Comparative investigation on wood production of eleven poplar clones in anexperimental planting in North Greece

Results of a comparative study on growth and wood production of eleven popl ar clones 'I-214'; 'I-262'; 'I-45/51'; 'I-69/55'; 'I-37/51'; 'I-72/53'; 'I- 77/51'; 'He-X/3'; 'He-X/10'; 'He-X/34' and 'He-Z/17' were discussed. Clones were planted in 1983 at 6 x 6 m spacing in an area of northern Greece situ ated near the city of Drama. Significant differences within clones in diame ter at breast hight (DBH) and wood production, were found. Fifteen years th e poplars being planted, in 1998 the Italian clones 'I-77/51'; 'I-72/58' an d 'I-37/51' produced the highest growth (1.4675; 1.4290 and 1.4099 m(3)/tre e respectively) in comparison to the widely cultivated clone 'I-214' (1.355 1 m(3)/tree), whereas clone 'I-262' produced the lowest (0.193 m(3)/tree). The other clones presented a variety in volume of 0.438 to 1.662 m(3)/tree. The Greek clones 'He-X/3' and 'He-X/34' presented a lower volume (1.1662 a nd 1.1578 m(3)/tree) compared to the clone 'I-214', whereas the clone 'He-X /10' had a much lower one (0.438 m(3)/tree). It is recommended that more cl ones with high wood production are used for better exploitation of the micr oenvironmental and biological stability.