POPLAR PLANTATION INFORMATION

Poplar in their natural range occur interspersed throughout the Northern agricultural productive land with in short duration of 5 to 8yrs. In world 24 important countries with 35 species undertaking Poplar plantations. In India Poplar is widely planted above 28 degree N latitude in Haryana, Punjab, H.P., U.P., J&K, North Bengal, Uttrakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. We get positive reports after trials in South and Central India. About 1.0 lacs hectare area has so far being covered now under Poplar Plantation in the state of Haryana, Punjab, U.P. and Uttranchal

CLIMATE

In India poplars grow in areas having mean minimum and maximum temperature of 6 degree C to 45 degree C, respectively and springs must be free from late frost.

SOIL

Poplar generally perform best on fertile loamy soil rich in Organic matter. Clayey loam, sandy loam, well drainage soil between 5.8 to 8.5 p.H. are suitable but not beyond 9.0 p.H. for the Poplar plantation. Heavy saline and alkaline soil should be avoided.

PROMISING CLONES

G-48, Udai, W-22, W-32, W-39, A-26, S-7 C-15, S-7 C-8, are suitable clones for agro forestry. S-7 C-15 and S-7 C-8 are best suited clones for clayey loam soils.

PLANTING PERIOD

Time                                    Height of Plants
25th Dec to 15th Jan               > 5 mtrs
15th Jan to 15th Feb               4 to 5 mtrs
15th Feb to 10th Mar              3 to 4 mtrs

Otherwise mortality can occur more than 10%

HANDLING OF ETP's

Sapling immediately after transfer from nursery are placed in storage pits filled with fresh water for 48hrs to 96hrs. Therefore, proper storage under fresh water must be ensured. Prevention of lost of moisture or dehydration of the ETP's from nursery uprooting till same are planted in the field, is of up most importance for success poplars. If the plant suffer dehydration and damage of phloem and cambium layers, the damage will be irreversible. Therefore, prevent dehydration and drying of ETP's as a top priority measure. Unless the epical tip of any ETP is damaged, no trimming of the growing tip should be carried out.

PLANTS TREATMENT

Two full sized drums should be arranged for pre-treatment of ETP's just before planting. All thick long and damaged roots are to be pruned upto length of 7cm of the main stem. Prior to planting the sapling a length upto 1m from roots are soaked in chloropyriphos (250ml in 100ltr. water) for 10 minutes as a protection against termite/pest attack. Thereafter the saplings are placed in Emisan -6 (200gm in 100ltr. water) for 20 minutes to prevent fungal infection. No root trimming should be done after plant is treated. All the trimmings must be done before treatment of plants.

TRANSPLANTING INTO PITS

Pits of one mtr. deep are made with augers having diameter of 15cm. The seedlings are planted straight in the hole and mixture of top soil., 2kg FYM, 50gms SSP, 25gm MOP is filled and packed with hands. The upper 10cm, pits should be kept unfilled to give maximum advantage of irrigation water to plant for their better survival. But no compaction should be done at this stage.

IRRIGATION SCHEDULE

Apply first flood irrigation just after planting the saplings into pits. After first irrigation, the level of soil in the pits will go down lowing the upper part of the pits unfilled. It should allowed to remain like that. Just before third irrigation it should be filled in completely with the soil and proper compaction should be arranged with the help of thick wooden scale. Make sure that plants position vertically and there is no space between the soil and the plants it should remain without any damage.

Year                          Summer                                   Winter
                                  (Mar-Sep)                                   (Oct-Feb)

I st                      Weekly                            Fortnightly
IInd                     Weekly                            Fortnightly
IIIrd                     Fortnightly                       Monthly 
IVth                     Fortnightly                       Monthly
Vth                      Fortnightly                       Monthly
VIth                     Fortnightly                       Monthly

Excluding the period during which there maybe reasonably good rains (July - Sept). Such weekly irrigation during the first year must continue till the onset of monsoons.

INTER CROPPING

Cultivation of sugar cane be preferred along with the poplar during the first 2 years. All the crops can be growth except paddy. After two years ginger and turmeric can be cultivated in the shade of poplar trees. Poplar growing orchids has gained popularity in recent years.

SPACING FOR PLANTATION

In Agro forestry each tree needs about 20-25 m2 space for its optimum growth. Best spacing for plants are:-

Spacing                                 Mode Of Planting                 Plantation[ Per Hectare] 
5m X 5m                              With Inter Cropping                       455
5m X 4m                                      - do -                                    560
6m X 2m                                      - do -                                    990
7m X 2m                                      - do -                                    907
8m X 2m                                      - do -                                    825
4m X 3m                              For pure block plantation                1045
5 X 2 m                                Pure plantation                              1190

Planting on farm boundaries 2m space in plants and on water channels 2m X 2m in triangular system should be done.

PRUNING AND LEADER TRAINING

Some of the plants may not sprout at all and this can be ascertained by inspecting the buds of the plants. If the buds don't the signs of swelling/opening, the plant should be cut back in early may at the ground level. During the first year of growth, debudding operation should be carried out in the lowest 1/3 part of the stem in May and June without any damage of bark and stem. Removal of co-leader should also be carried out simultaneously and be repeated after completion of 2 year growth. At the age of 2-3 years the lower 1/3 portion and in 4-5 years the lower 1/2 portion of the tree should be pruned. Excessive pruning is injurious as it encourages development of vigorous epicormic branches and retard diameter growth. After first year, pruning and leader training operations should be carried out only during winter. It should not be in summer or rainy season. Bordeaux paste must be applied immediately after carrying out pruning/leader training operation.

FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT

Years                              Month                            Urea + SSP/Plant             O.M or F.Y.M / Plant
I                                     June, July, August                    50 gms.                                   8 Kg
I1                                   June, July, August                    80 gms.                                   10 Kg
III                                   June, July, August                   150 gms.                                  15 Kg
IV Onwards                     June, July, August                   200 gms.                                  15 kg

When Poplar are combined with agricultural crops fertilizers are not applied separately for trees and doses of Urea +SSP be half when applied O.M or F.Y.M

MONITORING OF GROWTH RATES

The girth should be measured at 1.37m height above ground level. The desirable minimum acceptable girth at the end of each year growth should be as under:-

Age in Years                     Desired Target (In Inches)
Ist Year                                8 - 12
IInd Year                              12 - 16
IIIrd Year                             16 - 22
IVth Year                             22 - 28
Vth Year                              28 - 32
VIth Year                             32 - 36
VIIth Year                            36 - 42
VIIIth Year                           42 - 48

ECONOMY AT HARVESTING

Data's shown on average basis of Yamuna Nagar timber market per plant in 2011.

Purchasing    Girth (In inches)              Weight (In Qtls.)  Market (Price/Qtls.)          Value (In Rs)      
Oversize               > 24                                2.00                900 - 1100                      1800 - 2000
Undersize               18-24                              1.25               750 - 850                          925 - 1050
Undersokta             12-18                          .8-1.00               650 - 700                          520 - 700
Danda                     8-12                              .50                 500 - 600                          250 - 300
Roots & Branches    -----                                .80                 225 - 250                          180 - 200
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total                                                           5.55                                                        3675-4250
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On the basis of analysis Poplar tree more than 34 to 36 inches girth at the height (1.6m) 5' from ground level and approx. 80 feet in height fetches Rs. 3500 to Rs. 4000 per tree. Total income of Rs. 5.0 to 6.0 Lacs approx. can be obtained from one acre.                                                                        

USES

Poplars are considered suitable for plywood, ply board, packaging cases, pulp for paper, wood, sports goods, match splints, artificial limbs, structural uses, leaves as fodder, fuel wood. Some clones are differently used as tonic, stimulant and blood purifier, against cold, cleaning teeth, also reported to be effective in the cure of hemorrhoids.

MAJOR INSECTS

1. Termites :- Gain entry from the injured part of the roots/stem near the ground and seriously damaged the xylem, often resulting in the death of the plants. Treated with chloropyriphos 2.5 ltr. per acre or 4 to 5ml per plants twice in a year with frequent irrigation should be arranged.

2. Stem Borer :- Spread Phorate - 10G with 8kg per acre upto second year of plantation or inject kerosene oil in stem 2 to 5 ml per hole.

3. Pygeria :- Spray Carbyl 50%w.P 250 - 300gm with 2 ppm ratio or 400 - 500ml Monocrotophos 36SL per acre.

4. Bark Insects :- Bordeaux paste upto 4 feet from ground level in month of march.

5. Leaf Defoliators :- Spray Monocrotophos 500 - 600ml, Chloropyriphos + cypermethrin 750ml, Lara or Hiltron 1.5% V.V. per acre. Attack noticed in month of July.

6. Mites :- Spray with 2ml Roger 30 E.C or Matasystox per ltr of water and to be repeated after interval of 15 days.

DISEASES

1. Color Rot :- Color Rot cause death of plants through roots. Treat roots with Emisan -6, 4 to 5gm per plant in deep root zone area.

2. Blights :- It effects the leaves during the month of August and September control with 0.2% Bavastin or 0.1% Balaton sprayed twice in a month.

3. Wilt :- It seems first time in Poplar plantation during May & June. Spray with 500 gm per acre sulphar-80% W.P with frequent irrigation in these months.

DEFICIENCIES

1. Zink Deficiency :- Its quite common in many areas and its shown yellowing of intervenal space of the leaves. Zink Sulphate - 21% applied with 10kg per acre.