Municipal Solid Waste Compost Benefits on Short Rotation Woody Crops

Abstract

The effects of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) on the productivity of potential short rotation woody crops (SRWC) were evaluated in two genetics x silviculture studies in Florida. In the 2002 study cottonwood Populus deltoides (PD), Eucalyptus grandis (EG), and E. amplifolia (EA) were planted in single rows with four cultural treatments: irrigation (I), MSWC, I+MSWC, and a control (no I and MSWC). The 2004 study extended the evaluation to PD, EG, and EA planted in a double row configuration and cypress Taxodium distichum (TD) progenies planted in single rows with three cultural treatments: I, I+MSWC, I + Fertilizer (F). MSWC and I each increased tree size in the 2002 study, although survival was affected by inconsistent I on this sandy site. In the 2004 study, I+MSWC also increased tree size (some PD clones were 4.6 m tall in 8 months) compared to I alone but had lower survival; however, PD was less vigorous in the I+F culture that resulted in the fastest growing EA and EG. MSWC appears to be an effective soil amendment for PD, EG, EA, and TD grown as SRWCs in Florida for mulchwood, energywood, pulpwood, windbreaks, lumber, and/or environmental services such as dendroremediation, mined land reclamation, and CO₂ mitigation.