Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

GROWTH POTENTIAL OF POPLAR CLONES UNDER SHORT ROTATION INTENSIVE CULTURE

Rajesh Chauhan, D.K. Khurana* and K.Venkaiah

Abstract

Growth potential of twenty different clones of Populus deltoides were studied underintensive culture at Bajaura (Ku11u) during 1999. These clones were randomized irrespective of their source and origin, prior to planting, where plant to plant and row to row spacing was kept at 1m. The growth rate of all the studied clones showed almost a sigmoid curve for total growth. The current annual increment in diameter decreased from first to third year and then increased to fifth year, followed by continuous decrease in growth rate till the ninth year for almost all the clones, which was mainly attributable to severe climatic conditions. The growth ring width of different clones ranged from 6.087 mm to 12.210mm. Significant differences were observed among these clones for height, dbh and volume production.The clone 'D-I21' showed highest height and volume of 21.03 m and 15.69m3, respectively in 9 years, whereas, clone `C-181' showed highest dbh of 18.95 mm. In general, the clone 'D 12 I' performed better in Kullu valley as it had the maximum height and volume followed by clone `C-181' which shows maximum dbh. Clones like '9-48"1C' and `G-48' also performed well.Thus clones like 'D-121','C- I 81','9-48','IC' and `G-48' were recommended for large scale plantation in the Kullu valley.