Effects of alternative establishment systems on resource availability, understorey composition and tree performance in juvenile hybrid poplar plantations

Goehing, Jeannine; Thomas, Barb R.; Macdonald, S. Ellen; Bork, Edward W.

doi:10.1093/forestry/cpx005

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…This agrees with the findings by Davies (1988) and Thomas et al (2001). Greater benefits at that time would be afforded by concentrating weed control on the suppression of vegetation immediately surrounding the stems of newly planted poplar trees, either through more intensive initial weed control before planting (Goehing et al 2017) or by within-row control after planting, being careful to ensure that there is no transfer of herbicide to the main stem. In contrast, results from the third and fourth year of monitoring showed that removal of above-and below-ground vegetation close to the tree stem did not result in the greatest tree performance; instead, tree growth was maximized when aboveground vegetation was controlled out to a distance of 140 cm from the stem.…”

Section: Vegetation (%) In 2012supporting

confidence: 88%

“…The handheld weed trimmer that we used was better able to control near-stem vegetation than would conventional mowing treatments with operational-sized equipment (e.g., tow-behind mowers) (e.g., Coll et al 2007). Results from our study highlight the need to test innovative complementary weed control practices, with a special emphasis on developing effective near-stem weed control in the early establishment and growth phase and (or) improved weed control in the year prior to plantation establishment (Goehing et al 2017).…”

Section: Vegetation (%) In 2012mentioning

confidence: 83%

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Spatial partitioning of competitive effects from neighbouring herbaceous vegetation on establishing hybrid poplars in plantations

et al. 2019

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The spatial effects of vegetation control on early tree growth were investigated in central Alberta, Canada, for four years after the establishment of hybrid poplar plantations including the two clones Walker (Populus deltoides × (P. laurifolia × P. nigra)) and its progeny Okanese (Walker × (P. laurifolia × P. nigra)). Tree survival and growth, herbaceous vegetation cover, soil nutrient availability, moisture, temperature, and light availability were assessed. Tree growth in the first two years after establishment was improved through selective in-row vegetation control close (within 50 cm) to trees for both aboveground (mechanical) and above-and below-ground (chemical) control. This was associated with increased light availability for trees. In contrast, growth in the third and fourth years benefitted from control of aboveground vegetation within 140 cm of the stem, and this was associated with increased nutrient availability. These findings suggest that the effects of neighbouring vegetation on trees shift from aboveground competition near the tree stem to belowground competition further (>50 cm) away; thus betweenrow vegetation control is more important starting in the third year after establishment. Okanese outperformed Walker poplar across all treatments and was more responsive to vegetation control, reflecting its superior performance, higher plasticity, and greater potential for short-rotation intensive-culture plantations.

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Section: Vegetation (%) In 2012supporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Vegetation (%) In 2012mentioning

confidence: 83%

Spatial partitioning of competitive effects from neighbouring herbaceous vegetation on establishing hybrid poplars in plantations

et al. 2019

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“…Two related poplar clones, widely planted across the Canadian Prairies, the female clone 'Walker ' (Populus deltoides × (P. laurifolia × P. nigra)) (Lindquist et al 1977) and male progeny clone 'Okanese' ('Walker' × (P. laurifolia × P. nigra)) (Schroeder et al 2013) were used as reference clones. Both clones are of economic importance in shelterbelts and, more recently, in short rotation intensive crop (SRIC) plantations (Goehing et al 2017). In spring 2008, over-winter dormant stock that had been rooted the previous summer in a commercial greenhouse was planted following a randomized complete block design, with one ramet per clone in each of four blocks.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth parameters and resistance to Sphaerulina musiva-induced canker are more important than wood density for increasing genetic gain from selection of Populus spp. hybrids for northern climates

Niemczyk

Thomas

2020

Annals of Forest Science

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“…It appears that in the face of climate change, all efforts related to increasing WUE in selection programs need to be combined with the intended cultural practices designed to improve WUE at the plantation level. This set of silvicultural techniques often include: site preparation prior to planting, weed control during the establishment phase of the plantation [56,57], fertilization, use of mycorrhizae, thinning, and plantation density [58]. Most of these techniques are designed to reduce competition for soil and water resources and improve root growth conditions and/or water uptake.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selection of Poplar Genotypes for Adapting to Climate Change

Niemczyk

Thomas

2019

Forests

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Deployment of well-adapted, water use efficient, and productive genotypes may be essential for the sustainability of both forests and wood supply for the forest industry, as climate change is increasing water stress around the world. This study aimed to characterize key traits among new genotypes of hybrid poplars (Populus spp.) in water use efficiency (WUE) and evaluate adaptive capacity to guide the selection of appropriate clones/hybrid types for commercial deployment in habitats with an increasing water deficit in northern, continental climates. Forty-five new hybrid poplar genotypes were compared at the age of 10, including two control clones, Walker and Okanese, growing in a common garden genetics trial in northern Alberta. We studied the relationships between their productivity and WUE, photosynthetic assimilation, transpiration, stomatal conductance, stomatal density and length, and leaf size and weight. In addition, the genetic variance and heritabilities of physiological and morphological characteristics related to WUE were calculated. Results of this study revealed that most of the clones showed an adaptive capacity to acclimatize (small and dense stomata) to the region of deployment. Morphological traits were characterized by higher heritabilities than physiological traits. Hybrids between Populus balsamifera and Populus maximowiczii species showed a slightly greater adaptive potential to the area of our study than the other tested cross types. Walker, a clone widely planted across the Canadian prairies, showed inferior WUE and productivity in comparison to the new genotypes tested. Selection and tree breeding for adaptation to climate change in the region of our investigation identified highly productive genotypes with dense, small stomata and a larger leaf area to dry mass ratio. As these traits are heritable, selection of clones with these traits will ensure a faster reaction of stomata when faced with a water deficit. The low genetic effect, heritability estimates, and high residual effect for physiological traits, impose a severe limitation on the use of gas exchange measurements under field conditions in tree improvement programs selecting for drought resistance.

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Effects of alternative establishment systems on resource availability, understorey composition and tree performance in juvenile hybrid poplar plantations

Cited by 5 publications

References 31 publications

Spatial partitioning of competitive effects from neighbouring herbaceous vegetation on establishing hybrid poplars in plantations

Spatial partitioning of competitive effects from neighbouring herbaceous vegetation on establishing hybrid poplars in plantations

Growth parameters and resistance to Sphaerulina musiva-induced canker are more important than wood density for increasing genetic gain from selection of Populus spp. hybrids for northern climates

Selection of Poplar Genotypes for Adapting to Climate Change

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