Assessing the potential and constraints for hybrid poplar plantations in the semi-arid regions of British Columbia

不列颠哥伦比亚省（BC）需要额外的木材供应。杂交杨树生长迅速， 广泛分布于北美。卑诗省南部内陆的气候提供了高 杂交杨树产量杂交杨树的主要问题之一是土壤肥力、抗寒性 高水需求。在半干旱地区，如果种植在洪泛平原上，杂交杨树可能是可行的，因为 浅层地下水可能对树木有帮助。然而，河流/河流中土壤的空间变异性 洪泛区的变化很大为了选择正确的杂交杨树无性系， 在一个洪泛平原应该知道。因此，如果杂交杨树要成为不列颠哥伦比亚省可行的纤维来源， 半干旱地区，我们必须了解什么水平的空间变异存在于洪泛区位于 半干旱地区。 该项目将是汤普森河流大学和SK7ain Ventures Ltd.之间的合作。 风险投资有限公司是Norbord Inc.，一家木制品公司和Skeetchestn印第安人 乐队潜在的地点位于Skeetchestn土地（Deadman River，BC的洪泛平原）。Norboard Inc. 同意在伐木时购买木材。然而，为了使这种伙伴关系成为现实，研究是 需要确定在半干旱土地上成功种植和收获杂交杨树的可行性。 研究目的是： a.确定土壤变异性和土壤肥力位于戴德曼河，公元前洪泛区。 B.将最好的杂交杨树无性系与该地区的土壤和气候相匹配。 C.建立汤普森河流大学（TRU）， Skeetchestn印第安乐队和Nordbord公司

British Columbia (BC) is in need of additional timber supplies. Hybrid poplar trees are fast growing and are widely dispersed in North America. The climate in the southern interior of BC offers the potential for high yields of hybrid poplar. One of the major concerns with hybrid poplar is adequate soil fertility, cold hardiness and high water needs. In semi-arid regions, hybrid poplar might be viable if planted within flood plains because the shallow groundwater may be accessible to the trees. However, the spatial variability of soils in stream/river flood plains can be highly variable. To select the correct hybrid poplar clones, the differences in soil fertility within a flood plain should be known. Therefore, if hybrid poplar is to become a viable fiber source in BC's semi-arid regions, we must understand what level of spatial variability exists within floodplains located within semi-arid areas. This project will be a collaboration between Thompson Rivers University and SK7ain Ventures Ltd. SK7ain Ventures Ltd. is a collaboration between Norbord Inc., a wood product company and the Skeetchestn Indian Band. The potential site is located on Skeetchestn land (flood plain of the Deadman River, BC). Norboard Inc. has agreed to purchase the wood when harvested. However, for this partnership to become a reality, research is needed to determine the feasibility of successfully planting and harvesting hybrid poplar on semi-arid lands. The study objectives are to: a. Determine the soil variability and fertility of soils located within the floodplain of the Deadman River, BC. b. Match the best hybrid poplar clones to the soil and climate of the region. c. Establish a long-term research collaboration between the Thompson Rivers University (TRU), the Skeetchestn Indian Band and Nordbord Inc.