Agricultural Engineering/Agronomy, Central Iowa, and BioCentury Research Farms

Converting Land from Poplar Tree Bioenergy Planting to Cropland: An Example

Authors: Kent R. Berns (Iowa State University) , Mark S. Honeyman (Iowa State University) , Richard B. Hall (Iowa State University)

Abstract

Many landowners ask about the process and costs for returning land to crop production after trees are cut for biomass. A field on the Squaw Creek bottom, Story County, Iowa was planted to hybrid poplar trees in spring 2000. The trees were planted in rows with a 10-ft spacing. The trees were cut in spring 2010. The resulting field was four acres, and this is the account of the first corn crop in 2011 on the area.

Keywords: Natural Resource Ecology and Management, RFR A11139, Animal Science

How to Cite: Berns, K. R. , Honeyman, M. S. & Hall, R. B. (2012) “Converting Land from Poplar Tree Bioenergy Planting to Cropland: An Example”, Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms Progress Reports. 2011(1).