Determination of the quantity of accepted basket willow cuttings (Salix Viminalis var. Gigantea) in natural cultivation

The basket willow, commonly known as wicker, has for ages been used as raw material for weaving baskets, as a filtrating medium or for pharmaceutical needs. One of the most important uses of the plant are the hydraulic engineering and - present on larger scale for several years in Poland - as energetic raw material. Among the unquestionable advantages of the willow are fast biomass growth, relatively high immunity from diseases and pests, and the possibility to use its sticks and rods, which are cut off for caring purposes, for power generation. Due to such qualities, the willow should be more frequently used in economical development of the environment, also as a substitute for other plants. The plant-derived-fuels are undoubtedly the energetic future the World. This decided not only by the finite nature of traditional, mining energy resources, but also due to the cost of production and generation of power from biomass, and first of all due to ecological aspects. The present paper focuses on the alternative cultivation of energetic plants (natural cultivation), which - in the author's opinion - will largely contribute to propagation of clean energy production and consequently improve the condition of natural environment. According to analysis ...