HighDiv-SRC (Germany)

HighDiv-SRC is adopting the overall goal of tree diversity experiments to the applied realm of Short-Rotation Coppice plantations and their industrial applications. Hence, HighDiv-SRC aims to assess the effects of tree species diversity on various ecosystem functions and, ultimately, tree growth and yield stability (e.g. resistance to drought and pests) in short rotation coppice plantations. Particular focus is on ecosystem functions that are important for the assessment of ecological sustainability, such as water and nutrient use, carbon sequestration and biodiversity. The experiment was planted in Freiburg in spring 2015 and ended in winter 2019.

Location field experiment (Freiburg)

Design

The experiment follows a randomized block design with three replicates (blocks). Four species that are often used in commercial short-rotation plantations were planted in all theoretically possible combinations, i.e. plots with single species and mixtures of two, three and four species. Consequently, each block contains fifteen plots with different species combinations. Each plot contains nine subplots that will be used for specific assessments (e.g. litter decomposition, weed dynamics, soil biology). Planting density was about 15 600 ha-1.

Schematic view of the plantation with the 3 blocks (blue, red, green), plot numbers (Pl), and species (W: Salix, Ro: Robinia, Pau: Paulownia, Pap: Populus)

Hexagonal planting design of monoculture, 2-species, and 3-species plots. In plots with three and four species, the species positions were randomized with the restriction that, within columns and lines, each individual had to be directly neighboured by an individual of a different species.

Site characteristics

HighDiv-SRC (Freiburg)
Country Germany
Biome temperate
Latitude 48.019541029999999
Longitude 7.8278777479999997
Soil type Cambisol
Former land use grassland, sheep grazing
Altitude 230 m
Design stem-wise randomisation (except at 2-genotype level with regular planting)
Plot shape square
Plot size (m^2) 92.16 m²
Plant distance (m) 0.8
Number of trees planted 6480
Planting date spring 2015
Diversity variables species richness
Diversity gradient 1, 2, 3, 4 sp.
Size species pool 4
Species pool Paulownia tomentosa
Populus maximowiczii x trichocarpa
Robinia pseudoacacia
Salix schwerinii x viminalis ‘Tora’
Contact person Michael Scherer-Lorenzen
Email michael.scherer@biologie.uni-freiburg.de

Research

HighDiv-SRC tests the hypothesis that productivity and yield stability of bio-energy plantations can be enhanced by the use of appropriate species mixtures, and we attempt to quantify the effects of mixtures on ecosystem processes relevant to sustainability, e.g., nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. The research has implications for future bio-energy concepts, because new SRC plantations should comply with the sustainability requirements (e.g. biodiversity, C sequestration) for a carbon-neutral and environmentally friendly energy source.

Extra information

Send an e-mail to the contact person or explore the publications that utilized data from this experiment.

PhD thesis

  • Arranz C 2020 Use of mixtures in short rotation coppice plantations to increase productivity. PhD thesis, University of Freiburg

Research papers

  • Depauw L, De Lombaerde E, Dhiedt E, Blondeel H, Abdala-Roberts L, Auge H, Barsoum N, Bauhus J, Chu C, Damtew A, Eisenhauer N, V. Fagundes M, Ganade G, Gendreau-Berthiaume B, Godbold D, Gravel D, Guillemot J, Hajek P, Hector A, Hérault B, Jactel H, Koricheva J, Kreft H, Liu X, Mereu S, Messier C, Muys B, Nock CA, Paquette A, Parker JD, Parker WC, Paterno, GB, Perring MP, Ponette Q, Potvin C, Reich PB, Rewald B, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schnabel F, Sousa-Silva R, Weih M, Clara Zemp D, Verheyen K, Baeten L 2024 Enhancing Tree Performance Through Species Mixing: Review of a Quarter-Century of TreeDivNet Experiments Reveals Research Gaps and Practical Insights. Current Forestry Reports - https://doi.org/10.1007/s40725-023-00208-y
  • FAO 2023 Towards more resilient and diverse planted forests. Unasylva (254)74: 2031/1. Rome. https://doi. org/10.4060/cc8584en
  • Messier C, Bauhus J, Sousa-Silva R, Auge H, Baeten L, Barsoum N, Bruelheide H, Caldwell B, Cavender-Bares J, Dhiedt E, Eisenhauer N, Ganade G, Gravel D, Guillemot J, Hall JS, Hector A, Hérault B, Jactel H, Koricheva J, Kreft H, Mereu S, Muys B, Nock CA, Paquette A, Parker JD, Perring MP, Ponette Q, Potvin C, Reich PB, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Schnabel F, Verheyen K, Weih M, Wollni M, Zemp DC 2021 For the sake of resilience and multifunctionality, let’s diversify planted forests! Conservation Letters e12829 - https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12829
  • Schweier J, Arranz C, Nock C A, Jaeger D, Scherer-Lorenzen M 2019 Impact of Increased genotype or species diversity in short rotation coppice on biomass production and wood characteristics. BioEnergy Research 12: 497-508 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-019-09997-2
  • Müller M, Klein A-M, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Nock CA, Staab M 2018 Tree genetic diversity increases arthropod diversity in willow short rotation coppice. Biomass and Bioenergy 108: 338-344 - doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2017.12.001

July 2016

May 2017