Hybrid Poplar Plantations Research Articles

Cost and Productivity of Harvesting High-Value Hybrid Poplar Plantations in Italy

As the importance of hybrid poplar plantations continues to increase, these stands may soon represent a strategic source of wood products for many temperate-region countries. Financial success from growing these plantations depends on obtaining the highest value recovery at the lowest harvest cost, which has motivated a gradual shift toward mechanized harvesting. This study compared the harvesting efficiency and cost of different harvesting procedures based on manual, semimechanized, and mechanized system configurations. Overall, 25 sites were sampled with time studies. Average site size varied between 0.3 and 2.5 hectares. Total observation time amounted to 787 hours, during which 6,449 trees were harvested. Mechanized harvesting proved significantly faster and cheaper than traditional manual harvesting, allowing an average saving of about 3 €/m3 for the same tree size. Hence, mechanization may help maintain profitability when harvesting smaller trees, allowing companies to cope with current trends toward shorter rotations for increased cash flow. Semimechanized harvesting did not involve fewer work steps, nor was it less expensive than traditional manual harvesting; its only benefit was a substantial reduction of labor requirements. The concern about reduced value recovery is still the main obstacle to the extensive application of mechanized poplar harvesting.

Transpiration of a hybrid poplar plantation in Saxony (Germany) in response to climate and soil conditions

The aim of this study was to investigate transpiration and its main driving factors on the example of a hybrid poplar plantation with the clone Populus maximowiczii × P. nigra, cv. Max 1 on a site in the hilly loess region of Saxony (Germany). Transpiration was measured using sap flow techniques during the 2007 and 2008 growing season. At the same time, throughfall, soil moisture dynamics and soil physical properties were also measured. Total transpiration rates amounted to 486 mm and 463 mm, respectively, during the 2 years. Maximum daily transpiration rates reached 6.7 mm/day, while an average of 2.2 mm/day for the entire growing season was recorded. The main controlling factors for stand transpiration included the evaporative demand, water availability and soil temperature. The information was implemented into a simple empirical model for the prediction of transpiration. It can be concluded that large-scale establishment of poplar plantations will result in a distinct reduction in groundwater recharge. On the other hand, surface run-off and soil erosion may decrease. Due to limited water availability in the late growing season, the growth potential of the tested clone cannot fully be exploited at many sites in Germany.

Temperature and substrate effects on C & N mineralization and microbial community function of soils from a hybrid poplar chronosequence

Substrate input as well as climatic factors affect C and N cycling and microbial properties in forest soils. We used a microcosm approach to investigate the response of CO 2 efflux, net N mineralization, and microbial community-level physiological profile (CLPP) to temperature (5 vs. 15 °C) and substrate (with and without sucrose addition) addition in surface mineral soils collected from 4-, 6-, 13-, and 15-year old (ages in 2007) hybrid poplar ( Populus deltoides × Populus × petrowskyana var. Walker) stands in northern Alberta. In the early stage of incubation (0–2 h), CO 2 efflux was higher at 5 °C than at 15 °C with little effect from substrate addition, while 24 h after the addition of substrate, CO 2 efflux became higher under the 15 °C incubation. After 72 h incubation, temperature and substrate addition effects on CO 2 efflux subsided and CO 2 efflux rates tended to converge among the treatments. Net N mineralization was significantly affected by substrate addition and stand age, while rates of net ammonification were higher at 5 °C than at 15 °C. Net N mineralization occurred without sucrose addition while net immobilization occurred with sucrose addition. The soil from the youngest stand had the lowest N mineralization rate among the stands for each corresponding substrate-incubation temperature treatment. We used Ecoplates from Biolog™ to study sole-carbon-source-utilization profiles of microbial communities at the end of the incubation. Principal component analysis of C utilization data separated microbial communities with respect to substrate addition, incubation temperature and stand age. Our data showed that organic matter mineralization and microbial substrate utilization were affected by incubation temperature, substrate availability and stand age, indicating that the responses of microbial communities in the studied hybrid poplar plantations to temperature changes were strongly mediated by labile C availability and stand development.

Review and model-based analysis of factors influencing soil carbon sequestration under hybrid poplar

The potential for soil carbon (C) sequestration under short-rotation woody crops, like hybrid poplar (Populus spp.), is a significant uncertainty in our understanding of how managed tree plantations might be used to partially offset increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Through development of a multi-compartment model, we reviewed information from studies on hybrid poplar and analyzed the potential impact of changes in plant traits and nitrogen (N) fertilization on soil C storage. For a hypothetical setting in the southeastern U.S.A., and starting from soils that are relatively depleted in organic matter (2.5 kg C m−2), the model predicted an increase in mineral soil C stocks (1.7 kg C m−2) over four 7-year rotations of hybrid poplar. However, at the end of the fourth rotation, both cumulative soil C gains and annual rates of soil C accrual (23–93 g C m−2 yr−1) varied widely depending on fertilization rate, biomass yield, and rates of dead root decomposition (three factors that were examined in a factorial model-based experiment). Our analysis indicated that processes linked to genetically modifiable poplar traits (aboveground biomass production, belowground C allocation, root decomposition) are potential controls on soil C sequestration. Key measures of model performance were sensitive to how aboveground biomass production responded to N fertilization. Site specific properties that were independent of plant traits were also important to predicted soil C accumulation and point to possible genotype x site interactions that may explain contradictory data from both empirical and theoretical studies of C sequestration under hybrid poplar plantations.

Carabid species responses to hybrid poplar plantations in floodplains in France

Hybrid poplar plantations have become an important component of forest and agricultural landscapes in alluvial floodplains since poplars are among the fastest-growing trees in temperate regions. However, these habitats are thought to decrease biodiversity, including ground beetle diversity, as compared to other traditional land-uses such as grasslands and semi-natural forests. To evaluate the impacts of poplar plantations on carabid diversity, we tested whether carabid assemblages are more affected by land-use type than by canopy cover type in three alluvial floodplains in North-Eastern France. We stratified our 63-plot sampling design according to four habitat types based on land-use and plantation age. Non-metric multidimensional scaling revealed a successional gradient in species composition related to canopy cover progressing from grasslands through young, then adult poplar plantations, to semi-natural forests. Species-level response models showed that many carabid species distinguished the open habitats (grasslands and young poplar plantations) from the closed ones (adult poplar plantations and semi-natural forests). Only a few species preferred one of the traditional land-uses such as grasslands or semi-natural forests. Based on our data, the deleterious effect of poplar plantations on the conservation of ground beetles may not be as high as expected.

Composted biosolids as a source of iron for hybrid poplars (Populus sp.) grown in northwest New Mexico

Composted sewage sludge (biosolids) supply plant available Fe and may represent a sustain- able alternative to more costly chelated Fe fertilizers currently used to supplement nutrition in hybrid poplar test plots of elevated soil pH. To test the response of poplars, field plots were amended with composted biosolids at two agricultural rates: 22.75 and 44.5 Mg ha -1 . Iron EDDHA served as a fertilizer check and control plots received no amendment. The hybrid poplar OP-367 (Populus deltoides 9 P. nigra) was planted on a 3.6 m grid spacing. Significant amounts of P and Fe originating from the sewage treatment process were detected in soils 13 months after amending. Chlorosis evaluated with a SPAD-502 meter, showed that poplars amended with biosolids remained the least chlorotic and had greater tree growth when compared to Fe EDDHA and control plots during two growing seasons. Biosolids show promise as a cost effective alternative for the remedi- ation of Fe chlorosis in hybrid poplar agroforestry plantations and present new opportunities in north- western New Mexico for municipalities seeking solid waste land disposal options.

Towards practices favourable to plant diversity in hybrid poplar plantations

Much research effort is being devoted to developing forest management practices with limited impacts on biodiversity. While the impact of poplar Populus sp. plantations on biodiversity is relatively well-known at the landscape scale, the impact of alternative management practices at the plantation scale has received much less attention. Yet biodiversity is likely to be impacted by the choice of the poplar clone, stem density at plantation, type and duration of the understory control, and age at which the poplars are harvested. In this study, we investigated the impact of these factors on herbaceous plant communities with data from plant surveys conducted in 85 young (2–5 years) and 96 mature (11–17 years) hybrid poplar high-forest plantations in northern France. On average, ruderal or generalist plants contributed to 40.5% of the plot species richness; tall herbs (60.2%), forest (26%) and meadow plants (13.8%) contributed to the remaining 59.5% more specialised species. Soil moisture and soil nitrogen were major determinants of plant communities: wet soils were favourable to tall herbs, while meadow and forest species preferred moist soils; a significantly lower diversity of the three species groups was reported in the nutrient richer soils (in mature plantations only for forest plants). Mean species richness decreased with plantation age except for forest species. Plant communities in young plantations showed little differences in composition according to the type of understory control (chemical, mechanical or both). The development of a shrubby layer in mature plantations was restricted to the drier soils and was detrimental to both meadow plants and tall herb species. Effects of previous land use on forest and tall herb species were found only in young plantations, suggesting a rapid reset of plant communities for these two groups. This may not be the case for meadow species as the influence of previous land use was significant in mature plantations only. Finally, clone type and stem density at plantation had no significant impact on plant communities. Adjusting age at which the poplars are harvested seems the only effective way to drive plant communities in high-forest poplar plantations: delaying poplar harvest (probably beyond 15–20 years) would benefit forest plants, while advancing poplar harvest (about 10 years) would benefit tall herbs, especially in wet soil conditions.

A reduced growth model based on stand basal area. A case for hybrid poplar plantations in northeast Spain

Whole-stand models normally require data on initial stand basal area and dominant height. Dominant height measurements are time-consuming and often imprecise, compromising subsequent predictions. Poplar plantations provide a special case where basal area correlates with site index; a whole-stand model could thus be based on stand basal area. We report a static model constructed by the generalized algebraic difference approach (GADA) for poplar plantations for three different hybrid poplars ( Populus × euramericana (Dode) Guinier “I-214”, “MC”, and “Luisa Avanzo”) in northeast Spain. The transition function was based on current stand basal area and was fitted with data from 158 permanent plots ranging from 1- to 17-year-old plantations. Merchantable stand volume was estimated by a volume equation where height was predicted by a height–basal area relationship based on 458 temporary plots. The model differences between clones were compared using the nonlinear extra sum of squares method. Significant differences were detected, while Luisa Avanzo presented the highest merchantable volume at the end of the rotation. Errors in basal area predictions were below 20% within 6 years in the case of Luisa Avanzo and MC clones, and within 3 years in the case of I-214. Our research showed that satisfactory predictions can be obtained using GADA with a single transition function based on an easily measurable variable such as stand basal area.

Nitrogen transformations revealed by isotope dilution in an organically fertilized hybrid poplar plantation

Measuring nitrogen (N) transformations from organic fertilizers can help in selecting applications rates that provide sufficient soluble N to promote tree growth in short-rotation plantations. The objective of this study was to determine how organic fertilizers (papermill biosolids, liquid pig slurry) affected microbially-mediated N transformations in soils. Soil samples were collected from a hybrid poplar plantation before fertilization, 1 month after fertilizer application and at the end of the growing season. Net N mineralization and nitrification were evaluated during a 28 d laboratory incubation, while gross N transformations were assessed using a 15N isotope dilution technique. Pig slurry application increased soil ammonium (NH4-N) and nitrate (NO3-N) concentrations within 1 month, while papermill biosolids increased soil NH4-N and NO3-N concentrations at the end of the growing season. Gross N consumption rates were greater than gross N production rates. The NH4-N and NO3-N consumption rates were positively correlated with labile carbon and microbial biomass. The gross nitrification rate was 18 to 67% of the gross mineralization rate but 30% or less of the gross NH4-N consumption rate, indicating that NH4 consumption was overestimated by the isotope dilution technique. We conclude that N cycling in this hybrid poplar plantation was characterized by rapid consumption of plant-available N following N mineralization and nitrification.

Soil respiration in four different land use systems in north central Alberta, Canada

This study compares soil respiration and its heterotrophic and autotrophic components in four land use types: agriculture, 2 and 9 year old hybrid poplar plantations, grassland, and a native aspen stand in north central Alberta, Canada, over a period of two growing seasons (2006 and 2007). The differences were examined with respect to substrate quality and quantity, fine root biomass, and nutrient availability, in addition to soil temperature and soil water content. Cumulative soil C loss via soil respiration averaged over the two growing seasons was (in decreasing order) 781, 551, 523, 502, and 428 g C m−2 for native aspen stand, 9 year old hybrid poplar plantation, grassland, agriculture and 2 year old hybrid poplar plantation, respectively. We found that ∼75% of soil respiration in the native aspen stand originated from the top 7.5–10 cm litter‐fibric‐humus layer. Seasonal heterotrophic and autotrophic respiration among the land uses ranged from 97 to 272 and 333 to 560 g C m−2, respectively, contributing up to 35% and 83% of total soil respiration, respectively. The variability in soil respiration across different land uses was explained mainly by site differences in soil temperature (88–94%). Soil respiration followed a pronounced seasonal trend: increasing during the growing season and converging to a minimum in the fall. Soil respiration under different land uses was influenced by (1) ecosystem C stock, (2) temperature sensitivity (Q10) of organic matter present, and (3) organic matter decomposability as indicated by the natural abundance of δ13C. Heterotrophic respiration was influenced by soil temperature, while autotrophic respiration was influenced by fine root biomass and nutrient (NO3− and P) availability. These results are useful in estimating potential responses of soil respiration and its components to future land management and climate change.

Nursery stock type, nitrogen fertilization and shoot pruning effects on the growth of juvenile hybrid poplar in Saskatchewan

Increased demand for wood from the forest-products and bio-energy industries in Canada has generated interest in large-scale hybrid poplar production for the prairie-boreal transition region. Because of the harsh climate and short growing season, this region of Canada poses significant challenges for establishment and production of hybrid poplar plantations and currently little silviculture information specific to this region is available. Trials were established at two sites with different prior land use histories: a former alfalfa field and a mixed-grass pasture. Cutting (Ct), rooted cutting (RCt) and rooted plug (RPg) nursery stock of hybrid poplar [P. deltoides × (P. laurifolia × P. nigra) var. Walker] were established with two fertilization rates (0 and 100 kg N ha-1) and pruned and unpruned treatments. Despite the alfalfa site having higher amounts of available N than the pasture site and tree growth being superior at the alfalfa site, foliar N concentrations indicated an N deficiency at the alfalfa site in 2003. The difference in growth between sites was attributed to a higher degree of weed competition at the pasture site. Survival of saplings was affected by the nursery stocks. The presence of roots on the initial stock was key to early survival with approximately 92% of rooted stocks surviving over winter the first year of planting, and only 41% of unrooted cuttings surviving the same period. The short growing seasons (115 to 127 frost-free days) provided enough time for RCt to recover from pruning and produce stem volumes larger than unpruned trees. For reasons unknown, RPg did not fully recover from pruning and stem volumes in 2003 and 2004 were lower than unpruned trees. Although expectations of rates of growth of hybrid poplar are lower in the prairie-boreal transition region of Canada compared with regions of North America with more moderate climates, establishment of plantations can be realized with aggressive weed control and selection of rooted stock materials. Key words: Cuttings, rooted cuttings, rooted plugs, cultural practices, Walker

Ecosystem carbon stocks and distribution under different land-uses in north central Alberta, Canada

Land-use and land cover strongly influence carbon (C) storage and distribution within ecosystems. We studied the effects of land-use on: (i) above- and belowground biomass C, (ii) soil organic C (SOC) in bulk soil, coarse- (250–2000 μm), medium- (53–250 μm) and fine-size fractions (<53 μm), and (iii) 13C and 15N abundance in plant litter, bulk soil, coarse-, and medium- and fine-size fractions in the 0–50 cm soil layer in Linaria AB, Canada between May and October of 2006. Five adjacent land-uses were sampled: (i) agriculture since 1930s, (ii) 2-year-old hybrid poplar ( Populus deltoides × Populus × petrowskyana var. Walker) plantation, (iii) 9-year-old Walker hybrid poplar plantation, (iv) grassland since 1997, and (v) an 80-year-old native aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) stand. Total ecosystem C stock in the native aspen stand (223 Mg C ha −1) was similar to that of the 9-year-old hybrid poplar plantation (174 Mg C ha −1) but was significantly greater than in the agriculture (132 Mg C ha −1), 2-year-old hybrid poplar plantation (110 Mg C ha −1), and grassland (121 Mg C ha −1). Differences in ecosystem C stocks between the land-uses were primarily the result of different plant biomass as SOC in the 0–50 cm soil layer was unaffected by land-use change. The general trend for C stocks in soil particle-size fractions decreased in the order of: fine > medium > coarse for all land-uses, except in the native aspen stand where C was uniformly distributed among soil particle-size fractions. The C stock in the coarse-size fraction was most affected by land-use change whilst the fine fractions the least. Enrichment of the natural abundances of 13C and 15N across the land-uses since time of disturbance, i.e., from agriculture to 2- and then 9-year-old hybrid poplar plantations or to grassland, suggests shifts from more labile forms of C to more humified forms of C following those land-use changes.

A bioeconomic model of afforestation in Southern Ontario: Integration of fiber, carbon and municipal biosolids values

This study explores the economic attractiveness of afforestation as a strategy for the joint production of fibre, carbon storage and biosolids (treated municipal sewage sludge) disposal for municipalities in Southern and Central Ontario, Canada. We use a spatial, stochastic model, the Canadian Forest Service Afforestation Feasibility Model (CFS-AFM), to simulate a range of spatial biosolids application scenarios in hybrid poplar afforestation projects. Results suggest that such joint afforestation strategies could be financially attractive. Significant cost savings can be expected through decreases in transportation distances and avoided waste disposal fees. Sensitivity analysis is used to examine the effects of variations in critical model parameters on net present values. Our findings indicate that waste disposal savings from application of biosolids on hybrid poplar plantations combined with incentives for landowners to sequester carbon can easily compete with agricultural land rental values in some regions of Ontario. Social acceptance of this kind of activity, however, may be an impediment to adoption.

Hybrid poplar plantations in a floodplain have balanced impacts on farmland and woodland birds

Hybrid poplar plantations are increasing worldwide and are often accused of impoverishing bird communities. We conducted 124 bird point counts in a landscape where plantations, semi-natural forests and farmland occupied similar surface areas. As expected, birds occurred at higher densities in areas dominated by forests than dominated by plantations, mostly due to the scarcity of late-successional forest birds in plantations. Contrary to expectations, bird communities were the poorest in farmland dominated areas and the most specialised in areas dominated by young plantations. Indeed, many grassland species, including some of conservation concern in Europe, frequently used young plantations. However, plantations have probably depleted grassland bird communities by fragmenting open areas, while playing a limited positive role on forest species. Total length of unpaved roads had a positive effect on community specialisation index, while total length of paved roads and mean forest/plantation patch size played no role. Bird density increased with the development of the understory vegetation in mature poplar plantations. We conclude that poplar should not be planted at the expense of areas of high conservation value; in other cases, they may increase the overall diversity of bird communities. At the plantation scale, we advocate stopping understory removal as soon as possible and maintaining old trees and hedgerows alongside or within plantations to provide suitable breeding habitats for bird species that may be foraging in the plantations.

Competition control in juvenile hybrid poplar plantations across a range of site productivities in central Saskatchewan, Canada

The response of hybrid poplar plantations established on former agricultural land in Saskatchewan to competition from weeds on a range of site productivities was studied. The short-term impact of competition control on the growth of juvenile trees and how tree responses to competition control differed across the productivity gradient was of particular interest, as was the determination of which resource was most highly competed for and was most important in determining tree growth. Eight sets of paired plots in juvenile hybrid poplar plantations were established in central Saskatchewan across a range of site productivities. In each pair, one plot had complete weed control (weed-free) while in the other plot weeds were allowed to grow. The best soil predictor of tree growth was soil texture, represented by a combination of the percentage silt and clay, with finer textures showing better growth. Competition control significantly increased tree growth on all sites with the benefit being greatest on the higher productivity sites. Soil water appeared to be highly competed for between trees and weeds and was a dominant resource controlling growth. For soil nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorous were highly competed for between trees and weeds. However, leaf phosphorous concentration of the weed-free plots had a strong positive relation to tree growth while nitrogen did not, indicating that when trees are free of competition they can access sufficient nitrogen from these soils.

Autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration rates across a chronosequence of hybrid poplar plantationsin northern Alberta

Distinction of autotrophic (root, Rr) versus heterotrophic (Rh) soil respiration is important to understanding C balance in forest ecosystems and the contribution of both respiration components to total soil respiration (Rs) may change as stands mature. We studied Rr and Rh in a chronosequence of hybrid poplar plantations that were 4, 6, 8, and 13 yr old in summer 2005. We hypothesized that Rr will become increasingly larger and will also represent a greater proportion of Rs as plantation age increases. Our results showed that both Rs and Rh showed significant seasonal variations; however,Rr were much more variable. No significant differences among plantation ages were observed for any of the respiration parameters (Rr, Rh and Rs) measured throughout the summer. No significant differences were found for the contribution of Rh to Rs between plantation ages or between sampling dates. The average proportion of Rh to Rs across all sites and sampling dates was 0.63 ± 0.026 (mean ± standard error), indicating that heterotrophic respiration dominated total soil respiration in the studied hybrid poplar plantations.The power of the statistical tests in this study was likely quite low due to the inclusion of only two replicates for each plantation age. Key words: Autotrophic, heterotrophic respiration, root exclusion, trenching, hybrid poplar, chronosequence

Weed cover in hybrid poplar ( Populus) plantations on Quebec forest soils under different lime treatments

Fast-growing trees such as hybrid poplars ( Populus) have the potential to decrease rotation length (time to harvest) and thus produce wood products more quickly from smaller areas of land. Several forest companies in Quebec currently plant hybrid poplar on formerly logged forest sites, rather than on agricultural land as is more common elsewhere. The forest sites often have acidic soils, and lime addition has been proposed to improve hybrid poplar growth. In addition, forest sites present challenges with regard to control of competitive vegetation, particularly in jurisdictions such as Quebec where use of herbicides in forests is banned or restricted. Our study investigated the impacts of lime treatments (0, 2000 or 4000 kg ha −1) on non-crop vegetation on forest sites planted to hybrid poplar. Soil and plant data were obtained from 270 experimental plots in southern Quebec, divided between two study sites. Soil pH before treatment ranged from 3.9 to 5.7, with means of 4.7 and 5.0, respectively, at the two sites. Weed data were obtained 2 years after treatment from 20 microsites per plot (5400 in total). Parameters included total cover by all weeds combined and cover by particular subcategories. Hybrid poplar growth and nutrition were also measured. Lime increased soil pH, soil exchangeable calcium and hybrid poplar growth. Total weed cover did not differ significantly by lime treatment, nor did cover by major subgroups such as grasses and grasslike plants, forbs or woody species. Soil pH (both pre- and post-treatment) was positively correlated with post-treatment weed height, grass cover, forb cover and hybrid poplar growth. It was negatively correlated with cover by woody non-crop plants. The relationships between pH and particular weed groups suggest that more intensive liming, and/or greater time since lime application, could favour certain vegetation types over others (e.g., grasses and grasslike species over woody non-crop plants), although no large-scale shifts were detectable within the scope of our study.

Temporal changes in soil carbon and nitrogen storage in a hybrid poplar chronosequence in northern Alberta

Sequestering C in biomass and soils in hybrid poplar plantations can help mitigate global climate change caused by the rising atmospheric CO 2 concentration. However, the impact of the establishment of hybrid poplar plantations on C and N storage and dynamics is poorly understood. We studied the distribution and temporal changes of C and N in soil organic matter (SOM) density fractions in 2-, 5-, 11-, and 13-year-old (age as in 2006) hybrid poplar stands that form a chronosequence by sampling the plantations in both 2004 and 2006. Sodium polytungstate (SPT, density = 1.6 g mL - 1 ) was used to fractionate the soil into light (LF, density < 1.6 g mL - 1 ), occluded light (LFo, density < 1.6 g mL - 1 ) and heavy fractions (HF density > 1.6 g mL - 1 ). The results showed that C and N concentrations (g kg - 1 of fraction) in the SOM density fractions decreased in the order of LFo > LF > HF, while the C/N ratio was in the order of LF > LFo > HF. The amount of C and N stored in the LF, LFo and HF fractions and bulk soil in the top 10 cm of soil was: 149-504, 70-336, 1380-2876 and 1617-3776 g m - 2 , respectively, for C, and 6-26, 3-20, 149-271 and 152-299 g m - 2 , respectively, for N. From 2004 to 2006, C and N storage decreased in the LF and LFo fractions but increased in the HF fraction in the youngest stand. However, stand-age effects were likely muted by high inherent soil variability among the stands. Carbon storage in the light fraction was responsive in the short term to hybrid poplar plantation establishment.

Effects of N, NP, and NPKS fertilizers applied to four-year old hybrid poplar plantations

Mineral fertilizers were applied to adjacent plantations of 2, 4-year old, hybrid poplars: clone 27 (Northwest, P. deltoides × P. balsamifera) and 794 (Brooks, P. deltoides × P. × petrowskyana), in north eastern Alberta. Fertilization was done in May 2003 to see whether growth rates could be increased and rotations shortened. Three fertilizers (N, NP and NPKS + Cu + Zn) were applied at each of three rates (supplying N at 0, 100 and 200 kg ha−1) in a factorial randomized block design to the two separate plantations. Fertilization with 200 kg ha−1 N and 100 kg ha−1 P increased volume growth of clone 27 by 1 m3 ha−1 year−1 over 2 years. Clone 794 showed no volume response to fertilization, but produced 8.7 m3 ha−1 more than clone 27. Leaf area, dry mass and nutrient concentrations of both clones increased in the first year after fertilization, showing that fertilizer uptake occurred. Decrease in leaf size between 2003 and 2004 was affected by fertilizer level in clone 794. There were differences between some nutrient concentrations in the soils occupied by the two clones, and clone 794 had higher leaf concentrations of N, K, Ca, S, Mn, Zn, B and Mo than clone 27. Fertilization of 4-year old plantations of either clone was unwarranted, and planting clone 794 would be likely to provide greater yield than planting and fertilizing clone 27.

Evaluating the interaction between genotype and water stress in the hybrid poplar – Septoria musiva pathosystemThis note is one of a selection of papers published in the Special Issue on Poplar Research in Canada.

Septoria musiva , the causal agent of Septoria canker, has caused widespread damage to plantations of hybrid poplar across North America. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the size of interactions between the genotype factors of (i) clone, (ii) isolate, and (iii) the clone–isolate interaction and the environmental factor of water stress. Four clones of hybrid poplar were inoculated with four isolates of S. musiva and subsequently exposed to two levels of water stress (stressed and unstressed). Tree height, root collar diameter (RCD), and disease severity were measured 56 d after inoculation. Water stress reduced height and RCD growth by approximately 30% but did not affect disease severity (P = 0.258). Of the explained variability, 97.5% was attributable to genotype effects (89% from clone, 0% from isolate, and 8.5% from clone–isolate interaction). The remaining 2.5% of the variation was accounted for by the genotype – water stress interaction. These results suggest that clonal effects will be more important determinants of disease severity under greenhouse conditions than genotype – water stress interactions.