WOOD ASH FERTILIZATION OF ENERGY PLANT BASKET WILLOW (SALIX VIMINALIS L.)

Energetic utilization of wood biomass obtained from fast-growing woody plants nowadays records more important capability. The article discusses the issue of research using wood ash as a solid waste from the boiler while burning biomass and the intensification of short-rotation coppice basket willow - common osier (Salix viminalis L.) for energy use as a renewable energy source. The purpose of the article is to show the importance of basket willow (Salix viminalis L.) as a short-rotation coppice with the emphasis of its production and remedial effects. The examined varieties of willow can be ordered according to their suitability for the conditions of southern Slovakia as follows: 1. ULV (52.5 t.ha^-1); 2. ORM (41.3 t.ha^-1); 3. RAPP (24.3 t.ha^-1). In terms of planting organization, better results were achieved in planting space B in single rows (41.8 t.ha^-1) than in planting space A as double row system (36.9 t.ha^-1). According to the Slovak Republic legislation, it is allowed to use wood ash only for the scientific purposes. We assume that the results obtained within this project will be applied in the modification of legislative framework to enable the use of wood ash for applying nutrients at least in energetic plants cultivation.