Sierra Foothill Research & Extension Center 

1988. What's Happening in California Forestry 15: pp. 1-5.
Biomass farming is similar to farming fruit trees or grapevines, except that wood is the marketable product. Wood for fiber and fuel may be obtained from relatively small diameter trees, which are planted at high densities to give rapid canopy cover and high yields when irrigation and fertilization are optimized. Biomass farming described here has little in common with traditional forestry which harvests trees at 40 to 80 year intervals (depending on tree growth rate and desired processing size). At least 3 harvests are obtained from each root system before trees are replanted.

1990. California Agriculture 44(2): pp. 25-27.
Although some species of eucaluptus trees in an experimental plantation were damaged in a 1989 cold snap, several species and clones survived temperatures lower than previously thought to be tolerated. The trees are in a low-elevation Sierra foothill test planting used for studies assessing fuelwood growth rates. Eucalyptus are fast-growing hardwood trees used in California for firewood, biomass, and pulpwood, but cold sensitivity is a major limitation determining where they can be grown successfully.

1987. UC Sierra Foothill Range Field Station Beef and Range Field Day:pp.59-61.
In March 1984 a clonal and seedling plantation of selected Eucalyptus and poplar species was planted at the University of California Sierra Foothill Range Field Station at 575 feet elevation. The main objectives of this six year project are to evaluate survival and growth characteristics and to determine optimum harvest time of hardwood trees as energy crops grown under foothill conditions.

1987. What's Happening in California Forestry 14:pp.1-4.
Foothill and valley landowners are increasingly interested in growing trees as energy crops both commercially or for their own wood stoves. The potential markets for these trees are as firewood, bio-mass for co-generation plants, or as pulpwood chips for lumber companies. One hardwood tree in particular, the Eucalyptus, has performed well in several trials throughout California. Eucalyptus are generally fast growing, tolerant of poor sites and produce energy values comparable to oak wood.

1988. California Agriculture 44(2):pp.21-22.
Early rates of growth during 43 months show that there is considerable promise for the production of large volumes of woody biomass from intensively managed plantations of exotic hardwood species on low elevation foothill rangeland sites. The high uniformity of the clonal blocks of both eucalyptus and hybrid poplars contrasts with the larger variability of the natural seedling stands. The uniformity of the clonal stands may be particularly useful in design of harvesting and processing technology.

1996a. Proceedings, Fourth North American Agroforestry Conf., July 23-28, 1995. Boise, ID. pp. 135-137. This study evaluated the potential of different conifers to grow in conjunction with cattle grazing on California's low elevation hardwood rangelands. After four years, the conifers have had high survival and rapid growth, despite relatively harsh conditions. While there has been damage from cattle, it has been fairly minor and not a serious threat to field performance. Results suggest that both Monterey and KMX pines show promise for incorporation into an agroforestry system. Ref291\64.27.