Hi Arun
Here is a detailed cultivation practice for poplar
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 08 - 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
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
Regards
Ashwini S
