Dasometric response of Populus deltoides ‘Australia 106/60’ to different propagation materials for plantations in the Delta of the Paraná River, Argentina.

CASAUBON E.A., CUETO G.R., PERI P.L., GONZALEZ A.C.

Beijing, China

Conferencia; 23rd Session of the International Poplar Comission (IPC); 2008

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

The planting materials used to establish poplar in silvopastoral systems (SSP) in the Delta of the Paraná River are cuttings (E), one-year-old (G1) and two-year-old (G2) unrooted pole cuttings. When using E, the cost of planting is lower and income from animals grazing in SSP can start at the 4th or 5th year after planting. In contrast, when G1 and G2 are planted, the cost of establishment increases and cattle grazing can start earlier (one or two years after plantings). The aim of this study was to evaluate the dasometric response of E, G1 and G2 of Populus deltoides ‘Australia 106/60’ in the fifth year after planting. A total of five replications of 25 plants of each of the three planting materials E, G1 and G2 were included. For each plant, diameter at breast height (DBH) and total height where recorded annually from 2002 to 2007. Analysis of variance was performed for the trees variables (DBH and total height) over time (years). Trees originating from G2 had the highest DBH values followed by G1, with treatment E showing the lowest values (P <0.01). These differences were recorded in each year (P >0.1). There was significant interaction between planting material and year for total height (P <0.01). This was because there were differences among the heights of planting materials in the years 2003 and 2005 (P <0.01), whereas in 2007, although there were differences among the materials (P <0.01), there were no significant differences between E and G1 (P >0.05). Trees originating from G2 remained significantly taller than other planting materials (E and G1). In Populus deltoides ‘Australia 106/60’ two-year-old poplar pole cuttings are excellent propagation material for silvopastoral plantations in the Paraná River Delta.