A new CatchmentCARE paper sets out to illustrate the environmental and economic benefits of agricultural diversification to biomass crops and poses the question as to whether we should be implementing a strategic plan to facilitate the planting of this versatile crop.
The paper uses a case study from a waste water treatment works in Bridgend, Co.Donegal, where historically the treated waste water was discharged into the adjoining Skeoge River and is now largely irrigated onto 14ha of willows. Over the last five years, over 50% of the treated waste water has been recycled to the willows, on a yearly basis, with this level rising to 80% over the summer months.
