Pohjois-Suomen puiden hiilidioksidiaineenvaihdunta kiihkeämpää kuin Etelä-Suomen

1971-1979

Yliopistojen tutkimusmenot ja kokonaiskustannusmalli

Thomas Wilhelmsson ja Johanna Björkroth arvioivat ns. kokonaiskustannusmallin käyttöönoton johtaneen merkittävään byrokratian lisääntymiseen täydentävän eli yliopistojen ulkopuolisen rahoituksen osalta (Tieteessä tapahtuu 3/2011). Tutkijoiden aikaa kuluu aiempaa enemmän erilaisten rahoitusten hallinnointiin ja seurantaan sen sijaan, että aika käytettäisiin luovaan tieteelliseen työhön. Byrokratian vähentämiseksi he esittävät siirtymistä luottamukseen perustuvaan tutkimuskulttuuriin sekä kokonaiskustannusmallista ja siihen liittyvistä seurannoista luopumista. Kirjoittajien kanssa o

Farmers’ willingness to supply biomass for energy generation: evidence from South and Central Poland

The objective of this survey-based study was to investigate farmers’ willingness to supply biomass for power generation in the south and in the centre of Poland. In total, 210 farmers participated in this study by filling in a self-instructed questionnaire. The results indicate that the majority of farmers (two-thirds) in both regions appeared unwilling to collect, store and transport biomass to the market or to the energy production facility. It is likely that an unstable biomass market marked by low demand and low prices has led to unwillingness by farmers to engage in bioenergy production in Poland. Increasing the role of biomass as a renewable energy resource and recovering the farmers’ confidence in the market would require fixing the shortcomings in the biomass market and the provision of clear public policies that aim at long-term market stability

Energy wood production from private forests -nonindustrial private forest owners' perceptions and attitudes in Croatia and Serbia

a b s t r a c t Private forests in Croatia and Serbia are highly fragmented in small plots with low productivity and owned by a large number of small-scale nonindustrial private forest owners (NIPFs). The study conducted surveys among 232 NIPFs in these two countries to find out their perceptions and attitudes related to energy wood production from their forests. The secondary objective of the study was to provide policy recommendations to the public authorities and professionals in these countries for improving the preconditions for energy wood mobilization from private forests. The study found that the NIPFs perceived underdeveloped market and low price for energy wood, absence of favorable policies, fragmented forests properties, older NIPFs' lack of interests in energy wood production, and difficulties in getting bank loan for energy wood related business activities as barriers against energy wood production from private forests. However, the NIPFs showed positive attitudes towards producing energy wood from their forests and they considered the possibilities of creating new jobs and commercial opportunities as strengths of energy wood production. The NIPFs' socio-demographic background had statistically significant relations with their perceptions and attitudes related to energy wood production. The dimensions of the NIPFs' perceptions and attitudes related to energy wood production showed two key dimensions -institutionalists and enthusiasts. The variables to explain the NIPFs' attitudes to energy wood production were different between the two countries and they indicated the differences in the country level circumstances for energy wood production. The results appeared to be relevant for understanding the issues that the NIPFs perceived as barriers against developing a viable energy wood market in their countries. When new forestry institutions and policies are emerging in these countries, the existing public and private forestry institutions need to play an important role for improving the preconditions for energy wood production from private forests

Farmers' perceptions of the challenges facing the biomass market in Poland; a case study from South and Central Poland

Farmers’ perceptions and values are a fundamental part of a polycentric approach aimed at improving the financial feasibility of biomass-based enterprises. In this survey-based study, 210 farmers from central (Torun province) and southern (Upper Silesia region) Poland completed a self- instructed questionnaire dealing with their perceptions of the challenges currently facing the biomass market and their willingness to change from traditional farming to feedstock production for energy generation. The results indicate that only 12% of the farmers are willing to switch to biocrop cultivation. Moreover, selected socio-economic and demographic variables (gender, age) had an impact on their willingness to adopt energy crops. All the presented challenges appeared to be of high relevance to the farmers who participated in this study. However, farmers from Torun province attributed substantial relevance to the social transformation in the agriculture sector, and to the lack of seasonal workers. In the Upper Silesia region, the lack of a well-established biomass market was of greatest relevance. A cross-tabulation method revealed statistical differences between the perceived value of farming and the farmers’ perceptions toward the challenges facing the biomass market. These findings are insightful for policies that aim to address the shortcomings in current biomass market development in Poland

An appraisal of the electrical resistance method for assessing root surface area

Electrical resistances of roots and stems of hydroponically raised willows (Salix schwerinii) were studied and related to root morphology. Willow cuttings with and without roots were set in a constant electric field (effective voltage of 0.1 V, sine-AC, 128 Hz) in a hydroponic solution. The electrical resistance of different components in the measurement system was measured and analysed in relation to root surface area in contact with the cultivation solution. Axial resistivities of single root segments and of stems were measured. The results showed that the resistance decreased in relation to an increase in the contact surface area of the roots with the solution. The resistance depended strongly on the contact area of the stem with the solution, however, thus causing bias in the evaluation of root surface area. This work is a new contribution for the understanding of current pathways in the root system as exposed to an external electric field and for developing a non-destructive method to study plant roots accordingly. It may be concluded that the electrical resistance method is a useful non-destructive method to study roots and their physiological properties. Electrical analogues for roots and stem comprising resistors are discussed in relation to in situ measurements

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