Date of Award

2017

Document Type

Open Access Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Forestry (MS)

Administrative Home Department

College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

Advisor 1

Robert E. Froese

Committee Member 1

Nan C. Pond

Committee Member 2

Matthew C. Kelly

Abstract

Woody biomass for use as coal-replacing bioenergy has garnered increasing interest as federal and local governments require larger portions of energy production to come from renewable sources. Woody biomass can be produced from dedicated plantations grown and harvested solely for biomass production, or non-dedicated sources such as harvest residues from traditional timber operations. The creation of site index curves for hybrid poplar were established from the Michigan Technological University Hybrid Poplar Network in the upper Great Lakes Region. These site index models are to be used for landowners to assess the predicted yield at established plantations, or possibly within spatial models to assess production across the region. Research was also conducted to assess the efficacy of biomass creation within traditional timber production techniques by utilizing non-merchantable material from jack pine (Pinus banksiana) plantations currently planted and utilized for breeding habitat by the Kirtland’s warbler (KW) (Setophaga kirlandii).

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