Hybrid Poplar in the Willamette Valley

Hybrid poplar (Populus spp.) is the newest tree crop in the Pacific Northwest. We have been studying its management and growth in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon on poorly drained soils with no irrigation. We found very good growth rates-up to 4000 ft3/ac in 6 yr-on soils considered poor for many kinds of agriculture. For plantation establishment, we found that after 1 yr, simple no-till methods were as effective as the often-used ripping and tilling approaches. An herbicide screening study resulted in good poplar growth with some herbicides and reduced growth with two others commonly used in site preparation. Our investigation of root development indicates that the good growth on these poorly drained, nonirrigated soils is associated with poplar's deep and extensive root development.