Forest Bioresources:

Environmental Applications of TreesESRM 325- Autumn Quarter 2009

(CFR523 for graduate students)

3 credits

Tu Th 10:30-12:00

Topics Covered:

Phytoremediation

Biofuels

Carbon sequestration by trees

Course GradingCourse Grading

EXAMSEXAMSTwo midTwo mid--term exams (125 points each)term exams (125 points each)One quiz after C One quiz after C seqseq section (25 points)section (25 points)Final exam (75 points)Final exam (75 points)

Exam questions will be essayExam questions will be essay--style, based on style, based on lectures, and lectures, and openopen--notenote. . PowerPointsPowerPoints are not are not providedprovided

One Writing Assignment (50 pts)One Writing Assignment (50 pts)--cumulative topiccumulative topic

ExamsExams

OpenOpen--notenote Lectures: Slow me down as much as Lectures: Slow me down as much as

you wantyou want Typical questions:Typical questions:

–– Compare and contrast conventional Compare and contrast conventional remediation with phytoremediationremediation with phytoremediation

–– Describe an example of enhancing Describe an example of enhancing phytoremediation with endophytesphytoremediation with endophytes

See the course websiteSee the course website

https://catalyst.uw.edu/workspace/sldhttps://catalyst.uw.edu/workspace/sldoty/13156/70736oty/13156/70736 (link through (link through MyUWMyUW))

Syllabus with links to readingsSyllabus with links to readings–– Not on ESRM325 exams, but helpful Not on ESRM325 exams, but helpful

informationinformation–– Listed under Listed under ““background readingbackground reading””

Final ExamFinal Exam

Final examFinal exam--Mon. Dec 13Mon. Dec 13 75 points 75 points Emphasis on last few lectures but Emphasis on last few lectures but

some comprehensivesome comprehensive Writing assignment (50 pts) is due at Writing assignment (50 pts) is due at

the start of the examthe start of the exam

Syllabus OverviewSyllabus Overview-- Part 1Part 1

Global climate changeGlobal climate change Photosynthesis is carbon sequestration Photosynthesis is carbon sequestration

by plants; comparison of plantsby plants; comparison of plants Plant responses to climate changePlant responses to climate change

Syllabus OverviewSyllabus Overview--Part 2Part 2

3 lectures on phytoremediation 3 lectures on phytoremediation (organic and inorganic chemicals)(organic and inorganic chemicals)

1 lecture on genetic engineering1 lecture on genetic engineering 3 lectures on improving 3 lectures on improving

phytoremediationphytoremediation

Syllabus OverviewSyllabus Overview--33

Bioenergy overviewBioenergy overview 3 lectures on bioenergy: bioethanol, 3 lectures on bioenergy: bioethanol,

biomethanolbiomethanol, biodiesel, biodiesel 2 lectures on improving bioenergy 2 lectures on improving bioenergy

productionproduction

Final lecture on tying it all together Final lecture on tying it all together (help with the paper)(help with the paper)

““Environmental Uses of TreesEnvironmental Uses of Trees””

Classic use: lumber, paperClassic use: lumber, paper Newer: Newer:

–– Environmental restorationEnvironmental restoration–– Phytoremediation: removing environmental Phytoremediation: removing environmental

pollutantspollutants–– Bioenergy: bioethanol, Bioenergy: bioethanol, biomethanolbiomethanol, biodiesel, biodiesel–– BiochemicalsBiochemicals–– Carbon sequestration; Carbon sequestration; ““carbon creditscarbon credits””

http://www.fao.org/forestry/26218/en/

Environmental Applications Environmental Applications of Treesof Trees

1. Erosion control (water, wind)1. Erosion control (water, wind)–– Bank stabilizationBank stabilization–– Stop desertificationStop desertification

2. Land restoration2. Land restoration–– Reforestation; Reforestation; afforestationafforestation

3. Riparian buffers3. Riparian buffers 4. Stop invasive species4. Stop invasive species 5. Insect control5. Insect control 6. Improve soil by adding nitrogen6. Improve soil by adding nitrogen

SalicaceaeSalicaceae familyfamily--poplar and willowpoplar and willow

Genetic diversityGenetic diversity Can colonize nutrientCan colonize nutrient--poor sitespoor sites Extensive root systemExtensive root system High wildlife valueHigh wildlife value Fast growth: About 2 yrs, 3Fast growth: About 2 yrs, 3--4 m tall4 m tall Willows are the least expensive woody Willows are the least expensive woody

plants to growplants to grow

1. Erosion Control1. Erosion Control

Protection from gravity, wind, Protection from gravity, wind, waterwater

Environmental uses of trees:Environmental uses of trees:

Bank StabilizationBank Stabilization

Photos from International Poplar Commission website

Bank stabilizationBank stabilization

Slides from Michele Labrecque

Living FencesLiving Fences

2. Land Restoration2. Land Restoration

Reforestation, Reforestation, afforestationafforestation

Environmental uses of trees:Environmental uses of trees:

Land RestorationLand Restoration Willow can establish on badly Willow can establish on badly

degraded soils with scarce topsoildegraded soils with scarce topsoil Helps anchor pioneer communityHelps anchor pioneer community

Land Restoration in ChinaLand Restoration in China

http://www.fao.org/forestry/site/ipc/en/

China: degraded sands prior to rehabilitation

China: sands rehabilitated with poplar (Photo: FAO)

3. Riparian buffers3. Riparian buffers

Protect streams from sediment Protect streams from sediment and chemicalsand chemicals

Riparian buffersRiparian buffers

4. Stop invasive plant 4. Stop invasive plant species species

Shade them out with fastShade them out with fast--growing growing native treesnative trees

Willows to Suppress Reed Willows to Suppress Reed CanarygrassCanarygrass

Professor Kern EwingProfessor Kern Ewing Experiment set up to measure the Experiment set up to measure the

effect of live willow staking on reed effect of live willow staking on reed canarygrasscanarygrass growthgrowth

ResultsResults

ResultsResults–– After one year, willows on 2After one year, willows on 2’’ centers centers

significantly reduced reed significantly reduced reed canarygrasscanarygrassbiomass.biomass.

–– After two years, willows on 2After two years, willows on 2’’ and 3and 3’’centers significantly reduced reed centers significantly reduced reed canarygrasscanarygrass biomass.biomass.

–– After three years, reed After three years, reed canarygrasscanarygrassbiomass was essentially zero.biomass was essentially zero.

Environmental Uses of Trees: Environmental Uses of Trees: 5. Insect Control5. Insect Control

Insect controlInsect control--Spruce WeevilSpruce Weevil

Spruce weevil are Spruce weevil are coldcold--intolerantintolerant

CanCan’’t plant t plant plantations of pure plantations of pure sprucespruce

Alder provides Alder provides shadeshade

Simple solution!Simple solution! Professor Bob Professor Bob GaraGara

Environmental Uses of Trees: Environmental Uses of Trees: 6. Increasing available nitrogen6. Increasing available nitrogen

Trees that improve soil nitrogenTrees that improve soil nitrogen

Biological Nitrogen Biological Nitrogen FixationFixation

Atmosphere: 80% Atmosphere: 80% nitrogen gasnitrogen gas

Some Some microorganisms microorganisms can can ““fixfix”” NN22 gas gas into usable formsinto usable forms Root nodule on alfalfa

root contains Sinorhizobium meliloti

Some trees associate with Some trees associate with nitrogennitrogen--fixing bacteriafixing bacteria

Alder grows in Alder grows in nitrogennitrogen--poor soils poor soils with the help of with the help of FrankiaFrankia bacteria in bacteria in root nodulesroot nodules

Alder trees improve soil NAlder trees improve soil N

Pure Douglas FirPure Douglas Fir-- no changeno change 25%Red Alder/75%DF25%Red Alder/75%DF-- Soil N Soil N

increases 10 g/m2/yrincreases 10 g/m2/yr Creates an oasis for other plants that Creates an oasis for other plants that

cancan’’t form t form FrankiaFrankia root nodulesroot nodules

Tropical leguminous treesTropical leguminous trees

Acacia Acacia koakoa Grows in HawaiiGrows in Hawaii Associates with Associates with

rhizobium that fixes rhizobium that fixes nitrogen within root nitrogen within root nodulesnodules

Canopy PocketAcacia koa tree

Canopy nodule

Koa nodules within bryophyte mat

Koa nodules in a nurse log

Reforestation using Reforestation using koakoa

Planted Planted koakoa in in grasslandgrassland

N levels between N levels between old growth old growth koakoa and and grasslandgrassland

After 10 yrs, N was After 10 yrs, N was above that in the above that in the old forestold forest

Summary: Environmental Summary: Environmental Applications of TreesApplications of Trees

1. Erosion control (water, wind)1. Erosion control (water, wind)–– Bank stabilizationBank stabilization–– Stop desertificationStop desertification

2. Land restoration2. Land restoration–– Reforestation; Reforestation; afforestationafforestation

3. Riparian buffers3. Riparian buffers 4. Stop invasive species4. Stop invasive species 5. Insect control5. Insect control 6. Improve soil by adding nitrogen6. Improve soil by adding nitrogen 7. Carbon sequestration7. Carbon sequestration 8. Phytoremediation8. Phytoremediation 9. Bioenergy production9. Bioenergy production