Growth of hybrid poplars in silviculture at the age of 6 years

Abstract

Growth and timber production of 28 poplar clones were evaluated. A set of clones was derived from 14 clones newly bred in Forestry and Game Management Research Institute in the Czech Republic, eight well-known cultivars of Populus x euroamericana planted in Europe and imported to the Czech Republic, two standard cultivars '1-214' and 'Robusta' (Populus x euroamericana). Four clones of Populus deltoides were added to the test set. Tree spacing was 4 × 4 m. Stem diameter, tree height and stem volume production were evaluated in 6-years-old trees. Based on the results, it was concluded that the yield of four clones was higher than that of standard cultivar 'I-214'. Standing volume of two P. deltoides clones and one new Czech P. x euroamericana clone varied in the range of 77-121 m3·ha-1.