Growth dynamics and canopy structure. Genetic background. Cell to leaf level. Branch to crown level. Whole tree to stand level. Nutritional dynamics and requirements of short rotation forests. Mineral nutrient requirements of SRF crops. Nutrient dynamics in SRF plantations. Management implications. Environmental considerations. Water relations. Cell water relations. Drought tolerance. Dehydration postponement adaptions. Dehydration tolerance adaptations. The structure and dynamics of woody plant root systems. Root morphology. The fate of carbon translocated to roots. Root biomass. Fine root dynamics. Clonal testing and selection for field plantations. North Central US tests. Pacific Northwest tests. Eastern Ontario tests. Regional comparisons. Coppicing ability and sustainability. Methods to induce resprouting in wood species. Biological factors influencing resprouting. Cultural and environmental factors influencing resprouting. Production of coppice systems. Pests, diseases and injuries in intensive short rotation forestry. Avoidance and tolerance. Physiological status. Frost. Drought. Sustaining production: nutrient dynamics and soils. Fertility management: nutrient inputs and losses. Nutrition management: fertilizer usage. Diagnosing nutrient status. Effects of short rotation forest management on soil productivity. Ecophysiological growth process models of short rotation forest crops. Models of short rotation forests. Selected models. Summary of applications and limitations. Future needs and directions. Feedstock characteristic and quality. Physical traits. Chemical traits. Summary. References. The role of genetic improvement in short rotation forestry. High returns for genetic improvement in SRF. The power of the clonal approach. Breeding. Molecular biology and short rotation forest crops.
