Planting and cultivation techniques of poplar

Poplar is the main timber species in my country and an important raw material for wood pulp fiber, artificial fiber board and plywood. Poplar can also improve soil and water quality and play an important role in ecological protection. It has high economic value. So how to plant poplar trees? Let’s take a look at the planting and cultivation techniques of poplar.

1. Planting site selection

Poplars should be planted in places with fertile, moist, loose texture, deep soil layer and good drainage. When choosing the site conditions, pay attention to the level of groundwater, which is the key to the rapid growth and high yield of poplars. The best site conditions are effective soil layer thickness of more than 1 meter, groundwater level of 1.5-2.0 meters, soil organic matter content of more than 0.4%, salt content of less than 0.1%, groundwater mineralization of less than 1g/L, and pH value of 6.5-7.5.

2. Land preparation and fertilization

Land preparation is required to be done in the autumn and winter of the previous year. All weeds should be eradicated, and the land should be deep plowed and leveled or large holes should be used for land preparation. The size of the holes should be 1×1×1 meter, and the reed roots around the holes should be removed. At the same time, combined with land preparation, 500 kg of organic fertilizer and 50 kg of compound fertilizer should be applied per acre as base fertilizer.

3. Seedling selection

Select 1-2 year old seedlings with a height of 4.5 meters and a ground diameter of more than 3.5 centimeters, with complete root systems, sturdy seedlings, a high degree of lignification, full and thick terminal buds, and no mechanical damage, diseases or pests.

4. Planting tips

When planting, first place 0.2 meters thick soil in the planting pit and then place the poplar seedling in it, and then cover it with 0.7 meters thick soil and compact it with your feet, then cover the remaining height with soil and continue to compact it, and finally pull the seedling upwards. Doing this will help the roots of the poplar seedlings to stretch better, and then you can water the seedlings.

5. Planting density

When cultivating large-diameter timber, thinning is not used during a rotation period. Usually, sparse planting is the main method, and intercropping of agriculture and forestry is implemented to ensure that each plant can obtain sufficient light. The planting row spacing is controlled at 6m×6m, 7m×7m, and 8m×8m. You can also adopt a planting specification of 10 meters in row spacing and 4 meters in plant spacing, or a planting specification of 20 meters in large row spacing and 3 meters in small row spacing, with intercropping for six to seven years.

6. Maintenance and management

It is very important to do a good job of maintenance and management after sowing. If the seedlings are large, after planting, use wooden sticks to make a triangular support to support the seedlings and prevent them from falling over. In the first year after planting, appropriate watering should be carried out depending on the drought situation. The seedlings can also be whitewashed to retain water, keep warm, and prevent diseases and pests. Of course, weeding, top dressing, disease prevention and other tasks must also be implemented simultaneously.

In general, poplar is the most common tree species in the north. It is easy to plant, grows fast, and has strong adaptability. If you basically master the above-mentioned planting points, the survival rate is still very high.