Export of Nutrients in Plant Biomass Following Harvest of Eucalypt Plantations in Kerala,India

Abstract

Pools of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) were examined in the soil and above-ground plant biomass at the end of a 7 year rotation at two E. tereticornis lowland sites and two E. grandis highland sites in Kerala, India. Potential export rates of these nutrients were also examined for different biomass removal scenarios from the plantations. Pools of nutrients were measured in the above-ground components of the tree crop, forest floor and understorey, and in soil down to 1 m depth. At harvest, large quantities of biomass and nutrients are removed from eucalypt plantation sites, with the quantities of nutrients exported unlikely to be replaced through natural atmospheric and weathering inputs. Between 24 Mg ha^-1 and 115 Mg ha^-1 of biomass was exported in stem wood across the sites, and this increased to 40-145 Mg ha^-1 in scenarios where all of the branches, bark and understorey were also exported. Stem wood had the lowest concentration of nutrients and had a relatively low export of nutrient per kg of biomass. On average, 54 kg, 12 kg and 65 kg of N, P and K were removed per hectare in stem wood only, equivalent to 0.46%, 0.17%, and 6.7%, respectively, of above- and below-ground (to 1 m depth) site pools. Export increased to 194 kg, 30 kg, and 220 kg of N, P and K per hectare if the branches, bark and understorey were also removed (equivalent to 1.6%, 0.5% and 24.7% of above- and below-ground site pools down to 1 m depth). Export of Ca and Mg was also high, with an average of 88 kg and 11 kg of Ca and Mg removed per hectare if only the stem wood was taken (3.12% and 1.34% of total above-ground and exchangeable below-ground to 1 m depth), increasing to 501 kg ha^-1 and 66 kg ha^-1 if the branches, bark and understorey were also removed (21.7% and 11.3% of total above-ground and available below-ground to 1 m depth). Removals of this magnitude represent a significant proportion of site nutrient pools and have the potential to reduce future plantation productivity unless steps are taken to promote retention of biomass and nutrients on site and/or replacement of nutrients through fertilizer application.     

Nutrient cycling and distribution in different-aged plantations of Chinese fir in southern China

The distribution in tree biomass and understorey vegetation and annual biological and geochemical cycling of total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) were measured in young, middle-aged and mature plantations (8-, 14- and 24-years old) of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) in southern China. Although >98% of nutrients occurred in the soil, soil nutrient content decreased with plantation age. Nutrient outputs from the soil exceeded inputs in stands of all ages but the net soil nutrient loss increased significantly for N, P and Ca with plantation age. Comparison of nutrient fluxes showed that the smallest (and hence limiting for nutrient cycling) fluxes were litter decomposition in the young plantation in contrast to canopy fluxes (apart from for Mg) in the middle-aged and mature plantations. Nutrient use efficiency, release of nutrients from litter decomposition and nutrient return, particularly in litterfall, increased significantly with plantation age. These results suggest that, as stand age increases, nutrient cycling in Chinese fir plantations is increasingly dominated by biological processes and becomes less dependent on external nutrient sources in rainfall and the soil. It therefore appears that prolonging the rotation length of Chinese fir plantations by approximately 5 years could be beneficial for maintaining the soil nutrient status for successive plantings.     

桂西南两种桉树人工幼林生物量、营养元素积累量及其分布特征

对广西宁明县相似立地条件下1年生尾巨桉(DH32-29)和雷林1号桉幼林的生物量和5种营养元素(N、P、K、Ca 和 Mg)积累量及其分配特征进行了研究。结果表明：1年生尾巨桉和雷林1号人工幼林林分生物量分别为13.70和12.06 t·hm–2,不同器官生物量均以树干最大,树叶或树根最小。两种桉树不同器官中营养元素含量均以树叶最高,其次是树皮、树枝和树根,树干最低,林木不同器官中营养元素含量均以 N 最高,其次是 K 和 Ca,Mg 和 P最低。1年生尾巨桉幼林营养元素积累量为124.84 kg·hm–2,略低于雷林1号桉幼林(132.76 kg·hm–2),5种营养元素积累量在尾巨桉人工林的分配为树叶＞树枝＞干皮＞干材＞树根,在雷林1号桉的分配为树枝＞树叶＞干材＞干皮＞树根。尾巨桉幼林营养元素利用效率略高于雷林1号桉幼林。     

Effects of an exotic conifer (Pinus radiata) plantation on forest nutrient cycling in southeastern Australia

The distribution and movement of N, P, K, Na, Mg, and Ca were studied in southeastern Australia in a 37—year-old Pinus radiata plantation and in a nearby Eucalyptus obliqua — Eucalyptus dives forest of the same age and of the same type as that which had been replaced by the P. radiata plantation. The soil beneath the P. radiata plantation contained significantly less total N and exchangeable K, Mg, and Ca than that beneath the eucalypt forest. No large accumulation of nutrients was found in either the litter or the trees in the P. radiata plantation relative to that in the eucalypt forest. However, there was a slightly greater accumulation of N and K in the P. radiata biomass than in the eucalypt biomass. The annual soil nutrient balance obtained by subtracting outputs (mineral soil leachate + biomass incorporation) from inputs (precipitation + mineral weathering) indicated a more favourable balance for each nutrient in the soil beneath the eucalypts than in the soil beneath the pines. Calculations suggested that these balances could only partially account for the differences in soil nutrient quantities between eucalypt and pine ecosystems. It was hypothesized that these differences are also partially explainable in terms of the nutrient losses accompanying two fires which had occurred in the pine plantation area. Nitrogen balances in this study were incomplete because several potentially important fluxes were not measured.     

Biomass and nutrient allocation to aboveground components in fertilized <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus saligna</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. urograndis</Emphasis> plantations

The objective of this study was to evaluate biomass allocation and nutrient pools in aboveground biomass components in 18-month-old plantations of Eucalyptus saligna and E. urophylla × E. grandis (i.e. E. urograndis) in Brazil. The plantations were established by pulp companies in a large area comprising three soil types (Acrisols, Vertisols and Leptosols) in the grassland biome in southern Brazil, and an operational regime of planting and maintenance fertilization was used to ensure full availability of nutrients. Vertisols showed the highest availability of soil nutrients, and the P and Ca concentrations in aboveground biomass were also highest in this type of soil. The nutritional status of both species indicates great consumption of nutrients, particularly of P, K and Ca. At this early age, canopy biomass components still made the largest relative contribution, although debarked stem biomass already accounted for 41.5% and 37.4 of total aboveground biomass in E. saligna, and E. urograndis, respectively. Nutrient concentrations in biomass components were similar across species. For all macronutrients, except Ca and Mg, the concentration gradient followed the order wood < bark < branches < leaves. For all micronutrients, except Cu, the concentration gradient followed the order wood < branches ≈ bark < leaves. At the plantation stage studied, i.e. before canopy closure, the importance of the components as nutrient pools followed the order leaves > branches > wood > bark. The branches hold the majority of Ca reserves in biomass and are a very important pool of Mg, K, P and B. The bark makes a small contribution to total biomass, but stores a similar amount of Ca as leaves, being the second major pool after the branches. Comparison of the nutrients supplied by fertilization and the amounts stored in soil and aboveground indicates that the operational dose should be adjusted to each type of soil after further experimental fertilizer trials, as the supply of N and P appears to be too high, particularly for Vertisols. This is leading to the immobilization of P in biomass components that are not of importance in the biological or biochemical nutrient cycles, thus increasing the risk of larger exports of P during biomass removal.     

巴西半干旱地区自然条件和菌根菌接种条件下赤桉和大桉地上生物量营养成分分析(英文)

对巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州北部半干旱地区(15°09’S43°49’W)的赤桉(Eucalyptus camaldulensis)和大桉(Eucalyptus grandis)人工林的地上生物量、营养成分含量和菌根菌定植百分率进行了调查和分析。结果表明,赤按和大桉人工林的总地上生物量分别为33.6Mg·hm-2和153.1Mg·hm-2。赤桉树干、叶子、枝条和树皮的生物量分别占总生物量的64.4%,19.6%,15.4%,0.6%,大桉地上生物量的分配与赤按基本相同。赤桉叶子和枝条的干物质占其总生物量的35%,叶子和枝条中的N,P,K,Ca,Mg,and S的含量分别占总生物量这些营养元素的15.5%,0.7%,12.3%,22.6%,19%,1.4%。树干(包括树皮)中的营养成分累积相对比较低。与赤桉相比,大桉的营养含量变化较小。这2个树种的树干上部含有高浓度的磷,树皮也含有大量的营养物质,尤其是大桉;说明在半干旱地区,立地上脱落的植物性废物对降低树木生产力损失有重要意义。赤桉和大桉都有菌根营养。     

Nutrient store and export rates of Eucalyptus urograndis plantations in eastern Amazonia (Jari)

Nutrient loss due to export of wood and bark of 4.5-year-old Eucalyptus urograndis was studied in the Jari project, eastern Amazonia, Brazil. Results are based on estimates of biomass, above-ground nutrient store, and nutrient stores in the soil. Thirteen stands varying in site conditions and the number of previous rotations (up to three), were studied. Average nutrient losses due to export of wood and bark, as a percentage of the element store in the above-ground tree biomass, were: N, 65%, P, 54%; Ca, 76%; K, 57%; Mg, 61%. A comparison of export losses with the present soil stores of Ca, K and Mg cations shows that export is equal to or surpasses the remaining soil store to a depth of 100 cm. As a result of the last narvest, about 200–250 kg Ca and about 100 kg K ha⁻¹ were removed. In spite of uncertainties about other unknown inputs and outputs, one has to conclude that the next rotation may be endangered by acute deficiency of mineral nutrients, especially of Ca.     

Nutrient exports under different harvesting regimes in fast-growing forest plantations in southern Europe

In the humid and temperate areas of southern Europe, forest plantations are dominated by fast-growing species (Eucalyptus globulus, Pinus radiata and Pinus pinaster), which are grown on acidic soils with low reserves of available nutrients. In this study the amounts of nutrients exported from the plantations under different regimes and intensities of harvesting were evaluated and, on the basis of the results obtained, silvicultural management methods aimed at improving the nutritional status of the plantations were proposed. We found high ratios between nutrients exported by harvesting and those available in soil stores, indicating limitation for P, Ca and Mg over the long term, which is consistent with frequently found deficiencies of these nutrients. Current harvesting practices (removal of stem wood and bark) result in high rates of export of P, K, Ca and Mg, especially in eucalypt plantations, because of the high productivity and low nutrient efficiency of this species. Comparison of the amounts of nutrients exported by harvesting, with natural inputs (rainfall and weathering) and outputs (stream water), suggests that intensive exploitation of these plantations may result in negative budgets, especially if whole tree harvesting is carried out. The application of fertilizers containing P, Ca and Mg should be encouraged in all cases to favour the return of nutrients, especially where logging residues are extracted. The cost of harvesting in terms of nutrients can also be reduced by careful selection of the tree species planted and of the tree fractions harvested and by reducing the intensity of harvesting.     

Hybrid and clonal variability of nutrient content and nutrient use efficiency in Eucalyptus stands in Congo

For 20 years, there has been 42,000 ha estate of clonal Eucalyptus plantations around Pointe-Noire in Congo on sandy soils that have very low reserves of available nutrients. These plantations have been based on a natural hybrid (E. PF1). This hybrid is being replaced by E. urophylla × E. grandis (UG), a more productive hybrid developed by the breeding program of UR2PI. A study of biogeochemical cycles showed that nutrient removal by harvesting is the main nutrient output in the E. PF1 ecosystem. It is therefore important to quantify the nutrient content (NC) in both hybrids to compare corresponding nutrient removal values.

The work dealt with four UG clones and the most planted clone of E. PF1. Twelve trees per clone were sampled at the logging age (8 years) in a clonal test for UG clones and in a nearby stand for E. PF1. Tables were established to predict, from girth at breast height (C_1.30 m), the biomass and nutrient content of stemwood, bark, dead and living branches, leaves, and were applied to the inventory of the different stands to evaluate corresponding biomass, NC and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) on a per-hectare basis.

Total biomass differed between the two hybrids and among UG clones: 109 t ha⁻¹ for E. PF1 and 108–155 t ha⁻¹ for UG clones. In E. PF1 trees, total NC was globally lower for N, K, and Mg, but greater for P and Ca. In stemwood, nitrogen content was similar for both hybrids. By contrast, in UG clones, NC was much lower for P (−72%) and Ca (−40% to −55%). The same trends were observed for NUE: equivalent for both hybrids for N, but higher in UG clones for P (+72%) and Ca (+43% to +59%). A marked variability among clones was observed for K and Mg. UG clones allocated proportionally more nutrients in leaves than E. PF1.

These results show that clones should not be selected only on growth traits but also on NUE and on the concentration of nutrients in tree components removed by harvesting. It will be then possible to limit the cost of fertilising needed to maintain stand growth and soil fertility.     

巨桉幼树器官组织中养分元素的分布与积累特点

通过对造林1 a~3 a巨桉幼树的器官生物量调查、器官组织中大量元素N、P、K、Ca、Mg和微量元素Fe、Zn的含量测定及其积累量的分析结果表明:大量元素总含量在各器官中的分布为干韧皮部、叶枝、根干木质部,微量元素主要富集于叶和根器官中;单株木器官中大量元素的累积量排序为叶枝干韧皮部根或干木质部干木质部或根,各养分元素积累量的规律不受林龄的影响,大量营养元素依次为CaNKMgP;微量元素累积量FeZn;林龄1 a~3 a巨桉平均单株木大量元素累积总量分别是12.45 g·株-1、136.19 g·株-1和420.23g·株-1;各养分元素的年净积累量以Ca为最大,N、K养分元素次之,Mg元素较少,P元素最小。     

火炬松人工林养分体内转移与内循环研究

对江苏省下蜀林场火炬松人工林 (15年生 )地上部分养分体内转移和内循环特点进行了初步研究 ,结果表明 :(1)在体内养分转移中 ,叶的贡献最大 ,N、P、K和Mg元素的平均转移量均大于枝和干 ;地上部分养分N、P、K和Mg元素的转移率分别为 44 9% ,34 5 % ,2 0 8%和 30 7%。 (2 )地上部分养分归还量N、P、K、Ca和Mg元素分别 5 5 787,6 13,2 6 70 ,70 79和 2 0 30kg·hm- 2 ·a- 1 分别占需要量的 36 6 7% ,44 6 5 % 5 5 3% ,78 0 2 %和 42 84% ;地上实际消耗土壤中的养分量N、P、K、Ca和Mg分别为 2 2 48,2 13,4 6 4,2 6 98和 7 41kg·hm- 2 ·a- 1 ,分别占吸收量的 2 3 99% ,2 2 76 % ,11 84% ,2 4 32 %和 2 1 0 9%。 (3)与当地的杉木林和次生栎林相比 ,该火炬松人工林养分利用率高 ,并处于养分消耗阶段。     

Evaluation through a simulation model of nutrient exports in fast-growing southern European pine stands in relation to thinning intensity and harvesting operations

The effects on nutrient exports of a range of thinning regimes for maritime pine and radiata pine plantations in northern Spain were simulated in this study. Growth models, tree biomass equations and nutrient concentration in tree fractions were used simultaneously to calculate the amounts of N, P, K, Ca and Mg removed and left in the logging residues for five thinning intensities, five site indexes and four harvesting scenarios for each species, considering the whole rotation. A more intense thinning regime decreases the total amount of nutrients exported and increases the proportion of nutrients returned to the soil before the clearfell, being a more progressive system of extracting nutrients from the ecosystem. A substantial amount of nutrients are located in the crown fractions and the bark, making desirable the harvesting of debarked logs. The results allow the calculation of fertilization needs to avoid the depletion of soil nutrient capital in a variety of silvicultural situations.     

沙地柏对毛乌素沙地3种生境中养分资源的反应

为了揭示沙地柏对毛乌素沙地不同生境中养分资源的适应性反应 ,分析了固定沙地、流动沙地和滩地中土壤养分状况、生物量和养分在植株不同结构中的分配以及植株对不同养分的利用和重吸收效率。结果表明 :(1) 3种生境中的氮、磷、钾、钙和镁含量存在不同程度差异 ;(2 )生物量、氮和磷在叶片中分配比率随氮和磷含量的降低而增大 ,而在根中的分配恰好相反 ;(3)氮和磷重吸收效率、钾利用效率和重吸收效率、钙和镁利用效率随相应养分含量的降低而增大 ,氮和磷利用效率随氮和磷可利用性的降低而降低 ;(4)叶片和根系对养分内循环的贡献恰好相反 ;(5 )根分布对不同养分异质性的影响存在差异。     

海南木莲人工林生物量及养分分配

本文测定并分析了海南尖峰岭地区３０年生的热带乡土树种海南木莲人工林生物量及其估算模型，论述了生物量及其养分分配规律。指出：海南木莲各器官及整株生物量模型以幂函数模型Ｗ＝ａ（Ｄ２Ｈ）ｂ比较理想；全林分的总生物量为１４４．０６６ｔ／ｈｍ２，其中地上部分生物量８９．９３５ｔ／ｈｍ２。乔木层生物量占７８．８１％，林下植物层占２１．１９％；在乔木层中，树干、树叶、树枝、树皮和树根所占的比例分别是５４．１２７％、２．３５４％、７．７６２％、９．３７０％和２６．３８８％；乔木层中，各器官的养分含量，除Ｃａ外，都是叶比其它器官（枝、皮、干、根）的养分含量高许多，Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ、Ｃａ、Ｍｇ５个常量养分元素在海南木莲人工林生物体中的总贮量分别为５５７．７５４，２４．３３０，５９９．９０８，２７５．５５７，６４．１０３ｋｇ／ｈｍ２，各养分贮量在各器官中分布，除Ｐ外，从小到大为树叶、树枝、树皮、树干、树根     

Aboveground nutrient components of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and E. grandis in semiarid Brazil under the nature and the mycorrhizal inoculation conditions

A study was conducted to evaluate the aboveground biomass, nutrient content and the percentages of mycorrhizal colonization in Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus grandis plantations in the semiarid region (15° 09′ S 43° 49′ W) in the north of the State of Minas Gerais in Brazil. Results show that the total above-ground biomass (dry matter) was 33.6 Mg·ha⁻¹ for E. camaldulensis and 53.1 Mg·ha⁻¹ for E. grandis. The biomass of the stem wood, leaves, branches, and stem bark for E. camaldulensis accounted for 64.4%, 19.6%, 15.4%, and 0.6% of the total biomass, respectively (Table 2); meanwhile a similar partition of the total above-ground biomass was also found for E. grandis. The dry matter of leaves and branches of E. camaldulensis accounted for 35% of total biomass, and the contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S in leaves and branches accounted for 15.5%, 0.7%, 12.3%, 22.6%, 1.9%, and 1.4% of those in total above-ground biomass, respectively. In the trunk (bark and wood), nutrient accumulation in general was lower. Nutrient content of E. grandis presented little variation compared with that of E. camaldulensis. Wood localized in superior parts of trunk presented a higher concentration of P and bark contained significant amounts of nutrients, especially in E. grandis. This indicated that leaving vegetal waste is of importance on the site in reducing the loss of tree productivity in this semi-arid region. The two species showed mycotrophy.     

Estimates of nutrient removal,displacement and loss resulting from harvest and site preparation of a Pinus taeda plantation in the piedmont of north Carolina

Biomass and nutrient removal and redistribution were estimated for combinations of two levels of harvest utilization (stem-only vs. complete tree) and two methods of site preparation (chop/broadcast burn vs. shear-pile/disk) in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Stem-only harvest removed 57 kg ha⁻¹ N, 5 kg ha⁻¹ P, 35 kg ha⁻¹ K, 52 kg ha⁻¹ Ca and 14 kg ha⁻¹ Mg. Complete-tree harvest increased N, P, K, Ca and Mg removal over stem-only harvest by 216, 304, 152, 254 and 151%, respectively, although biomass removal was increased by only 65%. Estimated displacement of N and P into windrows during site preparation depended on harvest utilization, but generally exceeded harvest removals by at least 200%. Nutrient losses resulting from broadcast burning were small, primarily due to ineffectual burns. Removals, displacements and/or losses of nutrients during harvest and intensive site preparation were equal for both harvest utilization levels. These amounted to 714 kg ha⁻¹ of total N in biomass and soil, and 46, 154, 481 and 88 kg ha⁻¹ of P, K, Ca and Mg, respectively, in biomass and Mehlich III soil extractions.     

Biomass and nutrient accumulation in pure and mixed plantations of indigenous tree species grown on poor soils in the humid tropics of Costa Rica

Aboveground biomass and nutrients and soil chemical characteristics were examined in young plantations of four indigenous tree species: Hieronyma alchorneoides, Vochysia ferruginea, Pithecellobium elegans, and Genipa americana, growing in mixed and pure stands at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Total tree biomass production rates ranged from about 5.2 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for G. americana to 10.3 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for H. alchorneoides pure stands, and for the species mixture it was about 8.9 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Branches and foliage formed 25–35% of total tree biomass but they represented about 50% of total tree nutrients. H. alchorneoides, the four species mixture, and P. elegans had the greatest accumulations of total aboveground nutrients per hectare. The importance of the plantation floor as a nutrient compartment varied temporally. When forest floor litter biomass was at its peak, plantation floor litter N, Ca, and Mg were roughly equal to, or greater than stem nutrients for all species except for P. elegans. For P. elegans, the plantation floor consistently represented a very low proportion of total aboveground nutrients. G. americana and V. ferruginea trees showed 55–60% less biomass accumulation in mixed than in pure stands while H. alchorneoides and P. elegans trees grew 40–50% more rapidly in mixture. P. elegans foliage had 60% lower Ca but higher P concentrations in mixed than in pure stands, and G. americana had higher foliar Mg in mixed than in pure stands. V. ferruginea stands had the highest concentrations of soil Ca, Mg, and organic matter, particularly in the top layers. Relative to pure plantations, soil nutrient concentrations in mixed plantations were intermediate for N, P, and K, but lower for Ca and Mg. The results of this study can be used in the selection of tree species and harvest designs to favor productivity and nutrient conservation.     

大花序桉幼苗营养吸收及分配规律研究

对大花序桉幼苗生物量及营养元素进行测定,结果表明,大花序桉苗木平均单株生物量大小排序为茎>根>叶。幼苗主要营养含量和吸收积累规律为K>N>P>Fe>Mn>Zn>B>Ca>Cu>Mg。大量元素N、P、K贮量最高的部位均为茎,根部和叶中含量相近。大花序桉苗期叶片对主要营养元素N、P和K的吸收分配间存在相互促进的关系;Mg与Ca,Cu与P、K,Zn与N、K、Cu、Fe,Fe与N呈现互相促进关系;Mn与N、Fe、K、Cu,B与P、Cu为相互抑制关系。据此,大花序桉苗期以氮、磷、钾肥为主,其中要求养分K₂O>N>P₂O₅,并有针对性地添加铁肥、锌肥和铜肥。     

Allometry, biomass, and chemical content of Novel African Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulata) Forests in Puerto Rico

The African tulip tree, Spathodea campanulata, the most common tree in Puerto Rico, forms novel forest types with mixtures of native and other introduced tree species. Novel forests increase in area in response to human activity and there is no information about their biomass accumulation and nutrient cycling. We established allometric relationships and chemically analyzed plant parts of African tulip trees to determine the concentration and standing stock of chemical elements (C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Al, Fe, Na), and ash. Trees ranged in diameter at breast height from 8 to 85 cm and in height from 8.8 to 28 m. The concentrations of N, P, K, and Ca in leaves of the African tulip tree were similar to those of the native pioneer Cecropia schreberiana and higher than those of mature forest tree species in Puerto Rico. The over bark wood volume of African tulip trees in nine forest stands where it was dominant ranged from 163 to 849 m³/ha. Aboveground biomass ranged from 60 to 296 Mg/ha, and N and P stocks ranged from 190 to 988 and 32 to 137 kg/ha, respectively. Novel forests on abandoned agricultural lands can store more biomass and elements than native and plantation forest stands of similar age.     

Impact of spacing and rotation length on nutrient budgets of poplar plantations for pulpwood

IntroductionPoplarshavemanycharacteristicsSuitableforplantationcultureascomparedtootherforestspecies,suchasfastgroWth,adaptabifitytodifferentenvironmentalconditionsandtodifferentsilviculturalsystems,whichenabletheproductionoflargequantitiesofwoodinshortperiodsoftime.Poplarscanbeusedfordifferentformsofprocessingintimberindustry,aswellasinpulpandpaperindustryandasasourceofenergy(Gambles&Zsuffa1984,Moran&Nautryal1985,Fangetal1993).Sincesomepoplarcloneswereintroducedinthe1970"s,poplarshavebeent…