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Brian J. Stanton
GreenWood Resources
June 29, 2005
Poplar in the Pacific Northwest: The Importance of Clonal
Development
GreenWood Resources• Resource management company focused on high-yield hardwood
plantations
• Founded in 1998
• Headquarters in Portland, Oregon
• Managing 15,000 acres in Oregon and Washington
• Poplar breeding programs in PNW and LMRV
• Plans for international developments
North American Poplar Plantations
• 86,000 acres in the United States– 300 to 600 cubic feet per acre per year– Rotations of 8 to 12 years
• 35,000 acres in Canada– 150 to 250 cubic feet per acre per year– Rotations of 10 to 18 years
Main Pacific Northwest Commercial Plantations for the
Pulp and Paper Industry
• 1982 – James River-Lower Columbia River Fiber Farm – 11,000 acres
• 1991 – Boise Cascade’s Five Fiber Farms – 16,000 acres
• 1994 – Potlatch Boardman Poplar Farm – 17,000 acres• 1996 – MacMillan Bloedel Fiber Operation – 8,000
acres
Lessons from 20 Years of Poplar Culture
• Site selection is critical but plantation culture adaptable to marginal sites with appropriate technology
• Importance of improved genetics and need for clonal diversity to minimize risk of plantation failure due to evolving pathogens
• Critical role of exacting site preparation and weed management techniques
20 Years of Poplar Culture – A Legacy of Success
History: Plant Material Development
• Initial exploratory hybridization at the University of Washington
• Elite selections used to launch commercial plantations west of the Cascades (15-29, 24-305, 49-177) and east of the Cascades (50-197, 184-411, 311-93)
History: Plant Material Development
• Followed by proprietary breeding programs to achieve further gains and reduce risks (e.g. James River, Boise Cascade, Potlatch, MacMillan Bloedel)
• Focus mainly on components of yield for chip production
History of Plant Material Development: Yield
Improvement
• Propagation success
• Growth rate
• Pest resistance
• Wood specific gravity
• Adaptability to climate, weather, soils
Poplar Varietal Development:Hybridization
• Productivity of hybrids 150 to 175% of native cottonwood
• Major types are:– P. deltoides x P. trichocarpa (P. x generosa)– P. deltoides x P. nigra (P. x canadensis) – P. deltoides x P.maximowiczii
Poplar Varietal Development:Clonal Selection
• Appreciable variation found among seedling offspring within full sib hybrid families
• Variation screened using a multiple stage field evaluation process
1989 Hybrid Seedling Nursery
Seedling Selection for Late Season Leaf Retention
Select vs Standard. hybrids Improved growth (bdt/ac/yr): -
age 8
Variety 02-395 09-060 Variety 09-080 13-02020-88-183 6.64 6.19 181-92-3246 5.30 5.85
97-91-1315 6.59 5.81 156-92-2469 3.26 5.3486-90-289 6.49 5.58 172-92-2766 4.44 5.2469-90-81 5.75 4.51 20-88-183 5.56 5.0624-305 5.69 4.59 49-177 < 1.00 3.91
1996 Yield Trial 1997 Yield Trial
Today’s Challenges: Markets
Developing new, higher-value markets in light of continuing low hardwood pricing for pulp and paper.
Columbia Tree Farm
• New management style (lower stocking, longer rotation, pruning)
• New selection criteria (stem form, wood quality)
•Veneers, paneling, molding, cabinetry