Michel, G.A. Developing a cover management-factor for short rotation willow SV1 (Salix dasyclados) to estimate erosion using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation. Typed and bound thesis, 78 pages, 33 tables, 9 figures, 2000.
Short rotation willow plantations are becoming more and more attractive as an alternative source of energy. However, the effectiveness of such plantations in erosion control needed to be assessed. The present study conducted in 1999 estimates a cover-management factor for four coppice-rootstock combinations of willow (Salix dasyclados) to evaluate soil loss using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and makes a comparison with a rotation of alfalfa and corn. Willow plantation provided efficient canopy and ground cover and significant litter input resulting in a low C-factor in all the coppice rootstock-combinations plantations except in the first year-coppice. The low C-factor observed resulted in a low estimated soil loss. The alfalfa-corn rotation was more efficient in reducing erosion than the first year coppice willow, but the second year coppice and first and third year after harvest plantations had greater ability to control erosion.
Author's name: Gérard-Alain Michel.
Master of Science Date: June 2000
Faculty: Forestry
State University of New York
College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Syracuse, New York
