A Global Analysis of Temperature Effects on Populus Plantation Production Potential

Abstract

The genus Populus contains some of the most economically important tree species and hybrids in the world. We compared productivity of short and long-rotation poplar plantations using published data from 23 countries to determine if climate, particularly temperature, had any effect on the observed patterns of productivity. We discovered that climate factors (related to temperature) and clone origin (pure species or hybrids) slightly influenced productivity of long rotation forests more than short rotation plantations. While long rotation plantation productivity exhibited positive correlations with increasing temperature during winter and decreasing heat during summer, short rotation plantations showed weak positive relationship among productivity and increasing yearly temperature and the number of hot days. It was apparent that short rotation plantations productivity was less dependent on regional climatic variables or origin of clone. However, it appears that overall, regardless of the system, Populus species are generally adapted to a range of climatic conditions where they are planted.