Short rotation single stem tree crops for energy in the UK - an examination with Eucalyptus

Summary Single stem tree crops grown on rotations of less than 10 years have attractions as energy crops. Such rotations appear realistic for many areas of the UK, provided high standards of silviculture are practised. The relatively high basic density of the wood of such crops would have favourable economic impact on delivered cost of the resulting fuelwood. In the UK certain Eucalyptus species appear to fulfil the requirements for such crops, and bark-free wood yields of 10-15 oven-dry tonnes ha -1 yr -1 appear possible on many sites. In 2001 trials of Eucalyptus nitens, Eucalyptus gunnii and Eucalyptus gunnii x Eucalyptus dalrympleana hybrids were established on six sites in the UK, using high standards of silviculture.