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U.S. Department of Energy
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Increasing the productivity of biomass plantations of Populus species and hybrids in the Pacific Northwest. Final report, September 14, 1981--December 31, 1996

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/513559· OSTI ID:513559
; ;  [1]
  1. USDA Forest Service, Olympia, WA (United States); and others
This final report represents the culmination of eight years of biological research devoted to increasing the productivity of short rotation plantations of Populus trichocarpa and Populus hybrids in the Pacific Northwest. Studies described herein provide an understanding of tree growth, stand development and biomass yield at various spacings, and how patterns thereof differ by Populus clone in monoclonal and polyclonal plantings. Also included is some information about factors related to wind damage in Populus plantings, use of leaf size as a predictor of growth potential, and approaches for estimating tree and stand biomass and biomass growth. The work was accomplished in three research plantations, all established cooperatively with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and located at the DNR Tree Improvement Center near Olympia. The first plantation was established in Spring 1986 to evaluate the highly touted {open_quotes}woodgrass{close_quotes} concept and compare it with more conventional short-rotation management regimes, using two Populus hybrid clones planted at five spacings. Besides providing scientific data to resolve the politicized {open_quotes}wood-grass{close_quotes} dispute, this plantation has furnished excellent data on stand dynamics and woody biomass yield. A second plantation was established at the same time; groups of trees therein received two levels of irrigation and different amounts of four fertilizer amendments, resulting in microsites with diverse moisture and nutrient conditions.
Research Organization:
Forest Service, Portland, OR (United States). Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AI05-81OR20914
OSTI ID:
513559
Report Number(s):
DOE/OR/20914--T1; ON: DE97008089
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English