Using short-rotation hardwood plantations as “green” inventory for southeastern pulp mills

Abstract

As a routine wood source for a pulp mill, recent past studies have shown that intensively-managed, short-rotation hardwood plantations are not cost effective. The objective of this study was to determine if these plantations may be cost effective as "green" inventory, replacing some portion of high cost remote woodyard inventory. Three southeastern pulp mills were used as case studies in a net present value analysis. Short-rotation hardwood plantations of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) were used to replace a portion of remote woodyard inventory, with wood delivered to a pulp mill only when inventory levels become critical. If this "green" inventory is not used, these plantations continue to grow until needed. With current yield from an experimental fiber farm, short-rotation plantations were not cost effective as "green" inventory. However, if yield could be increased approximately 33% through expected genetic improvements, all three pulp mills could have reduced overall wood cost by establishing a fiber farm.

Citation

Gallagher, Thomas; Shaffer, Robert. 2003. Using short-rotation hardwood plantations as “green” inventory for southeastern pulp mills. In: Proceedings of the 2003 COFE. 7-10 September 2003. Bar Harbor, ME: 5 p.