Performance of poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr.) clones after eleven years of plantation in calcareous alluvial soil of Bihar

Abstract

Poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr.) has recently emerged as a popular short-rotation tree for agroforestry in the northern and eastern India. The growth of poplar depends upon various factors such as clone, quality of planting stock, spacing of trees, site quality, climate and management practices. A study was conducted under 11 years old poplar plantation at Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), Bihar, to assess the performance of different poplar clones (PP - 5, Uday, L - 52, L - 49, G - 48 and L - 188) based on their timber volume, biomass yield and soil properties. The study revealed that among different poplar clones, L - 52 showed significantly higher plant height (15.2 m), diameter at breast height (23.98 cm), timber volume (187.0 m3 ha-1) and timber biomass (87.9 Mg ha-1). A considerable build-up of macronutrients (N, P O , 2 5 K O and S) and micro-nutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and B) was also observed in surface 2 soils under L - 52 plantation. Hence, L - 52 emerged as the best among the tested clones for growing and promotion under calciorthent soils of Bihar.