Hybrid poplar productivity under high forest and short rotation woody crop systems under boreal conditions

在加拿大发现的所有树种中，杂交杨树的生长潜力最快。然而，它们在加拿大北部地区的使用相对较晚，在不同的立地条件和营林管理方案下，与它们的抗逆性和生长表现有关的一些不确定性仍然存在。利用已经建立的人工林，我们首先想要确定环境因素和栽培措施对速生杂交杨树人工林产量的影响。更具体地说，我们试图1)评估沿着覆盖Abitibi-Témiscamingue和Nord-Du-Québec地区的大气候梯度种植的几个杂交杨树品种的产量潜力，以及2)确定栽培制度(即高林木人工林与短轮作林木)和施肥对人工林产量的影响。最终，我们寻求确定一套有利于在粘土带地区或魁北克西北部获得更高产量的儿科气候条件和品种特征(例如，枝条形态、根系、生理特性)和栽培实践。该项目的结果将使在北方条件下运营的加拿大工业选择适当的管理做法，以最大限度地提高高森林和短轮作木本作物系统下的生物量产量。结果将指导管理层(工业和监管者)，并在林农的工具包中实现这些快速生长的种植园的使用，以生产至少一部分靠近磨坊的木材供应，并最终减少对天然森林的依赖，缓解木材短缺和公共土地上的采伐限制。

Hybrid poplars have the fastest growth potential of all tree species found in Canada. Their use is however relatively recent in the boreal zones of Canada, and some uncertainties remain in relation to their hardiness and growth performance under differing sites conditions and silvicultural management scenarios. Using already-established plantations, we first want to determine the effects of environmental factors and cultivation practices on the yields of fast growing hybrid poplar plantations. More specifically, we seek to 1) evaluate the yield potential of several hybrid poplar cultivars planted along a large pedo-climatic gradient covering the Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Nord-du-Québec regions and 2) determine the effects of cultural system (i.e. high forest plantation vs. short rotation coppice) and fertilization on plantation yields. Ultimately, we seek to determine the set of pedo-climatic conditions and cultivar characteristics (e.g. branch form, root system, physiology), and cultivation practices that are conducive to greater yields in the clay belt region or north western Quebec. Results of this project will allow the Canadian industry operating under boreal conditions to choose appropriate management practices to maximize biomass yields under high forest and short-rotation woody crops systems. The results will guide management (industrial and regulators) and materialize the use of these fast-growing plantations in the toolset of foresters to produce at least part of their timber supply, close to mills, and ultimately be less reliant on natural forests and alleviate wood shortages and harvesting limitations on public lands.