research and development of these purpose-grown trees in the United States. The four genera include: Populus (cottonwoods, poplars, aspens), Salix (willows), Pinus (southern pines), and Eucalyptus (eucalypts). Key aspects of the productio