Performance of Poplar (Populus Deltoides Bartr.) clones under semi-arid conditions of Punjab

Poplar is an important Agorforestry tree species of North-Western India and is widely adopted by farmers due to its high economic returns. This paper reports the results of a trial involving 16 clones planted in semi-arid region of Punjab. The data collected on survival and growth traits at age of 2 and 4.5 year were analyzed and genetic parameters were worked out. Significant differences among clones were found for diameter at 4.5 year and for height at both the ages. Clones ‘D-4’, ‘104’, ‘L-188/84’ ‘L-313/85’, ‘G-48’, ‘L-71/84’ and ‘L-154/84’ were found to be superior having higher volume production. The phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation were relatively higher for volume (21.17 to 29.24 and 9.96 to 23.90%). The broad sense heritability was 55.21, 66.29 and 66.80 per cent for diameter, tree height and volume, respectively at age of 4.5 years.