The Poplar Saplings Survival in Reclaimed Mineland Depending on Clone and Root Treatment

Abstract

SUMMARYThe genus Populus L. is one of the promising energy plants for growing on marginal lands. To assess its potential under steppe conditions, growth morphological parameters of 9 hybrid poplar clones grown over two years on a mix of loess-like loam and red-brown clay have been studied. In the first year, the degree of the sapling survival and the intensity of development were explored. At the end of the year, two clones which showed the best results (Ijzer-5 and Robusta), were selected for further breeding and rearing. Researches of the second year were devoted to the effect of biological agents on the survival and growth of these two clones. The treatments with vermicomposting extract (VCE), trichodermin, mycorrhiza and mixture of these agents were applied. The experiment with poplar clones Ijzer-5 showed a positive effect of all bioagents on the growth morphological parameters. The increase of the length and diameter of an annual shoots, leaf area and total assimilation surface from 10 to 38% was revealed. The treatment with vermicomposting extract gave the best result. For clones Robusta, only three agents out of four had a positive effect. The rise in morphological parameters was at the level of 9-55%. The best results were noted in the experiment with a mixture of agents. Treatment with trichodermin caused an inhibitory action on most of the growth characteristics of the clone Robusta.To obtain the wood thermal stability information a comparative thermogravimetric analysis of poplar wood samples grown on different soil types was carried out. A larger value of DTG at all stages was observed in a sample of poplar grown on sod podzolic soil. The difference in the value of the rate of mass loss is explained by the larger content of humus in sod podzolic soils, than in the phytomeliorated mix of rocks.

Assessing the Performance of Populus Caspica and Populus Alba Cuttings Under Different Irrigation Intervals

“…Since potential growth of poplar is highly dependent on the amount of applied irrigation (Shock et al 2002) and soil moisture (Kharytonov et al 2017) therefore the improvement of water use efficiency especially in arid areas with regard to limited water supply is a key objective to improve the sustainability of cultivated poplar (Rancourt et al 2015).…”

Nursery screening of poplar and willow clones for biofuel application in Ukraine

“…Therefore, marginal areas require searching for tree clones with high biomass productivity. However, field experiments for the clonal assessments of short-rotation plantations (SRP) have been performed only recently in Ukraine, being Salix species more common then poplars (Los 2013, Kharytonov et al 2017, Fuchylo et al 2018, Kutsokon et al 2018, Hrytsulyak 2019. Currently, the Ukrainian state registry for plant varieties (2022) contains 17 clones of willows, including 11 clones of Salix viminalis, 3 of S. fragilis, 2 S. triandra, and 1 S. alba, but no poplar clones are now included (SRPV 2022).…”

Proline content in the leaves of poplar and willow under water deficit

“…There is a great opportunity to realize economic and environmental benefits via creation of short-rotation plantations of these trees on land unsuitable for annual crop production. This will avoid public concern about the displacement of arable land from food to bioenergy production (Kharytonov et al, 2017;Kutsokon et al, 2020). In addition to its economic and environmental significance, the Populus genus is also a model for elucidating the physiological and molecular mechanisms of stress tolerance in tree species.…”