Investigating addition of organic matter at planting in the nursery to assess further growth responses of two poplars

Efficient management practices in the nursery could have positive effects on plantation yield. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of organic matter treatments in the nursery on further growth responses of poplar cuttings. Uniform-in-size cuttings of two fast-growing poplar species (Populus nigra L. and Populus alba L.) were rooted in three different organic matter over a one-year growing season. Then, the rooted cuttings transplanted into big pots which were filled with loam soil and irrigated for another growing season. At the end of second growing season, stem diameter, stem height, root diameter, root length, TTLA and volume of woody biomass were measured. The results showed that, associated with the applied organic matters, significant productivity increases in biomass parameters of above- and below-ground tissues were observed (p< 0.01). In all organic matter treatments, the greatest amounts of biomass parameters were belong to P. nigra L. Substrate C showed maximum productivity in biomass parameters among other amended substrates. Addition of organic matters during the establishment years in the nursery can be considered as a great potential for enhancing establishment and biomass production of short rotation poplar plantations and finally fulfillment the purpose of reducing the pressure on natural forests.

Keywords:

Poplar , Cocopeat , Peatmoss , Leaf litter , Substrate