Estudio de Paulownia spp. como cultivo forestal de rotación corta para fines energéticos en condiciones mediterráneas

Abstract

The plantations of short rotation play a role importantly as source sustainable energetics that can increase the safety of the supply, the generation of income in rural communities and decrease energy dependence on fossil fuels. In this respect, short rotation plantations have been widely recognized, which makes it necessary to increase the available biomass sources alternatives for their energy use. The aim of this study was to quantify the woody biomass and the energetic potential of the forest species paulonia (Paulownia spp.) of a year of age in Mediterranean conditions. Test plots were selected in the Valencian Community (eastern Spain) to develop a predictive model of biomass quantification and his energetic potential in two types of plots according to density and existence of irrigation (P1 and P2), with the average effective biomass per hectare (the stem is hollow in its medullary section in 19,2%) in P1 and P2 between 27,3 t ha-1 and 47,6 t ha-1 respectively. As for the energy potential, the laboratory tests show that paulonia has a calorific value of 17,8 MJ kg-1, his potential energy in P1 is 207 MJ tree-1 and 247 GJ ha-1 and higher in P2 with 349 MJ tree-1 and 274 GJ ha-1. Taking into account the fast growing of the species and its high energy potential, it should be considered as a valid raw material for his use in heat energy in the short term in Mediterranean zones.