„Willow and Water!”

Holland Alma Ltd.

4375, Piricse, Rózsa Tanya

www.hollandalma.hu

Experiences of the extreme polder year 2010

12th February 2010. – Public harvest-demonstration and yield-measurement

• The demonstration plantation consists of several varieties: Gudrun, Jorr, Tordis, Torhild, Inger, Sven, Tora, Olof, Doris

• Result: 25.2 t/ha/y absolute dry matter• Result: 25.2t*16 500 HUF = 415 800

HUF/y gross revenue

Shooting after the first harvest

Shooting after the first harvest

January 2011 – yield measurement

Material and methods:

• Two varieties – Gudrun and Inger

• Two production technologies – Twin-row premise

• Three replications• Determination of the wet and dry

matter• Profitability calculations

Plantation of the variety Gudrun – 3rd year – 14 700 cuttings/ha

Plot number

Biomass yield

(kg/plot)

Biomass yield 50% water

content (t/ha)

Dry matter yield

(t/ha/y)

Price of the dry matter (HUF/t)

Total net revenue (HUF/ha)

Total net revenue

HUF/ha/y)

1. 61 30.5 10.2 18 100 552 050 184 017

2. 70.2 35.1 11.7 18 100 635 310 211 770

3. 95 47.5 15.8 18 100 859 750 286 583

Average 75.4 37.7 12.6 18 100 682 370 227 457

Plantation of the variety Inger – 2nd year – 33 000 cuttings/ha

Plot number

Biomass yield

(kg/plot)

Biomass yield 50%

water content

(t/ha)

Dry matter yield

(t/ha/y)

Price of the dry matter (HUF/t)

Total net revenue (HUF/ha)

Total net revenue

HUF/ha/y)

1.

46 69 34.5 18 100 1 248 900 624 450

2. 51.2 76.8 38.4 18 100 1 390 080 695 040

3. 31 46.5 23.3 18 100 841 650 420 825

Average 42.7 21.4 32.1 18 100 1 160 210 580 105

Slovakian University of Agricultural Sciences

results of the conducted research work• NLC – Research Institute• South-Eastern Slovakia• The warmest and dryest production region of

Slovakia• 7 varieties (Inger, Tora, Tordis, Gudrun, Sven,

Expressz, Csala)• 2 technologies• 4 replications• Treatments: control, N (150) P (30) K(60)• Duration of the experiment: 3 years (2006-2008)

Slovakian University of Agricultural Sciencesresults of the conducted research work

• In the first two years the number of shoots, growth dynamics, thickness and height were measured.

• The varieties Csala and Expressz were not evaluated.• In the third year the whole biomass has been

harvested.• Biomass-yield and water-content have been

determined.• The technology contained a cut at the end of the 1st

year, that is only seldom suggested in our technology!

Slovakian University of Agricultural Sciencesresults of the conducted research work

• Significant differences between the varietes could be revealed.

• Some varieties have had flexible and others unflexible reaction to the nutrient-supply.

• In the first year no reaction could be revealed to nutrient-supply!

• Significant differences in the tresults of the treated plots could only be measured in the 2nd and 3rd year.

Control Fertilized Control Fertilized Control Fertilized Control Fertilized

74.4 132.2 62.8 105.2 74.8 88.15 79 88.8

Inger Tora Sven Tordis Gudrun

 

Untreated average 72.75 59.9 117.2 78.6 65.8

 

Treated average 103.59 71.41 124.95 95.35 88.4

College of NyíregyházaResults of the conducted experiemnts – Attila

KondorBiomass wet weight (t/ha)

Water-content (%)

Dry weight (t/ha)

Treatment 1. (P,K, Ca)

29.8 47.45 15.66

Treatment 2. (P,K,Ca,N)

32.3 50.46 16.00

Treatment 3. (N 400 kg – 34%)

33.6 48.94 17.46

Control 28.1 51.58 13.61

The results of the experiment are concerning one year shoot biomass. 70-75% of the

biomass is produced as diameter growth in the second vegetation.

Rentability of willow plantations with state grant               

Description Yield (ta/ha/)Price

(HUF/ta

Net revenue(HUF/y)

Net revenue

(HUF/cycle)

Grant (HUF/ha)

Investment cost

(HUF/ha)

Result (HUF/cycle)

               

2011 Inger (2) 32.1 18 100 581 0101 162

020 280 000 500 000 942 020

2010 Demo. (2) 25.2 18 100 456 120 912 240 280 000 500 000 692 240

2011 Gudrun (3) 12.6 18 100 228 060 684 180 280 000 500 000 464 180

2 10 18 100 181 000 362 000 280 000 500 000 142 000

2 8 18 100 144 800 289 600 280 000 500 000 70 400

Rentability of willow plantations without state grant               

DescriptionYield

(ta/ha/)Price

(HUF/ta

Net revenue(HUF/y)

Net revenue

(HUF/cycle)

Grant (HUF/ha)

Investment cost (HUF/ha)

Result (HUF/cycle)

               

2011 Inger (2) 32.1 18 100 581 010 1 162 020 80 000 500 000 742 020

2010 Demo. (2) 25.2 18 100 456 120 912 240 80 000 500 000 492 240

2011 Gudr. (3) 12.6 18 100 228 060 684 180 80 000 500 000 264 180

2 10 18 100 181 000 362 000 80 000 500 000 -58 000

2 8 18 100 144 800 289 600 80 000 500 000 -131 000

Rentability and profitabilityYield – Price - Utilization

Ren

tab

ilit

y an

d p

rofi

tab

ilit

y

Utilization

Sale to power plants

Public/Private heating

Mixed utilization

Mixed utilization = Sale/Heating + additional profit (wastewater deposition, sewage treatment)

Tolerance to (Polder) Water Tolerance to (Polder) Water

Willows are no aquatic plants!

They adapt themselves flexible (not all of them)!

The varieties have different tolerance to water!

The tolerance of plantations of different age varies!

There is no significant difference between the technologies.

Solutions for sites affected by polderSolutions for sites affected by polderPlanting whole rodsPlanting whole rods

Planting material consists of whole rods (2-4 m)Hard and expensiveThe vegetation surface is quite large in contrast to the root volumeRoot activity is minimal under anaerob circumstancesDoes not result adequate development, the plantation stays in the same development stageBetter solutions are available!

Solutions for sites affected by polder Solutions for sites affected by polder „Planting around” – in case of fields under regular water cover„Planting around” – in case of fields under regular water cover

The transpiration rate of willows is extreme highThey’re able to transpire more water from the leaf surface than any other plantSuitable for decreasing the effect of too much waterSuitable for water management of fields without canalisationLater fields under regular water cover can be planted as well

Solutions for sites affected by polder Solutions for sites affected by polder Vegetation planting – in case of fields under periodical water coverVegetation planting – in case of fields under periodical water cover

In case only two or three months water cover is typical

Wait until the soil becomes ready to cultivate

Frozen cutting are viable until October

The planting shall be executed into a dry soil

The first year plantation produces enough root and shoot biomass

The plantation is less sensitive to water stress in the second year

Problematic fields can be utilized this way

Examples in photos optimal planting time (20th April 2010.)

Mother plantation of the Holland Alma Ltd., Piricse, lot nr.: 0438 – 10.08.2010.

There has been no water cover.Here a water cover stayed for 70 days during the vegetation period.

Examples in photos vegetation planting (May 2010.)

Plantation of Mr. Tamás Derzsi

Examples in photosVegetation planting

Date of planting: 19th July 2010. (33°C)

Plantation of Mr. Norbertt Pálfalvy – Vámospércs

(Photos were take on the 10th January 2011)

Present situation of energy willow production

The point of view of the producers

• Most agricultural producers know the plant already• Even less resistance and vulgar error (environment

protection, concurrent plant for food production, heating value etc.)

• On fields under water stress the production of energy willow can automatically be a solution.

• The technology is followed only by a few producers exactly

• 30% of the plantations are unsuccessful yet • Interest is growing exponential each year

Present situation of energy willow production Point of view of the government

• The administration process of the planting permissions hasn’t been changed

• In BAZ County there has been a rejected application with no reasonable justification

• The regulation of the grant application has been changed each year

• There is no computability• Many unreasonable decisions – e.g. power plant in

a region with the best plough-lands• Romania is before Hungary in the establishment of

plantations (all of them are successful) even without governmental support and with less market demand!

Present situation of energy willow production The market

• There’s a growing demand for arboreal biomass for three years

• The long-term market is available and increasing• Even higher demand is rising from heating and

pelletting plants besides power plants.• Institutional heating, public heating, the

conversion of cereal driers will generate an increase of the demand for firing fuel of high heating value and low water content!

• Decreasing import – we have to even more rely on the inland production of biomass!

Thank you for your

attention!

Szabolcs Babicz – Holland Alma Ltd.