Willows
How Willows Are Important
Fast-growing species such as willows have very attractive
potential for solving environmental problems. Willows grow
with exceptional speed and easily provide cuttings, characteristics
very useful for quickly restoring sites, stabilizing shores
and banks or simply producing large quantities of biomass.
For several years now, different research projects have drawn
on this potential. The largest one is the production of wood
biomass through short-rotation intensive culture of willows.
This technique consists of planting willows very densely (20,000
plants/hectare) and harvesting the branches produced, every
two or three years. Since the roots remain in the soil, the
stumps can produce new shoots that will in turn be harvested
after two or three years. The biomass produced in this way
can be used for energy purposes. Planting fast-growing trees
on disturbed land of little agricultural use allows more rational
use of the land, with very positive consequences for the environment
and the conservation of our forest resources.
Jones McGirr & Co can provide you with an excellent and
cost effective way of collecting/storing dirty water before
it is pumped or even diverted to the willows. These storage
facilities are constructed in the same way as a slurry lagoon.
Jones McGirr can supply flow control valves and waste water
filters to maximise the uptake of dirty water to suit the
growth potential of the willows dependent on time of year
etc. Jones McGirr & Co can also install a completely enclosed
willow tank, which are used in light and sandy soils where
soil and water pollution is a real and dangerous risk.
Lined ponds for storage of decanted sludge water, used
to fertilise this
75 hectare Willow plantation through irrigation pipes - Enköping,
Sweden
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