Growth characteristics of 5 black poplar (Populus nigra) clones with Turkish origin in Karadj area

Abstract

In this study, wood yield of five poplar clones with Turkish origin were investigated in Karadj. Seventy five young trees (one year old seedling) from each clone were planted in a randomized complete block design on March 1996 in Alborz Research Center at Karadj. Diameter at breast height and height of trees were measured at the end of each growing season. Total volume, volume increment and annual current volume were calculated for each clone. Among the studied clones, Populus nigra 62.154 had the highest diameter and height with 20.5 cm and 14.67 m, respectively. The clone P.nigra 62.154 with 26.85 m³/ha/y showed the maximum annual volume increment, while Populus nigra 62.127 showed the lowest annual volume increment with 18.71 m3/ha/y. There was no significant difference among studied clones in term of volume increment. The results indicated that the maximum yield growth was obtained in the period of 2003 to 2006, in which 68.22 to 75.51 percent of total growth has been occurred.

Keywords

• black poplar
• wood production
• growth
• Karadj