Agronomic and environmental effects of land application of residues in short-rotation tree plantations: A literature review

Land application of residues in short-rotation plantation has a priori the double advantage to meet the nutrient needs of these tree plantations at lower cost while recycling residues. Agronomic and environmental effects of a very wide variety of residues on plants and soils have been studied worldwide. I attempt here to compile and to summarize the results of the studies about the effects of land applications of residues (mostly organic) in plantations or under controlled pot conditions of the three species mostly used for short-rotation coppice: willow, poplar, and eucalyptus. The spreading of most residues causes an enrichment of the soil in nutrients and a subsequent increase in the growth of plants. Manure, compost, sewage sludge, and wastewater seem most effective in stimulating growth. Ashes have less impact on growth. Few negative effects on the plant have been highlighted in response to spreading, except in the case of very rich effluents in salt in response to which growth reduction and leaf loss nevertheless did not lead to plant death. The high transpiration potentials of the fast growing species dedicated to intensive tree plantations allow them to absorb and tolerate, without major damages, nutrients in excess, most heavy metals, and antibiotics. In some cases, heavy metal accumulation in soils following the spreading of residues, but few of them showed leaching or water pollution. Nevertheless, the used doses and the intervals between applications were of primary importance to avoid leakage of undesirable elements in the environment. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.