Nutrient (N, P, K) use efficiency and nitrogen balance in a bioenergy plantation of Populus deltoides clone Lux in San Piero A Grado (Pisa), Italy

Energy crops have proved to be a viable alternative fossil fuels. However, high biomass production always means that large quantities of nutrients from the soil are removed at harvest. The goal this work was estimate nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium) use efficiency (NUE) and nitrogen balance in an eight-year-old Populus deltoides clone Lux, short rotation forestry under two cutting cycles, every (biennial) three (triennial) years, carried out Mediterranean climate conditions. Results indicate NUE, for all analyzed elements, contained variations with slightly higher values phosphorous triennial cycle. Although poplar cultivation has positive efficiency, terms nitrogen, there is significant loss element crop