Utsumi, S.A., B. Racher, D. Borland, T. Booth, M. Bobo, S. Cox, R. Dunlap, A. Sandoval, K. Reid, and A. Cibils
Presented at the GLBRC Sustainability Retreat (2010-02-10 to 2010-02-12 )
Throughout the western United States there is increased interest in utilizing woodland biomass as alternative bioenergy source. A pilot study was conducted to predict juniper (Juniperus monosperma) chip yield from tree-crown dimensions measured on the ground or derived from Very Large Scale Aerial (VLSA) digital imagery. The study was conducted in January 2009, at the Corona Range and Livestock Research Center, in central New Mexico. We harvested 57 individual trees from a 0.10 ha plot and 17 tree clumps (72 individual trees) from a neighboring site which had been surveyed with VLSA digital imagery. We recorded crown and stem measurements on all trees shortly before the harvest date. A timber extractor and a Vermeer grinder with a 10 cm screen were used to harvest and grind trees. Juniper chips from trees were collected and weighed to determine green weight. Random grab samples were extracted from each tree to determine dry matter content of chips which was 67.1 % (± 0.04; n=156). Overall, tree crown dimensions accounted for >70% of the variation in chip yield and were better predictors of chip yield of tree clumps in aerial images than of individual trees measured on the ground. Longest tree clump crown diameter was the best predictor of tree clump chip yield (y=81.4x-1,137.8;R2=0.94). We conclude that VSLA image-derived measurements are strong predictors of juniper chip yield for alternative bioenergy use.
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