Introduced poplar varieties and new hybrids for protective afforestation

Abstract

Abstract The volume of actual protective forest stands in the Central Chernozem Region is presented, and the need for their additional creation is shown. It is noted that in recent years, side by side with the main forest tree species competitive cultivars of euramerican poplars varieties and some new hybrids obtained by domestic breeding have been introduced in the forest shelter belts and protective stands, which in the reclamation fund of the Voronezh region reached a height of 15 m at 20 years, 25 m at 30 years and 30 m at 42 years. After many years of testing in various soil and climatic environments of the region the selection of promising poplars varieties, hybrids and clones for protective afforestation was carried out. The following euramerican cultivars have been recommended: ‘Vernirubens’, ‘Robusta’, ‘Regenerata’, ‘Sacrau-59’ etc. From domestic hybrids ‘Pioneer’ and ‘E.s.-38’ (Elite seedling No. 38) can be recommended, which grow well in the floodplain conditions in dry steppe zone in Volgograd region. At 30 years, they reached a height of 24-25 m; and diameter – 28-31 cm. For comparison, similar growth indices (height about 20 m, diameter – 28-30 cm) oak shelter forest plantations in Kamennaya Steppe reached only by the age of 75 years.