Effects of site conditions on growth and wood properties of Populus ×  euramericana cv. ‘74/76’

Abstract

The growth and wood properties of 240 individual Populus ×  euramericana cv. ‘74/76’ (hereafter poplar 107) trees planted in Hebei Plain, China was evaluated. Mean annual increments in height, breast height diameter and volume, as well as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents, shrinkage, density, bending strength and modulus of elasticity in the heartwood and sapwood. Environmental factors influencing growth and wood properties were analyzed using correlation and stepwise regression. The results show that the coefficients of variation (CVs) of growth traits ranged from 10.6 to 22.4%. The CVs of the chemical properties of heartwood ranged from 4.3 to 30.2%, and for sapwood from 3.2 to 27.5%. The CVs of the physical and mechanical properties of heartwood ranged from 8.6 to 31.7%, and for sapwood from 6.4 to 29.9%. The results of one-way ANOVA showed that there were significant differences in growth traits and wood properties among sites. Soil pH, total and available phosphorus, total potassium, and soil organic matter were key soil factors affecting growth and wood properties of poplar 107, whereas mean annual ground temperatures and precipitation were the main climatic factors. To better cultivate poplar 107, area with less annual rainfall, slightly higher temperature and soil pH value close to neutral should be selected.

Keywords

Poplar clone / Environmental factors / Growth / Wood density / Mechanical properties / Wood chemical composition