SUN POPLAR FARMING PROJECT

Poplar is one of the fast growing industrial woods which can be grown as a mono crop as well as in association with agricultural crops. Its wood being light, homogenous and odourless is suitable for match splints, plywood, ply board, packing cases, sports goods, artificial limbs, furniture, pulp paper, wood wool, light constructional timber, pencils, furniture etc. Poplar being a deciduous species adds tremendous amount of leaf litter to the soil and is considered to be one of the best species for agroforestry. The species has performed well in India especially above latitude 28° North.

1. Climate and Soil Requirements:

Poplar grows well in the subtropical climate where the temperature extremes are not too severe and springs are free from late frost. It requires loam to sandy loam, deep fertile, well drained soils with assured irrigation. It does not perform well on saline, alkaline ( pH > 8.0 ), dry sandy soils, water logged areas and hard clays.

2. Clones:

Some species of poplars like Populus ciliate, P.gamblei, P.alba, etc, are indigenous to the Himalayan region of India. However, success story of poplar plantations in the north-western plains of Uttar-Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab is based on exotic P. deltoids indigenous to United States of America. Certain clones of P. deltoids have been found to be eminently suitable for a forestation as well as agro forestry plantation under immigrated conditions. Pdeltoids clones G3, G48 and D121 constitute bulk of these plantations. Additional clones like D61, D67, S7C8 and S7C15 have been included in the plantation programme.

3. Nursery Techniques:

3.1. Site Preparation:

The field is irrigated lightly, to provide appropriate moisture to the soil. This is followed by ploughing and leveling of the field. One deep ploughing upto 25-30 cm depth is desirable. This is followed by deep harrowing once in either direction and then planking with heavy roller or ‘Sohaga’. Phosphatic and Potassium fertilizers should be added at this point followed by a round of harrowing.

3.2. Alignment :

Each block of nursery should be divided in standard sized beds, which should be 5-6 m in width and 15 m in length perpendicular to the irrigation channels, so that one channel irrigates a row of beds on either side of the channel. As far as possible, the main irrigation channel should run in North-South direction and side irrigation channels which irrigate individual beds should be in East-West direction. One meter wide inspection path should be retained in between two adjoining rows of beds.

3.3. Preparation and treatment of cuttings:

Two large drums should be arranged for pretreatment of ETPs just before planting. First the ETPs up to 1m length from roots should be soaked in Aldrin emulsion (250 ml Aldrex 30 EC in 100ltr of water). This anti-termite treatment should be given for 10 minutes. The bundle of ETPs should then be transferred to Emisan solution in the second drum for 20 minutes (250 gms of Emisan-6 in 100 ltr of water) to prevent fungal infection. Entire soil taken out of the planting pit should not be used for refilling it after transplanting. Only top soil rich in plant nutrients should be used. As far as possible only surface soil collected from upper 15 to 20 cms of the field should be used 50 gms of single super phosphate 25 gms muriate of potash and 5 cc of Aldrex 30 EC diluted with water should be mixed with the top soil to be used for pit filling as mentioned above. ETP should be held vertically in the planting pit which should then be filled completely with treated soil. But compaction should not be done at this stage. After filling the pits as arranged. The irrigation channels should be filled completely. The level of the upper part of the pits unfilled. Itshould be allowed to remain like that. Just before second irrigation pits should be filled in and proper compaction should be arranged with the help of thick wooden stick. Make sure that the plant remains in proper position vertically. After adequate compaction leave about 10 cms of the pit unfilled to ensure that enough water percolates down to deeper layers and enough moisture is retained around the plant. While compacting the bark of the plant should not be damaged.

3.4. Planting of cuttings:

The best time of planting is mid February. Planting distance followed is 80 cm row to row and 60 cm plant to plant. Before planting, hole should be made with the planting rod whose lower end is flattened and sharpened like a screw driver. The cutting should be planted in the hole with thinner end up in such a way that the upper portion is just 2 mm above the ground level. After planting, the soil around the plant to be compacted gently but firmly.

3.5. Care after Planting:

Sprouting starts by the end of March and should be completed by end of April. Certain clones like D-61 and D-67 sprout fairly late up to the middle of May. Some of the plants may not sprout all and this can be ascertained by inspecting the buds of the plants. If the buds do not show signs of swelling/opening, the plants should be cut back at the ground level in early May. Special care by way of irrigation and soil working should be taken for the cut back plants which will sprout if the same were green and alive at collar level at the time of cutting back. Unless irrigation channels act as drains during rainy season the same should not be retained after the onset of monsoon lest any water accumulated in these channels should create condition close to water logging. Precautions should be taken to ensure that wet or very moist soil is not heaped around the stem of the plants as that may encourage collar rot damage.

3.6. Irrigation:

Arrange for medium irrigation at the earliest after planting i.e. the gap between completion of planting and irrigation must be minimum. Subsequent irrigation should be light and the interval may vary from 7-10 days depending upon the type of soil. Frequent irrigation to be resorted to in light sandy soil while irrigation at longer intervals can be given in clayey soils but the top soil should not be allowed to develop cracks till completion of sprouting of cuttings. Thereafter irrigation can be applied at 8-10 days interval.

3.7. Fertilizer Application:

As the poplar plants grow very fast, the nursery soil has to be enriched frequently by NPK fertilizers and adequate supply of farm yard manure are essential for maintaining the growth of cuttings. The quantity of fertilizer will depend upon the type of soil. Nursery beds are depleted of fertility after producing plants for one year, if no fertilizer is applied. After the rains have set in, 2g of urea per plant is given ; regular debudding and hoeing will depend upon the incidence of weeds and grasses. Singling of collar shoots should be done during April-May when the most vigorous shoot has attained a height 30-35 cm. Debudding is done by gently rubbing with gunny bags the newly formed buds upto 2/3 rd height of plant from the base from June to October. Sufficient care should be taken to ensure that the young leaves are not damaged.

4. Field Planting:

One year old Entire Trans Plants (ETPs) are planted in the field from mid-January to February end in pits of size 50cm X 50cm X 100cm. The spacing to be adopted for block plantation is generally 5.5 ft X 12 feet apart. For boundary plantation, the plant to plant distance is kept as 4 feet. Before planting, the plants are washed and stored in water for about 48 hours. To avoid fungal infection, lower one meter of the poplar transplant should be dipped in 0.15 percent solution of Emissan-6 for about 20 minutes and for termite protection for 10 minutes in 0.25 percent Aldrix solution or alternatively for protection against termites about 400g of de-oiled neem cake can be mixed with soil to be refilled in pits. Planting should preferably be done by two men so that one man holds the plant in erect position and the other fills the pit and compacts the earth around it. After planting, the pits should be filled with top soil and FYM in a ratio of 1 : 1 mixed with 10-20g BHC and 50g P2O5. Proper compacting of the soil and immediate irrigation after plantation enhances the chances of survival of the plants. First year casualities should be beaten up with sturdy ETPs not less than 5 m tall in January-February of the following year. After that no beating up should be done as the new plants are not able to catch up with rest of the plants.

5. Irrigation:

Regular and timely irrigation is a must for proper growth of poplars. While frequency of irrigation depends upon various factors like amount of rainfall, type of soil, age of trees and climatic conditions some general guidelines can be followed. During the first year of plantation irrigation must be done at weekly intervals except when there are reasonably good rains. This should be done from the time of transplanting till the monsoons begin. From July to September, irrigation must be provided as needed, depending upon the rainfall and intervening dry spells. From October to February when growth activity slows down, two irrigation's per month will be sufficient. During the second year, irrigation may be given at 15 days interval in January-February and at 7-10 days interval from March to onset of monsoons after which the plantation may be irrigated on the lines of first year. From third to eight year a minimum of two irrigations per month during summer and one during winter season are a must. For working of the unit cost, an average of 24 irrigations per annum had been taken.

6. Fertilizer Application

Well decomposed FYM should be applied while preparing the field for inter-cultivation of Rabi and Kharif crops. The general principles to be followed at the time of application of fertilizer are as under :

» A basal dose of 2 Kg good FYM, 50 gm super phosphate and 5 gm urea per plant should be mixed.

» Nitrogenous fertilizers be applied in split doses. First dose of nitrogen (75 gm urea) should be applied during the first week of June, second dose (150 gm urea) during first week of July and third dose (250 gm urea) during second and third week of August.

» Fertilizer should not be placed near the stem of the plants as these can result in girdling of young trees and can even kill them.

» Application of fertilizer must be followed by light irrigation.

» Deficiency of micro-nutrients such as Zinc, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium, Copper, Boron and Molybdenum among others as per soil fertility status is of common occurrence. These are also called trace elements as these are needed in very small quantities. Symptoms of micro-nutrient deficiency include intraveinal yellowing of leaves, small and shriveled leaves and poor tree growth.

7. Leader Training and Pruning:

Pruning Operations Pruning is essential for ensuring a large clear bole with concentration of maximum volume in the main stem for improving yield and quality of commercial timber. However this must be done most carefully as excessive or unscientific pruning can cause more harm than good. It is difficult to prescribe uniform and rigid rules for this operation.

However general guidelines are as under:

During the first year of growth debudding operations should be carried out in the lowest one-third part of the stem during June-July and leader training operations should also be carried out simulta neously during the same months. While carrying out leader training all precautions must be taken and only co-leaders competing with the main leading shoot should be carefully pruned. If the apical bud sprouts and grows as leading shoot, no leader training may be required during the first year. Leader training should be carried out again during winter after completion of two season’s growth as per requirements of the individual plants. Pruning of branches at the lower portion of the stem should be carried out as per requirements. However between second and third years of age pruning should be restricted to a maximum of lower one-third part of the total height of the tree. During subsequent years pruning could be carried out up to a minimum of one-third and maximum of half of the total height of the tree. But each case will have to be decided on merits and requirements. Main stem should not be damaged during pruning and leader training operations. Bordeaux paste should be applied immediately after carrying out pruning/leader training operation. This will protect the stem from possible entry of insect pests and pathogens.

Excessive pruning is very injurious as it encourages development of vigorous epicormic branches. Over-pruning also results in retardation of diameter growth. Therefore over-pruning must not be carried out under any circumstances. In pruning operations it is always better to be on the safer side. After 1st year pruning and leader training operations should be carried out only during winter and not in summer or rainy season.

The following schedule of pruning can be followed:

» Tree Age (Years ) - Pruning Intensity
» First Year - No pruning only debudding
» Second and Third Year - Lower 1/3 rd is cleared of branches
» Fourth - Upto ½ is cleared


8. Plant Protection Measures:

Certain insects and pathogens are known to damage the poplars. Among the important ones are the following :

8.1. Leaf Defoliator:

These are active during the rainy season particularly Pygaera species. The caterpillar of these moths feed on leaves. The insect can be controlled by collecting and destroying the infested leaves. Spray of Monocrotophos 36 SL @ 600 ml (Monocil / Monolik / Nuvacron / Corophos / Luphos) per acre.

8.2. Termites:

The risk of termite damage is likely where irrigation and inter cultivation operations are inadequate. The soil should be treated with Gammexane (0.15%) and frequent irrigation arranged.

8.3. Stem and Shoot Borer:

These can be controlled by pushing a small wick of cotton dipped in any liquid fumigant in the holes through which frass is being pushed out by the borer. All holes must be closed with mud paste after such treatment.

8.4. Leaf Webber:

The young larvae scrap the leaf surface along with veins and feed on epidermis of leaves by webbing 2 to 3 leaves with silken threads. The pest is active from April to November with peak period from July to October. For controlling, the same measures as indicated under leaf defoliators can be adopted.

8.5. Bark Eating Caterpillar:

Nocturnal feeding larvae make L-shaped holes and wet silken threads entangled with fecal pallets. Pest is active throughout the year. Prune severely infested branches and spray suspension of 100 g Carbaryl 50 WP ( Sevin / Hexavin ) in 10 litres of water during September to October at feeding sites.

8.6. Case Worm:

The pest is active throughout the year. The caterpillars feed on bark from December to March, on leaf buds during March and April and on leaves from April to November. For controlling this a spray of Carbaryl 50 WP ( Sevin / Hexavin ) @ 1 Kg per acre is recommended.

8.7. Leaf Hopper:

The leaf hoppers are active from April to November with peak period of their activity from July to October. A spray of Oxydemeton-methyl 25 EC (Metasystox) @ 300 ml or dimethoate 30 EC @ 250 ml per acre is recommended.

8.8. Rot of cuttings:

Black dots appear on the cuttings at ground level and decay of bark takes place. Dip the cuttings for 15 minutes in 0.5 percent solution of Emisan-6 before planting.

8.9. Leaf Spots:

Brown to dark brown leaf spots of variable sizes appear on leaves. Severe infections lead to premature defoliation. Spray the crop with 0.25 percent Copper Chloride (Blitox 50) or Indofil M-45 at 15-20 days interval starting with first rain. Two to three sprays may be given.

8.10. Pink Disease:

Girdling of branches in young plants leads to death of plant parts. The growth is stunted due to repeated death of the leaders. Pink to Salmon coloured mycelial growth appears on branches. Use resistant varieties or two to three prophylactic spray of Bordeaux mixture during two to four years of age at the beginning of the summer monsoon.

8.11. Sunscald Canker:

Bark is killed due to insolation by heat and canker develops on the southern side of the stem. Protect from insolation and other injuries by white washing the main stem upto two meters from the ground level.

8.12. Bark Bursts and Canker:

Water oozes out through the wounds resulting in cankers. Avoid injury and high water table sites. Clean the wounds and apply Bordeaux paste or Emisan-6.

9. Harvesting and Utilization:

The present trend is to harvest the tree after five years of planting the tree in the field, i.e. when the age of the tree is six years. Marketing is done as standing trees or after felling and cutting into logs. A large quantity of poplar wood is used for making match splints, plywood and block boards. The wood is also good for making paper pulp and being light in weight is ideally suited for making packing cases. White furniture made out of poplar wood is getting popular with people. Poplar wood can be used for paneling and cup boards. The wood is also being utilized by the sports goods industry and is also suitable for toy and pencil making. The branches, leaves and roots are used as fuel wood for running steam boilers in various industries. Hence, each and every part of the tree is utilized in one form or the other.

10. Market:

Yamunanagar district (Haryana) alone consumes around 30 lakh tonne of timber annually (Times of India, Feb 6, 2011). This extremely high consumption rate can be attributed to the presence of more than 950 plywood and wood-based industrial units in that area. This region caters to nearly 60% of the demand for plywood across the country. In fact, due to the shortage in supply of timber, poplar wood is being imported from Germany, USA and Belgium (The Tribune, August 17, 2009).

Another major market for poplar wood consumption is Rudarpur (Udham Singh Nagar District). This region comes under the “Tarai” belt. Poplar trees are grown on a large scale and supplied to numerous plywood industries located in the area. Wimco (a leading match-stick manufacturer) also consumes a significant percentage of the yearly timber produced by poplar cultivation.

Bijnor is also fast emerging as a hub for poplar sale. A network of middle-men purchases standing trees from farmers in surrounding villages. Then the trees are cut into small pieces, sorted according to their size and weight and then sent to the respective industries for their appropriate utilization.