country report (2012-2015): poplars and willows in india

Country Report (2012-2015): Poplars and Willows in India

1

INDIA

COUNTRY REPORT ON POPLARS AND WILLOWS

PERIOD: 2012-2015

NATIONAL POPLAR COMMISSION OF INDIA

Forest Research Institute P.O. New Forest, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

INDIA


2

Activities Related to Poplar and Willow Cultivation and Utilisation

International Poplar Commission

25th Session, Berlin, Germany

BACKGROUND

According to the State of Forest Report 2015, the forest cover in India is 70.17 million ha

or 21.34% of the total geographical area. Of this, 8.59 million ha (2.61%) is very dense forest,

31.54 million ha (9.59%) is moderately dense and the rest 30.04 million ha (9.14%) is open. The

trees outside forest (TOF) are estimated to cover 9.26 million ha area which constitutes about

2.82% of the total geographical area of the country. Thus the total forest and tree cover of the

country is 79.42 million ha or 24.16% of the total geographical area. The estimates of total

growing stock of forest and TOF are 4.195 billion m3 and 1.573 billion m

3, respectively. Thus

the total growing stock of wood in the county is estimated at 5.768 billion m3 which implies an

average growing stock of 72.63 m3

ha-1

in 79.42 million ha of forest and tree cover (FSI, 2015).

With just 2.5% of the land area of the planet Earth, India has to support nearly 17% of the

world's human population besides a large livestock population. Therefore, the forests are under

intense biotic pressure leading to degradation of forest resources. Forests have much lower

growing stock (i.e. 72.63 m3ha

-1) compared to the world average of 110m

3ha

-1. Likewise,

average mean annual increment of forests in India is very low at less than 1 m3ha

-1 yr

-l compared

to the world average of 2.1 m3ha

-1yr

-l.

Supply of industrial round wood and timber from forest areas has been dwindling. Trees

outside forest (TOF) are the major source of wood for the Indian industry. Most of the wood

based industries like plywood and paper pulp are largely dependent on farm grown wood, rather

than wood from natural forests and forest plantations. Huge volumes of logs, sawn timber, pulp

and newsprint are being imported for meeting growing domestic demand. Substantial

improvement in productivity of forest resources on sustainable basis and large scale

growth/expansion of agroforestry plantations are important for meeting the national needs of

timber and non-timber forest products, conservation of biodiversity-rich natural forests, and

achieving the national goal of 33% effective forest and tree cover.

Technology based farm-forestry plantations with genetically improved, high yielding and

fast growing planting stock of species have tremendous potential for supplementing agricultural

production, and meeting the growing shortages of industrial timber on sustainable basis. Clonal

farm forestry and agroforestry plantations can take intense biotic pressures off the natural forests

and help conserve their rich biodiversity. We can achieve self-sufficiency in timber and wood


3

based products, and generate exportable surplus of value-added wood products over a period of

time in future.

Poplars and willows occupy a small geographical area at national level but they make

unique contribution to socio-economy and ecology of regions of their occurrence. Due to their

high growth rate, the importance of these forest resources in people’s livelihood far exceeds what

their geographical extent would suggest.

Area under poplar and willow in India is estimated at 420,100 ha. A large share (270,000

ha) is composed of Populus deltoides(poplar)plantations outside the forest. Timber from poplar

and willow is the backbone of vibrant plywood, board, match, paper and sports goods industries.

Indigenous species of poplars are reared in forests as well as private and government lands outside

the forest covering large areas in dry temperate region of high hills. Willow is widely planted and

managed in private, community and government land in high altitudes. Indigenous poplars

conserve soil and water; provide wood for packing cases, plywood, fuelwood, fodder, etc.

Willows are used for cricket bats, baskets, decorative articles and other handicrafts in the small

scale and cottage industries, besides their use in soil and water conservation, fuelwood and fodder

production for local communities. Poplars and willows have immensely contributed to

environmental and economic well-being of the state and reduced pressure on the forests. There is a

considerable scope for augmenting the role of poplars and willows in the ecology and economy of

the country.

Highlights

Area under poplar and willow: 460,100 ha

Area under poplar:317,800 ha (includes area under Populus deltoides:270,000 ha in

agrforestry plantations)

Area under willow: 137,300 ha

Area under mixture of poplar and willow: 5,000 ha

Species of poplars:

Native: Populus ciliata, P. gamblei, P. Jacquemontii var. glauca, P. rotundifolia

Exotics: P. deltoides, P. alba, P. euphratica, P. nigra, P. laurifolia

Species of willows: Salix alba ssp. coerulea, S. alba ssp. alba, S. tetrasperma, S. acmophylla, S.

fragilis, S. angustifolia, S. babylonica, etc. (total 32 species are documented)

Uses:

Poplar: Plywood, board, match, paper, artificial limbs, fodder (native species), fuelwood,

charcoal, soil and water conservation, etc.

Willows: Cricket bats, baskets, furniture, handicrafts, fuel, fodder, soil and water conservation,

etc.


4

Populus deltoides (Major Plantation Species) at a Glance

Area:270,000 ha comprising private agricultural land (notional area estimated at 500 trees/ha)

Plantation region: Western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, low outer areas in Uttarakhand,

Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh; recently introduced on a large scale by ICFRE in Bihar

Soil and climate: Deep, fertile, irrigated, well-drained soil, sub-tropical climate; mostly above

28oN latitude

Pattern of planting: 60% plants as Block plantation and 40% plants as boundary plantation ;

always planted with agricultural crops

Crops: All grain, pulse and vegetable crops (except rice); during kharif season fewer crops can

be intercropped in block plantations

Rotation: 6-8 years

Growth rate: 20-25 m3/ha/yr

Out-turn:5.05 million tonne/yr fresh wood

Returns/ha to grower: Rs. 150,000 /ha/yr from poplar wood

Benefit:cost ratio: 2.13:1 (with intercropping), 1.92:1 (without intercropping)

Utility: Plywood, board, match, paper, charcoal, etc. (more than 30 products are made)

Stakeholders: Farmers, nursery owners, labourers, timber merchants, middlemen, transporters,

industries, researchers, state forest departments and corporations, NGOs, unemployed youth,

finance companies, etc.

Suitable clones of poplars have already changed the skyline in large area of Punjab,

North-Western Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Haryana and Uttarakhand with assured and ample

irrigation facilities. Poplars can produce moderate quality veneer logs at short rotation period of

6 to 8 years achieving high productivity of 20-25 m3ha

-1yr

-l. Because poplars are deciduous,

winter crops can be grown along with poplars throughout the rotation period. Commercial scale

plantations of poplars under agroforestry have been expanding since WIMCO-sponsored farm

forestry project was launched in 1984 with refinance assistance of NABARD. Fast growing

clones of poplars, supported with improved package of practices, excellent technical extension

services, bank finance, and growing market demand for poplar wood have made poplar

plantations on private farms a unique success story.

Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education, Dehradun (ICFRE) is implementing

the Samudai Adharit Samanvit Van Prabandhan Evam Sanrakshan Yojna (Bihar Project) under

Sam VikasYojna of Bihar State, sponsored by the Planning Commission, Govt. of India, through

its Forest Research and Extension Centre (FREC), Patna. The project is planned to be completed

in two phases. In Phase-I, Vaishali district has been completed and the remaining suitable parts

of North Bihar are being covered in Phase-II. Thus poplar is being extended to non-poplar area.


5

I. POLICY AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Summarize major developments in national policies, laws or regulations which affected the

cultivation or utilization of poplars or willows, in natural forests, planted forests and

agroforestry. For example, include relevant policies concerning growing, harvesting,

marketing, transportation, utilization and trading of poplars and willows; financial, fiscal

or other incentives, environmental regulations which affect the growing of poplars and

willows; and policies promoting the emerging use of poplars and willows for bioenergy

(incl. fiscal incentives, subsidies etc.), carbon sinks and other environmental uses.

In India, poplar is largely grown on farm land by millions of small holders. It is grown as

block plantations and boundary plantations those under agroforestry. India has enunciated Indian

Agroforestry Policy 2014 and the business rule on agroforestry programme has now been vested

with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare at Central level and with the state

agriculture departments at the state levels (DARE, 2014).

India has also enacted Company’s Act 2013 wherein each corporate body earning a net

profit of over Rs. 5 crore has to spend 2% of the profits under Corporate Social Responsibility

(CSR) in around one and a half dozen activities. Agroforestry has also been included in CSR

activities during 2014 and some companies have started promoting poplar plantations on farm

land under CSR activities (Dhiman, 2015).

Planning Commission of India (now Niti Aayog) has given a special grant to Punjab,

Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states for diversification of agriculture where farmers are advised to

move away from paddy cultivation to sustain agricultural production. Poplar and eucalypts are

among the few trees promoted under this diversification plan. The saplings are largely procured

from the private nurseries and supplied free of costs to the farmers.

The state of Bihar has launched a scheme for planting of poplar in suitable areas in North

Bihar. About 45 million plants of poplar are expected to be planted under the project. A research

schemes has also be initiated for development of agroforestry models in Bihar.

The process of allowing establishment of new wood-based industry and expansion of

industry is now vested with the states. This decision was taken during 2015, when prices of

poplar wood crashed and after a lot of representations from the growers, Central Empowered

Committee which earlier was supervising this aspect at national level, gave the powers to the

states. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change will supervise the process.

Some changes have also occurred in the procedure of granting felling and transit

permission in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The tree growers till these provisions were required to

apply manually to the forest department for felling and transit of trees. Poplar growers in certain


6

districts of the states required permission of the forest department for transportation of their

produce to wood markets. The new system requires obtaining revenue document showing

growing of trees to be supplied to the Divisional Forest Officer who lodges the document on the

e-web created for this purpose and the permission is granted by the state forest department.

However, the procedure remains time and resource consuming and has yet not eased the

problems of the tree growers.

The peeling machines in poplar-based industry have undergoing a noticeable change in

the last few years. Peeling can be done to thinner core diameter. This is propelling farmers to

harvest poplar at younger age than earlier.

The development of agroforestry, however, faces certain barriers due to unorganised

markets, poor technical and financial support and lack of extension activities by the government,

which must be addressed. Middlemen play a huge role in sale of poplar wood and often exploit

the growers. The poplar-growing farmers face frequent fluctuations in prices of poplar logs; this

factor was responsible for significant drop in planting levels of poplars during 2002 to 2004. At

that time, due to distress sale, and removal of young plantations from field with virtually no

replanting by farmers, shortage of poplar wood was soon felt in the market. Soon thereafter, as a

result, the price started rising slowly in the late 2004. In December 2006, a high price of Rs. 600-

650 per quintal ($14-15 per quintal) for oversized wood prevailed in the market. The price

hovered above Rs. 1200 per quintal (about $20 per quintal) during 2012. It has now crashed to

about Rs. 550 (about $9 per quintal) per quintal now. The price of poplar wood in the market is

extremely sensitive to lots of known and unknown forces. The availability of more supplies in

north Bihar and adjoining areas after a couple of years from now is likely to have a noticeable

impact on this situation. Poplar growers in that region are sceptical about price they would get

for their produce in the market.

The following measures are suggested to overcome the above problems: (i) facilitating

open auction of wood from farmland, (ii) strengthening of extension wing of forest departments,

(iii) development of agroforestry cooperatives, (iv) quality control and certification of planting

material, (v) development of alternative uses of poplar wood, (vi) rationalization of transit rules,

(vii) regulating timber import under open general licence (OGL), (viii) removing licence system

on setting up of peeling and plywood units, (ix) establishing more plywood units in different

areas to absorb increased supply of poplar wood, etc. A healthy buyer-seller linkage is crucial for

development of a sustainable agroforestry-industry model.

Our traders are marketing huge quantities of poor quality imported logs which offer them

high profits, whereas farmers do not get remunerative price for better quality farm-grown

domestic timbers. Therefore, policy framework for integrated development of farm forestry and


7

wood-based industries is required and concerned state government must address this issue

urgently in consultation with the central government.

Positive policy prescriptions have positive policy implications for growing of poplar. An

example in sight is the policy reform related to trading of poplar wood by state of Himachal

Pradesh in Northern India. In Himachal Pradesh, earlier ban was in force on carrying forest

produce out of the state, the ban also covered trees which are grown by the farmers in and around

their fields. In order to give a boost to the socio-economic upliftment of the people besides

catering to the ecological needs and social aspects, growing of the trees especially of poplars in

the farmers’ fields was advocated for ultimate accomplishment of these issues. Accordingly,

Government of Himachal Pradesh in consultation with the State Forest Department of Himachal

Pradesh modified this policy, which then enabled the farmers to take the produce out of the state

after obtaining transit permits from local authorities. This decision of the government facilitated

marketing, transportation and trading of poplars outside the state for consumption in the

industries situated in other parts of the country. The liberalization in policy definitely contributed

towards augmenting biomass production especially of poplars in the state.

Poplar plays a significant role in rural development by generating employment to many

categories of skilled, semi skilled and unskilled workers and thus helps in achieving the

Millennium Goal of poverty alleviation laid down by the Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Dhiman (2008) estimated 90 to 100 million man days employment being generated from poplar

activity in the country out of which 20 million man days is in making and maintaining

plantations, 20 million man days in felling trees and their conversion into logs, grading, loading,

unloading, stacking and handling timber and approximately 50 million man days in wood based

industry involved in converting poplar wood into wood based products. Most of the operations

involving poplar farming and utilization are located in the remote rural areas where poplar is

grown on farm lands and where employment opportunities rarely exist because of poor

developmental activities in those areas.

There is considerable need to focus on training and extension efforts in poplar cultivation.

In a past study, the percentage of growers practising correct management of poplar plantations

was examined in 3 sites located within 45 km of Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. The

percentages for different practices followed correctly were found to be 61% for site selection,

27% for good planting material, 47 % for spacing, 80% for irrigation schedule, 85% for fertiliser

application, 35% for pesticide application and 9% for pruning (Kumar, 2004). Thus research,

extension and policy framework must keep pace with one another.

There are difficulties in getting wood of single species for making of plywood. Therefore,

the combi-plywood seems a solution to this problem. Combi-plywood is the combination

plywood made of veneers of different species. Combi-plywood, using poplar with other farm-


8

grown trees, has been developed by Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. Now most of the

plywood industries are using the poplar and eucalyptus veneers in combination for

manufacturing the plywood.

The foregoing analysis of policy issues on poplars and willows emanates from

experiences centred almost entirely around poplars. This is a pointer to the lack of focus by

growers and researchers on Salix in India. This is despite the fact that wood of Salix serves as the

raw material for a flourishing cricket bat and handicraft industry in India. Some of the dependent

families have been involved in this profession for over seven decades and are recognized for

their grass-root innovation. Thus the willow bioresource provides a sustainable livelihood,

besides promoting ecological security of the fragile ecosystem in inner Himalayas.

There is a need for conservation and management of the willow diversity and genetic

resource through an integrated approach involving the participation of communities, transfer of

technology, capacity building on value addition and marketability of products for higher income

generation, safeguarding the property rights to indigenous traditional knowledge and strategies

for sustainable livelihood (Biswas and Hussain, 2008). The same is true for indigenous poplars

too since their role has not been fully exploited vis-à-vis exotic poplars.

II. TECHNICAL INFORMATION

1. Identification, registration and varietal control

Report on accomplishments on identification and on proposals made for the registration of

new cultivars of poplars and willows.

Guidelines of Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education for testing and release of

new clones and varieties are in place (ICFRE, 2008). New clones and cultivars of poplars and

willows in the country may be tested and released based on procedure laid down in the guidelines

entitled ‘Approved Guidelines for Testing and Releasing of Tree Varieties and Clones’.

Plant Variety Authority (PVA) is in the process of finalizing the descriptors for poplar for

the registration of poplar clones under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmer’s Rights Act

(2005). It would be now easy to register poplar clones in India now. A set of descriptors has been

submitted to Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmers' Rights Authority Protection by Dr Y.S.

Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan.

Wimco Seedlings had sent six clones for registration with IPC. Some additional information

desired by IPC has been supplied. Two more clones have also been screened and are being sent for

registration with IPC (Dhiman, 2016).


9

Ten prominent clones of P. deltoides were subjected to peroxidase isozyme analysis

(Singh, 2014). The clones were grouped into four groups based on their banding pattern. The

clones, except G48 and L-34, showed district banding patterns.

Ten poplar clones viz. namely G3, G48, S7C1, S7C4, S7C8, S7C20, L34, PP5, Fierelo

and D121 were characterized by Singh (2012) on basis of qualitative (leaf shape, leaf

pigmentation, leaf serration, leaf tip type, ridge line, ridge shape) and quantitative (bud length,

bud diameter, number of buds and internodal length) traits in nursery.

Lubna et al. (2013) described morphological characters of 17 accessions of Salix in

Kashmir valley comprising S. babylonica, S. pychnostachya and S. viminalis.

2. Production Systems and Cultivation

Report separately information on the application of new knowledge, technology and

techniques in application of poplar and willow culture for different purposes, including

production, protection or conservation:

Poplar is a very prominent taxonomic group of tree species in plantation forestry in India.

It occurs in natural forests too. Indigenous poplars occur only in the mountains, and are still to

acquire greater role and share in afforestation/reforestation programmes and conservation

activities in the country. Their natural population is small, and gradually declining. Bulk of the

plantations are composed of Populus deltoides, an exotic species.

(a) Nursery practices and propagation techniques including applications of biotechnology -

particularly plant propagation, reproductive materials, use of GMOs etc.

Among planted poplars, Populus deltoides, P. ciliata, P. nigra and P. alba are routinely

propagated using stem cuttings, whereas P. gamblei, a difficult-to-root species, is propagated

using root cuttings. Dhiman (2013d) described three unorthodox asexual means for mass

multiplication of poplars:(i) mass multiplication from root sprouts, (ii) stem cuttings with budded

scions, and (iii) propagation from leaf cuttings. The first two are operationally applied for mass

multiplication, while the third one needs further research.

Aggarwal et al. (2012) developed an efficient plant regeneration protocol through

micropropagation for P. ciliata using leaf explants and thidiazuron. Petiole explants were also

successfully cultured to regenerate P. ciliata (Aggarwal et al., 2015).

(b) Planted Forests with emphasis on the choice of cultivars, type of plants, spacing and

layout of plantations; planting and tending (fertilization, irrigation, weeding, pruning,

thinning etc.); management (growth, rotation in relation to yields and industrial

requirements).

Planted forests comprise two dominant species:


10

P. alba:

This species is planted in Western Himalayas (i.e. parts of Lahaul, Kinnaur and Kashmir) at

2,500 to 3,300 m altitude. It is severely lopped for fodder.

P. euphratica:

It is planted in cold desert area in Western Himalayas (i.e. parts of Ladakh and Spiti) at 2400 to

4000 m altitude. It is also severely lopped for fodder.

These two species are so widespread that some authors believe them to be indigenous.

In Uttarakhand state (especially Haldwani region) the State Forest Development

Corporation has raised planted forest of P. deltoides for production of industrial wood. It is

worked using clearfelling system at rotation of about 12 years. Planted forest of P. gamblei has

been raised in North Bengal.

Mushtaq et al. (2014) stated that Salix alone comprise a total population of around 37

million trees (departmental and private) in Jammu and Kashmir with further scope for expansion

as permanent marketable carbon sinks owing to the availability of about 15,082 km2 of

wasteland that could be used for plantation forestry.

A survey of Salix alba plantations in Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla and Ganderbal

districts of Jammu and Kashmir revealed the maximum and minimum stem volume of 739.34

and 595.09 cum ha-1

in Bandipora and Anantnag districts respectively (Shah et al., 2015). The

biomass production varied from 429.27 Mg ha-1

in Anantnag to 532.61 t ha-1

in Bandipora.

Salix alba occurs naturally in the entire Lahaul valley, Himachal Pradesh up to an altitude

of 3,850 m (Rawat and Everson, 2013). About 81% of households indicated the scarcity of

willow trees, whereas, 19% of households were satisfied with the willow trees they owned. The

majority of willow species were planted in middle altitudes on privately owned irrigated lands.

(c) Indigenous Forests, with emphasis on experiences and experiments concerning

silvicultural treatments, harvesting, management, protection and regeneration.

Indigenous forests comprise natural stands of indigenous poplars that occur in Northern

and North-Eastern India. Indigenous poplars comprise following species:

P. ciliata:

It is the most extensive indigenous poplar distributed throughout the Himalayas at 1,300 to 3,500

m altitude (Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh). Used forpacking cases, match sticks, fuel, fodder;

also suitable for plywood and hardboards.


11

P. gamblei:

Southernmost species of indigenous poplar in India (27o-30

oN latitude).Occurs in Eastern

Himalayas (North Bengal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh) at 600 to 1,300 m altitude. The

species is used for packing cases and match industries. It has a good growth rate and is suitable

for hybrid development.

P. jacquemontii var. glauca:

Distributed in Eastern Himalayas (North Bengal and Sikkim) at 2,500 to 2,900 m altitude and

bears bi-sexual flowers.

P. rotundifolia:

Occurs in Eastern Himalayas (close to Bhutan border) at 2,300 to 3,050 m altitude.

Some authors consider P. alba and P. euphratica as indigenous species as they grow and

naturally regenerate in several areas.

Among indigenous species, only P. ciliata is grown to a noticeable extent in plantation

programmes in the Himalayan region of North India. It is planted by State Forest Departments

near villages in mixture with other hardwood species. It has also been recommended for

agroforestry plantation around orchards. Due to fast growth rate, it has the potential and scope of

being promoted in the plantation programmes in its natural zone of occurrence. Presently, the

species constitutes a small proportion of trees in the conifer-dominated Himalayan region.

Populus gamblei, an eastern Himalayan poplar, has been found growing around 27

degrees latitude and between 88 to 95 degrees longitude from West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal

Pradesh to Nagaland, as scattered tree in sporadic pockets, and sometime as pure stand specially

at an elevation of 350-1600 m (Chandra, 2015).

Other indigenous species of Populus are not preferred in plantation programmes although

they regenerate naturally.

Verma (2014) found Salix alba as the dominant of the three tree species distributed at

3400-3800 m altitude in Hango valley, Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. Among the shrub species,

Salix fragilis was the dominant among the 15 species of shrubs at 2800-3300 m altitude in

Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary, Kinnaur.

Kaiser et al. (2014) found Salix tetrasperma as a dominant tree species in Dugadda area

in Garhwal Himalaya.

(d) Agroforestry and Trees Outside Forests with emphasis on their effects on forest and

agricultural crops or livestock and diversification of the landscape.


12

(i) Choice of poplar species

P. deltoides is the only species that is planted extensively in agroforestry fields and areas

outside the forest in the country. It was introduced in India in the late 1950s. It is planted in the

plains of North-West India, i.e., Western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana and to some extent

in the outer plains/valleys of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. This species has been

introduced on a large scale (6.60 million plants)in Bihar State (Vaishali District) under central

Government Scheme by ICFRE and a target of 45 million plants has been fixed in second phase

of the scheme to be implemented in other districts of north Bihar.

P. alba and P. euphratica are planted by rural communities in and around their private

land. P. nigra is mostly planted as avenue plantation in Kashmir valley and it does not contribute

significantly to wood supply.

(ii) Planting method

P. deltoides is planted on a significant scale in India. P. deltoides and constitutes the

backbone of agroforestry in irrigated plains of Northern India.

Table 1. Some important statistics about P. deltoides in agroforestry in India.

Particulars Details

States where

planted

Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, outer plains/ valleys in

Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh; a major initiative on introduction in

Bihar has been launched by ICFRE

Planting sites Irrigated agricultural lands (i.e., as agroforestry plantations)

Rotation age 6-8 years

MAI in farmers‟

field

20-25 m3/ha/yr in block plantations, 2-3 m

3/ha/yr in boundary

plantations

Spacing 5m x 4m or 4m x 4m, 5m x 5m, 7m x 3.5 m, 8m x 3m, 7m x 3.5m

spacing as block plantation; or at 2m- 4m spacing in linear rows along

field boundaries

Combination Crops Sugarcane, mentha, wheat, potato, mustard, maize, pulses, vegetables,

fodder crops, medicinal plants etc (but not rice)

Size at harvest Around 30" gbh

Area under P.

deltoides

270,000 ha

None of the indigenous poplar are known to thrive in the poplar growing area in the

plains. P. deltoides clones have been found suitable for growing in the North-Western India over

28o

N latitude. Besides the planting region of poplar which comprises plains and fertile valleys in

North-Western India above 28o N latitude, introduction trials are also underway in other areas,

Planting of poplar was greatly affected by the price fall during 2002-2004. On an


13

average, 1.5 to 2 million plants were annually planted during 1993 to 1998 which rose further to

about 4 million plants per annum in certain years during 1999 to 2001. But price crash reversed

the trend and reduced the planting to 1.5 to 2 million during 2003 (Dhiman, 2004). With the rise

in price of poplar wood again, the demand for planting stock grew. Acreage under annual

planting during 2011-12 approached upper limit as many nursery growers could not find buyers

and saplings of many nurseries remained unsold during this planting season.

The price of poplar wood which peaked to around Rs. 1200 per quintal during 2012-2013

has now declined to about Rs. 550 per quintal now. Sale of poplar plants in the nurseries

declined to a very low level during planting season in 2015.

(iii) Plantation management

Poplar is planted only in irrigated lands in Northern Indian plains. Block plantations are

raised by farmers with large landholding. Owing to the existence of fewer risks and high profits

in poplar cultivation, large farmers and absentee landlords prefer to put their lands under block

plantations of poplar rather than pure agriculture or boundary plantation options. Usually,

spacing of 5 m x 4 m to 4 m x 4 m (and sometimes 3.5 m x 3.5 m) are adopted. Small and

marginal farmers plant poplar on field boundaries at about 3 m spacing between adjacent plants.

Agricultural crops such as sugarcane, wheat, potato, mustard, maize, pulses, vegetables, fodder

crops, medicinal plants etc. are grown in the inter-spaces. Rice is not grown in block plantation

of poplar. Pure poplar is seldom raised. If raised pure, the spacing is kept about 3m x 3m and the

stems remain thin which fetch low price in the market.

When poplar is planted on the field boundaries, kharif as well as rabi crops can be grown

in field throughout the rotation of poplar. In block plantation of poplar, the usual kharif crops can

be grown for two years only; thereafter shade-bearing crops like ginger, turmeric etc. are planted.

However, rabi crops can be grown as usual. Poplar plantations also serve as windbreaks. The

earliest benefit accruing from poplar trees to the farmers is fuelwood from pruning.

Intercropping is almost always preferred as it provides scope for essential food

production besides ensuring higher growth rate of poplar due to frequent irrigation and hoeing

operations for agricultural crops. Dhiman (2012a) reported the results of a survey of 220

plantations from 172 villages, 69 tehsils, 28 districts in four major poplar-growing states viz.

Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Wheat was found as main crop grown in

51.67% cases followed by sugarcane, fodder (shorghum/berseem), maize, jawar/bajra, rice,

dhencha (green manure) and others. The intensity of cropping was more in winter (rabi) season

than in summer (kharif) season. In a case study in Haryana, Deswal et al. (2014) reported that an

average farmer earned 46% higher income from poplar-based agroforestry compared to rice-

wheat crop rotation. In Tarai region of Uttarakhand, poplar-based agrforestry was better than


14

Melia, Leucaena and Eucalyptus based agroforestry achieving higher biological yield of wheat

crop (Sarvade et al., 2014).

Chahal et al. (2012) recorded highest net income (Rs. 64,355 /ha/yr) with poplar +

sugarcane followed by poplar + turmeric (Rs. 59,543/ha/yr) and lowest by poplar + rainfed

wheat (Rs. 18,719 /ha/yr). Poplar alone gave net income of Rs. 20,188/ha/yr. The traditional rice-

wheat crop rotation provided Rs. 22,970/ha/yr as net income. This underscores the hypothesis

that two-tier cropping is more profitable than monocropping.

Chauhan et al. (2015) recorded greater economic benefits from P. deltoides in block

plantation than boundary and sole cropping of rice-wheat (B:C ratio of 3.30, 1.90 and 1.61,

respectively).

Wheat variety NW-1067 and rice variety Narendra Usar-2 were found most suitable for

intercropping with P. deltoides in sodicland (Sirohi et al., 2012).

P. deltoides irrigated at 40 mm CPE (cumulative pan evaporation) gave highest grain

yield of wheat than 60, 80 and 100 mm CPE (Singh, 2013).

Dillseed and celery showed greater promise of inter-cultivation with poplar (Kaur et al.,

2012).Intercropped colocasia yielded lower under Pear x kinnow combination than under poplar,

presumably due to existence of more shade under poplar (Sangwan, 2014). Jat and Thakur

(2012) found that Matricaria chamomilla performed better under P. deltoides than in the open

and recommended growing of this high value cash crop as intercrop with P. deltoides for greater

economic returns. Rani et al. (2013) recommended growing of flowering annuals like Coreopsis

tinctoria, Coreopsis lanceolata, Phlox drumondii and Gaillardia pulchelia with P. deltoides than

wheat for greater economic returns. Singh et al. (2015) recommended growing of soybean

variety PS1225 (yield 2996 kg/ha) with P. deltoides during second year of plantation.

P. deltoides showed relatively less adverse effect on pre-bearing behaviour of pear than

other common agroforestry trees in Punjab (Sangwan et al., 2015). This indicates its better

compatibility with pear rootstock and trees during pre-bearing stage.

Rawat and Everson (2013) reported that Salix fragilis and S. alba are important elements

of cold desert agroforestry and are used as subsistence resources. S. fragilis is cultivated more

commonly than S. alba. A higher density of S. fragilis was recorded at Khoksar (3,200 m) in

plantation forestry on south-facing slopes.

Dhiman (2015d) reported that biparatite, tripartite and qudpartite agreements are in vogue in

agroforestry with special reference to poplar based agroforestry in India. These agreements are for most

of activities related to tree culture, intercrops and both of them and largely honoured (with few

exceptions) by the stake holders.

3. Genetics, Conservation and Improvement

Report research and applications of technology in genetics, conservation and tree

improvement achieved by the following categories:


15

(a) Aigeiros section

In a provenance study of P. deltoides comprising populations collected from southern

part of the USA, Singh et al. (2013b) found that collar diameter of seedlings were in the order of

Southeast Atlantic > Eastern Gulf > East Central. Using parents of existing superior clones, 66

control-pollinated and 20 open-pollinated families were also produced.

Kumar reported results of clones developed from open-pollinated seed introduced by FRI

Dehradun. FRI-AM-59, FRI-AM-58, FRI-AM-44, FRI-AM-41 and FRI-AM-54 were among the

best performers in three sites (Kumar and Singh, 2012). In another study of 69 new clones of P.

deltoides in Punjab, clones FRI-AM-53, FRI-AM-70, FRI-AM-51, FRI-AM-6 and FRI-AM-45

outperformed the commercial clone G48 (Singh et al., 2014).

In a trial of 12 clones at Hoshiarpur, Punjab, Luna et al. (2012) observed greatest volume

production in clone WSL-39. Saralch et al. (2013) observed greater growth of clone WSL-22

than five other clones in pure poplar plantation as well as agroforestry plantation in Ludhiana,

Punjab. Khan et al. (2013) found greater plant height and collar diameter in clones S7C4 and

S7C2 in Kanpur, located in the Central part of Uttar Pradesh.

Singh et al. (2015b) suggested the use of G48, ST-70, D121 and ST-63 as parents for

crossing programme based on general combining ability.

Dhiman et al. (2014) reported occurrence of natural hybrid between P. suaveolens

(female) and P. ciliata (male). Out of 64 hybrid seedlings, 62 resembled the mother parent in leaf

and stem traits.

(b) Leuce section

(c) Tacamahaca section

Masoodi et al. (2014) recorded greater growth of P. ciliata seedlings from forests where

this species is a climax species in comparison with other forests.

(d) Other sections

(e) Willows

From a study of Salix clones introduced in Himachal Pradesh, Singh (2012) found clones

SI-63-016, J-799, PN-722, NZ-1002, PN-733, PN-731, SN-2, Sx61,194 and 084/03 superior to

check clones for the growth traits. These clones were proposed for multi-location testing.

Eighteen selected clones of Salix were studied for genotype x environment interaction in

Himachal Pradesh (Singh et al., 2014c). The clones J-799, SI-63-007 and NZ-1002 were found

most adaptive for volume and SI-63-007 for dbh.

Sharma et al. (2015f) evaluated 15 promising clones of tree willow in the field in

Himachal Pradesh. At five years clones namely J-194, J-799, J-795, PN 722 and NZ 1002 were

found most suitable for larger planting.


16

Singh et al. (2015a) screened Salix hybrids from control pollination and open

pollination. The selected clones were recommended for field trial.

4. Forest Protection

Report on the incidence, scale and impacts of damage in poplars and willows by biotic and

abiotic agents:

(a) Biotic factors including insects, diseases and other animal pests and outline economic

aspects and success of control measures undertaken and damage prevention in the future.

Rattan et al. (2012) reported that the incidence of leaf spot caused by Myrothecium

roridum in poplar nurseries is gradually increasing in Punjab’s sub-mountainous and central

plain region. A chemical method has been proposed for inhibition of the fungus.

Dhiman et al. (2013a) reported that mealy bug is emerging as an important pest of

Populus deltoides in Punjab. Bagwari et al. (2015) reported the occurrence of a new leaf spot

disease in several clones of P. deltoides caused by Curvularia eragrostidis.

Chattopadhyay (2014) reported infestation of P. deltoides leaves by a defoliator in

Ranchi, Jharkhand where this tree was introduced recently.

P. deltoides has been found suitable for planting in sites affected by nematode

Meloidogyne incognita as it proved to be a non-host for this nematode (Sharma et al., 2012b). L-

50/88 and L-156/89 showed greater resistance against poplar defoliator Clostera restitura in

Punjab (Singh and Sangha, 2012).

Clone WSL-22, G48, S7C15 and Udai showed greater resistance against Clostera

fulgurita in Punjab (Sangha, 2013).

(b) Abiotic factors including winds, floods, droughts, pollution and others, and outline

economic aspects and success of control measures undertaken and damage prevention in

the future.

5. Harvesting and Utilization

Report on the application of new knowledge, technologies and techniques in:

(a) Harvesting of poplars and willows.

(b) Utilization of poplars and willows for various wood products

Poplar wood has been rated as more suitable than mango wood for bending by vapour

phase ammonia treatment. Moisture content above FSP (Fibre Saturation Point) is more suitable

for bending (Saloni et al. 2012).

Poonia and Tripathi (2015) found that microwave treatment at 2.45 GHz frequency, 64.4

Wcm-2

intensity and dipping in preservative revealed a remarkable increase in wood permeability

of P. deltoides for preservatives and resins and aided timber drying as well.


17

Dhiman (2013e) reported development of sap stain in poplar wood between harvesting and usage

as a serious problem that reduces the quality and output of products made from such wood. He also

elaborated usage of bleaching powder (H2O2) with small fraction of NaOH that helps in bleaching match

splints and in recovering the wood for this usage.

Singh et al. (2014e) successfully used billets and branches of P. deltoides for cultivation

of Ganoderma lucidum, a medicinally important mushroom. A protocol was developed for

economic cultivation of this mushroom on P. deltoides substrate.

Giving an account of wood-based industry in South Kashmir, Gowher (2012) stated that

625 operational industrial units existed in Anantnag and Pulwama. Cricket bat making (using

willow wood) the largest wood-based industry in Anantnag while it was next to wooden box

making in Pulwama. Veneer peeling employed maximum workers among all wood-based

industries.

(c) Utilization of poplars and willows as a renewable source of energy (“bioenergy”).

-

6. Environmental Applications

Report on the application of new knowledge, technologies and techniques for cultivation of

poplars and willows for:

(a) Site and landscape improvement (bank stabilisation, combating desertification and

salinization, shelterbelts and windbreaks, soil rehabilitation, urban and peri-urban forestry

for climate modification etc).

Biomass, soil organic content, carbon sequestration, nutrient content etc. have been

estimated in different sites by various researchers.

Kapoor and Rawat (2013) suggested use of P. ciliata as a nurse crop for shade bearer

conifers as they observed greater survival of Abies pindrow and Picea smithiana when these

species were planted with nurse crop of P. ciliata.

(b) Phyto-remediation of polluted soil and water (buffer zones, contaminated sites, waste

water management/treatment etc).

Fluoride contaminated (200 ppm and 500 ppm) irrigation water severely impaired

physiological response viz. stomatal conductance, photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, chlorophyll

fluorescence yield, etc. of P. deltoides.

Eight endophytic bacteria have been isolated from the roots of Populus deltoides growing

in non-contaminated sites in Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarakhand (Bisht et al., 2014). SBER3

isolate was able to metabolize wide range of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and other


18

hydrocarbon viz. anthracene, naphthalene, benzene, toluene and xylene on minimal salt basal

medium (MSB) as sole source of carbon and energy. SBER3 degraded 45.6% of PAH in soil

model system after 120 days.

III. GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Administration and Operation of the National Poplar Commission or equivalent

Organization

(a) Indicate here any changes in the composition of the Commission, amendments to its

statutes, changes of address, etc.

The Executive Committee of National Poplar Commission was notified on Feb 10, 2012 with the

following composition:

1. Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education

(ICFRE), Dehradun

Chairman

2. Representative of Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate

Change, GOI (Deputy Inspector General of Forest, Research and

Training)

Member

3. Director, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun Member

4. Deputy Director General (Research), Indian Council of Forestry

Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun

Member

5. Director, Projects and International Cooperation, Indian Council of

Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun

Member

6. PCCF of Himachal Pradesh/ Jammu and Kashmir, State Forest

Department (on rotational basis for a period of two years each)

Member

7. PCCF of Uttarakhand/ Uttar Pradesh, State Forest Department (on

rotational basis for a period of two years each)

Member

8. PCCF of Punjab/Haryana, State Forest Department (on rotational

basis for a period of two years each)

Member

9. PCCF of Bihar/West Bengal, State Forest Department (on rotational

basis for a period of two years each)

Member

10. PCCF of Sikkim/ North Eastern States, State Forest Department (on

rotational basis for a period of two years each)

Member

11. National Focal Point, NPC, Indian Council of Forestry Research and

Education (ICFRE), Dehradun

Member


19

12. Representative from NGOs Member

13. Prof. Kulvir Singh Bangarwa, Hisar Agricultural University

(Representative from universities)

Member

14. Dr. Ramesh Chand Dhiman, WIMCO Seedlings Ltd. (Representative

from industries)

Member

15. Representative from progressive farmers Member

16. Representative from private sector Member

17. Technical Advisor of NPC Member

18. Head, Silviculture Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun Member

Secretary

Subsequently, Sh. Gulshan Ahuja, APCCF, Haryana was nominated as a co-opted

member of NPC. Dr. Dinesh Kumar as Technical Advisor, Sh. Shailendra Semwal, SIDDHAST

as representative from NGOs and Sh Ajit Singh, Nanauta, Saharanpur as representative from

progressive farmers were added as members of the NPC. Sh J.K. Bihani, Managing Director,

Galaxy Plywood Industries, Yamunanagar and Dr N.B. Singh, Professor, Dr Y.S. Parmar

University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan were also included in the Commission.

(b) Report briefly on meetings, congresses and study tours, and on other activities of a

general nature organized by the Commission at the national level.

(1) Meeting of National Poplar Commission on November 1, 2012

The meeting recommended expanding the scope of the NPC to cover fast-growing

species other than poplar and willow too. A working group may be created to identify short-

rotation species for their inclusion under NPC. It was suggested to constitute Working Party to

cover different aspects of poplars and willows. Cultivation of poplar may be extended to other

areas of India keeping in view site suitability. A network may be developed to link all

stakeholders of poplar for information sharing. The meeting also recommended creating a corpus

for proper functioning of NPC. The Secretariat of NPC would be established at FRI Dehradun.

(2) Meeting of National Poplar Commission on March 12, 2013

The NPC recommended for increasing the availability of superior planting material and

cultivation technology of poplar to farmers in eastern Uttar Pradesh to increase their

productivity. A project proposal to address this need was okayed by the Commission for sending

to Council for Science and Technology, Uttar Pradesh. It was advocated that a purchase policy

should be developed for wood and notional support price should be provided for poplar. The


20

policy may be periodically revised. Futures trading which is popular in Scandinavia, may also be

examined for application in India. The Commission complimented the efforts of Forestry

Research and Extension Centre, Patna in development of model polar plantations in Vaishali

district, Bihar under Samudai Adharit Samanvit Van Prabandhan Evam SanrakshanYojna (Bihar

Project) and desired to take steps to make it play bigger role in capacity building during second

phase of the project. It was suggested that farmers and industries should also be invited to the

meetings of NPC. The Commission expressed concern at the shortage of funds for research on

poplar and sought financial help of state forest departments and industry in this direction. It was

also brought to the notice of the NPC that horticultural nurseries are registered under the Seed

Act, and similar mechanism can be followed for registration of poplar nurseries.

(c) Indicate also the difficulties encountered by the Commission in the course of its work

and any lessons learned

The 46th

Executive Committee Meeting of the IPC at Dehradun advocated reforms in IPC

to make it more broad-based by including other fast-growing species in its domain. However, the

required changes are yet to be made in IPC. Poplars and willows represent an important, but

small forest resource in India, if considered at the national level. These species are confined to

north India. Only 1.22 per cent trees in agroforestry plantations belong to poplar, while willow

does not even figure in the list of 40 most important (by number of stems) agroforestry species.

Reforms are required in IPC and matching changes need to be made in National Poplar

Commission so that this body would have a significant role in Indian forestry.

2. Literature

List here publications on poplars and willows issued in the period under review, (2012-

2015) including technical papers presented at meetings, congresses, etc.

Abdul N. and Wani, A. M. 2014.Estimation of correlation coefficient and effect of different

growth regulators and potting media on survival and growth parameters of G48 poplar

clone. International Journal of Farm Sciences. 4(2): 121-129.

Aggarwal, G., Gaur, A. and Srivastava, D. K. 2015. Establishment of high frequency shoot

regeneration system in Himalayan poplar(Populus ciliata Wall. ex Royle) from petiole

explants using Thidiazuron cytokinin as plant growth regulator. Journal of Forestry

Research. 26(3): 651-656.

Aggarwal, G., Sharma, C. and Srivastava, D. K. 2012. Thidiazuron: a potent cytokinin for

efficient plant regeneration in Himalayan poplar(Populus ciliata Wall.) using leaf

explants. Annals of Forest Research. 55(2):179-187.

Andleeb, L., Munshi, A. H. and Dar, A. R. 2013.Cultivation of Salix - a potential bio-energy

crop in the Kashmir Himalaya, India. Current Botany. 4(2):21-26.


21

Arora, G., Chaturvedi, S., Kaushal, R., Nain, A., Tewari, S., Alam, N. M. and Chaturvedi, O. P.

2014.Growth, biomass, carbon stocks, and sequestration in an age series of Populus

deltoides plantations in Tarai region of central Himalaya. Turkish Journal of Agriculture

and Forestry. 38(4): 550-560.

Asif, M. and Zargar, M. Y. 2013. Influence of biofertilizers on rate of decomposition and

nutrient release from litter of crack willow (Salix fragilis) under temperate Himalayan

conditions. International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences, 4(2): B-319-B-324.

Bagwari, A., Singh, Y. P., Kumar, J., Dhiman, R.C. 2015.First report of Curvularia eragrostidis

leaf spot on Populus deltoides. Forest Pathology. 45( 1): 86-87.

Banyal, R. 2014. Managing the flying cotton released by Poplar trees in Kashmir province of

Western Himalayas. Indian Forester. 140(4): 430-432.

Bawa, P.R., Sankhyan, H. P., Nayak, D. and Sharma, S. S. 2015. Land use ecology of major

ecosystems in cold deserts of Himachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Forestry. 38(4): 295-

301.

Benbi, D. K., Brar, K., Toor, A. S., Singh P. and Singh, H. 2012. Soil carbon pools under poplar-

based agroforestry, rice-wheat, and maize-wheat cropping systems in semi-arid India.

Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. 92(1):107-118.

Benbi, D. K., Kiranvir Brar, Toor, A. S., Pritpal Singh. 2015. Total and labile pools of soil

organic carbon in cultivated and undisturbed soils in northern India. Geoderma. 237/238,

pp 149-158

Bhat, G. M., Singh, A., Shazmeen, Q. and Singh, O. 2013.Aeroallergens from poplar trees in

Kashmir Valley of India.Indian Forester.139(11): 995-998.

Bisht, S., Kumar, V., Kumar, M. And Sharma S. 2014. Inoculant technology in Populus

deltoides rhizosphere for effective bioremediation of Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

in contaminated soil, Northern India.Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture.

26(9):786-799.

Bisht, S., Pandey, P., Kaur, G. Aggarwal, H., Sood, A. Sharma, S. Kumar, V. Bisht, N. S. 2014.

Utilization of endophytic strain Bacillus sp. SBER3 for biodegradation of polyaromatic

hydrocarbons (PAH) in soil model system. European Journal of Soil Biology. 60: 67-76.

Bisht, S., Vivek Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Shivesh Sharma. 2014. Inoculant technology in Populus

deltoides rhizosphere for effective bioremediation of Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

in contaminated soil, Northern India. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture 26(9):

786-799.

Biswas, S. and Hussain, S.S. 2008. Livelihood studies of willow-dependent communities of the

Indian trans-Himalayan region with emphasis on Sustainable management of the

bioresource and improved well-being. Presented in 23rd

Session of International Poplar

Commission at Beijing, China Oct 26 to 29, 2008.p. 20.

Chahal, D., Ahmad, A. and Bhatia, J. N. 2012. Assessment of agroforestry based two-tier-

cropping system in Ambala district of Haryana. Agriculture Update. 7(3/4): 210-213.

http://www.cabi.org/forestscience/abstract/20143364074






22

Chandra, P., Thakur, A., Chaturvedi, O. P. and Mehra, T. S. 2015. Boneface Lepcha. Populus

gambleiDode: an eastern Himalayan poplar reported from new sites. Indian Forester.

141(6):705-706.

Charan Singh, Dadhwal K S, Dhiman, R.C., Raj Kumar and Avasthe, R. K. 2012.Allelopathic

effects of Paulownia and poplar on wheat and maize crops under agroforestry systems in

Doon Valley, Indian Forester. 137(11): 986-990.

Charles, J. G., Nef, L., Allegro, G., Collins, C. M., Delplanque, A., Gimenez, R., Hoglund, S.,

Jiafu, H., Larsson, S. Luo, Y., Parra, P., Singh, A. P., Volney, W. J. A. and Augustin, S.

2014. Insect and other pests of poplars and willows. Poplars and willows: trees for

society and the environment. pp 459-526.

Chattopadhyay, S. 2014. Leaf infestation of poplars by Meroctenatullalis Walker (Lepidoptera:

Pyralidae) in Jharkhand. Journal of Interacademicia. 18(2): 333-334.

Chauhan, S. K., Brar, M. S. And Sharma, R. 2012. Performance of poplar (Populus

deltoidesBartr.) and its effect on wheat yield under agroforestry system in irrigated agro-

ecosystem, India. Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences. 10(1): 53-60.

Chauhan, S. K., Sharma, R., Singh, B. and Sharma, S. C. 2015.Biomass production, carbon

sequestration and economics of on-farm poplar plantations in Punjab, India. Journal of

Applied and Natural Science. 7(1): 452-458.

Choudhary, P. and Singh, N.B. 2013. Collection viability and storage behaviour of pollen of

some willow species/clones. Indian Forester. 139(8):706-713.

Choudhary, P., Singh, N.B. and Verma, A. 2015. Genetic analysis in intra- and inter-specific

crosses of tree willows. Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding. 75(3): 372-378.

Choudhary, P., Singh, N.B., Verma, A. and Sharma, J. P. 2013.Crossability relationship among

tree willows (Salix spp.) and molecular genetic variation among their progenies. Indian

Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding. 73(3): 302-309.

Dar, J. A. and Sundarapandian, S. 2015. Variation of biomass and carbon pools with forest type

in temperate forests of Kashmir Himalaya, India. Environmental Monitoring and

Assessment. 187(2):55.

DARE, 2014. National Agroforestry Policy. Department of Agriculture Research and Education.

http://www.nrcaf.res.in/NAF_Policy.pdf

Datt, N., Sood, B. R., Kumar, N. and Sharma, V. K. 2012. Forage production and soil fertility as

affected by introduction of high yielding species in dry temperate pasture of north

western Himalaya. Range Management and Agroforestry. 33(1):73-78.

Deswal, A. K., Neeraj Pawar, Raman, R. S., Yadav, J. N., Yadav, V. P. S.2014. Poplar (Populus

deltoides) based agroforestry system: a case study of Southern Haryana. Annals of

Biology. 30(4): 699-70.

Dhiman, R.C. 2004. Availability of poplar wood – a boon for plywood industry. Ply Gazette.

August 2004. p. 64-72.

Dhiman, R.C. 2008. Employment generation through poplar farming and utilization. In:

Proceedings of the National Workshop on Role of Forestry in Employment generation and


23

rural development (eds. SS Negi, RK Srivastava and Ombir Singh). pp. 95-104. FRI,

Dehradun (29 – 30 Aug., 2006).

Dhiman, R.C.2012a. Diagnosis of intercrops in poplar based agroforestry. Indian Forester.

138(7):600-609

Dhiman, R.C. 2012b. An innovative partnership arrangement for poplar-based agroforestry

systems in India. Asia-Pacific Agroforestry Network (APAN). APANews, 40: 4-6.

Dhiman, R.C. 2012c. High quality poplar culture in India inspires overseas delegates of

International Poplar Commission (IPC). Ply Gazette Dec. 2012. pp. 68-74.

Dhiman, R.C. 2012d. Poplar plantations and wood price trends during 2011. Ply Gazette. March

2012. pp.66-72 and 127-132 (in Hindi).

Dhiman, R.C. 2012e. Status of poplar culture in India. ENVIS Forestry Bulletin. 12(1):15-32.

Dhiman, R.C. 2012f. Transforming Rural Uttar Pradesh through Integrating Tree Culture on

Farm Land: A Case Study of WIMCO’s Poplar Programme.LMA Convention Journal.

8(1): 85-98.

Dhiman, R.C. 2013a. Expanding the planting window for poplars. Poplar and Willow Newsletter

of the International Poplar Commission. Issue No. 2, Nov., 2013, pp. 4-6. (Also

published in Ply World Dec. 13 - Jan.14, pp. 29-30).

Dhiman, R.C. 2013b. Status and impact of commercial agroforestry in India. Indian Journal of

Agroforestry.15(2): 55-67.

Dhiman, R.C. 2013c. Treatment of fungal infected sapstain for veneer products (from poplar).

Ply Gazette. June 2013, pp. 92-99 (English), (134-137 Hindi).

Dhiman, R.C. 2013d. Unorthodox asexual means for mass multiplication of poplars. Poplar and

willow, Newsletter of the International Poplar Commission. Issue No. 1, June 2013. pp.7-

8.

Dhiman, R.C. (2013e). Treatment of fungal infected sapstain for veneer products (from poplar). Ply

Gazette. June 2013, pp. 92-99 (English), (134-137 Hindi).

Dhiman, R.C. 2014a. Poplars in India: Past, Present and Future. In (eds: P P Bhojvaid and N

Khandekar) Sustainable Forest Management for Multiple Values: A Paradigm Shift.

Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, pp 183-206.

Dhiman, R.C. 2014b. Status of poplar and willow culture in Himachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of

Ecology 41(1):1-9.

Dhiman, R.C. 2015a. Contractual arrangements for sustaining agroforestry with special reference

to WIMCO’s poplar program (Chapter 8). In: Agroforestry: Present Status and Way

Forward (Eds. S.K. Dhyani, Ram Newaj, Badre Alam and Inder Dev), ISBN 978-81-

7622-349-2. Biotech Books, New Delhi, pp.135-168.

Dhiman, R.C. 2015b. Integration of Poplar improvement programme with its end-use: WIMCO’s

experience. Indian Journal of Ecology (Accepted)

Dhiman, R.C. 2015c. Poplar culture in Zimbabwe. Consultancy report submitted to the Forestry

Commission, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management, Govt. of

Zimbabwe, Harare.



24

Dhiman, R.C. 2015d. Contractual arrangements for sustaining agroforestry with special reference to

WIMCO’s poplar program (Chapter 8). In: Agroforestry: Present Status and Way Forward (Eds.

S K Dhyani, Ram Newaj, Badre Alam and Inder Dev), ISBN 978-81-7622-349-2. Biotech Books,

New Delhi, pp.135-168.

Dhiman, R.C. and Gandhi, J.N 2012a. Clonal development and diversity in WIMCO’s poplar

programme. ENVIS Forestry Bulletin. 12(1): 40-48.

Dhiman, R.C., and R.C. and Gandhi, J.N. 2012b. Management of mealy bug (Drosciha

stenbbingi) in poplar based agroforestry in Bilaspur, Uttar Pradesh. Indian Journal J. of

Agroforestry.14(7): 73-75.

Dhiman, R.C. and Gandhi, J.N. 2013. Insect and diseases management of tree grown in

commercial agroforestry in north India: Wimco’s experience. In: (eds. A. Balu, R S C

Jayaraj, A Regupathy, V Mohan, Rekha R Warrier, T P Raghunath and N Krishnakumar)

Forest Health Management. IFGTB, Coimbatore, pp. 237-254.

Dhiman, R.C. and Dhiman, D. 2015. Quantification of wood wastage in mechanized match

manufacturing (from poplar wood). International Journal of Engineering and Technical

Research (IJETR) ISSN: 2321-0869, 3(2): 51-57.

Dhiman, R.C. and Gandhi, J.N. 2015a. Development and release of clones: A case study of 1999

poplar breeding population at Wimco Seedlings. (submitted to Indian Journal of Tree

Sciences).

Dhiman, R.C. and Gandhi, J.N. 2015b. Growing Sweet Corn under a series of poplar plantations.

Accepted for publication in Indian Jounal of Agroforestry (Accepted).

Dhiman, R.C. and Jagdish Chandar 2012.Expanding poplar culture and plywood industry. Ply

World. April-May 2012:29-30.

Dhiman, R.C., Chander Sekhar and Gandhi, J.N. 2013a. Mealy bug - An emerging major pest of

poplar in Punjab. Indian Farmers’ Digest. 46(3): 41-43.

Dhiman, R.C., Gandhi, J.N. and Pande, P. K. 2014. Natural hybridization between Populus

suaveolens Fisch.and Populus ciliata Wall. ex Royale. Indian Forester. 140(8): 753-757.

Dhiman, R.C., Gandhi, J.N. and Singh, Y.P. 2015. Heat injury to freshly planted poplar seedlings

in nurseries. Accepted for publication in Indian Farmers’ Digest.

Dhiman, R.C., Gandhi, J.N., Uniyal, K., Bagwari, A. and Kavita. 2013. Symptoms and control of

four major fungal diseases of poplar nurseries in Tarai Region of Uttarakhand. Indian

Farmer’s Digest. pp 40-42.

Dogra, A. S., Nautiyal, S. and Nautiyal, D. P. 2014. Contribution of Populus deltoides to farm

economy of Punjab. Indian Forester.140(8): 758-762.

Gangoo, S. A., Masoodi, T. H., Murtaza, S. and Islam, M. A. 2015. Management of exotic

poplars for production of quality timber and reducing cotton menace in Kashmir (J & K).

Indian Forester. 141(5): 514-519.

Gattoo, A. A. 2013. An overview of exotic forestry in India. Annals of Agri Bio Research. 18(1):

55-61.


25

Gaur, A. and Gupta, S. R. 2012.Impact of agroforestry systems on carbon sequestration in

northern Haryana, India. International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences,

38(2/3):73-85.

Grewal, G. K., Gill, R. I. S., Dhillon, G. P. S. and Vikal, Y. 2014. Molecular characterisation and

genetic diversity analysis of Populus deltoides Bartr.ex Marsh. clones using SSR

markers. Indian Journal of Biotechnology. 13(3): 388-397.

Gulzar, P., Kausar, T., Sahaf, K. A., Munshi, N. A., Ahmad, S. and Raja, T. A. 2013. Screening

of ethanolic extracts of various botanicals against Fusarium pallidoroseum. (Cooke)

Sacc. - the causal agent of twig blight of mulberry. Indian Journal of Sericulture. 52(1):

24-28.

Gupta, A., Das, S. P., Ghosh, A., Choudhary, R., Das, D., and Goyal Arun 2014.Bioethanol

production from hemicellulose rich Populus nigra involving recombinant hemicellulases

from Clostridium thermocellum. Bioresource Technology. 165: 205-213

Gupta, M. K. and Sharma, S. D. 2012. Sequestered organic carbon status in the soils supporting

different tree plantations in Uttarakhand state of India. International Journal of Research

in Chemistry and Environment (IJRCE). 2(2): 32-37.

Gupta, M.K. and Sharma, S. D. 2015. Carbon sequestration in the soils under different

plantations in Haryana state, India. International Journal of Environmental Sciences.

5(5): 919-926.

Gupta, M.K., Sharma, S. D. and Kumar, M. 2014. Carbon sequestration in the soils under

different land uses in Panchkula district of Haryana.Indian Journal of Forestry. 37(3):

241-248.

Gupta, M. K., Sharma, S. D. and Kumar, M. 2014. Sequestered organic carbon status in the soils

under different land uses in northern region of Haryana.Annals of Forestry. 22(1):19-32.

Gupta, R. K., Gani, M., Kaul, V., Bhagat, R. M., Bali, K. and Samnotra, R. K. 2016. Field

evaluation of Lymantria obfuscata multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus for the management of

Indian gypsy moth in Jammu & Kashmir, India. Crop Protection. 80:149-158.

Gupta, S. R. 2012 Impact of agroforestry systems on carbon sequestration in Northern Haryana.

International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences. 38(4): 161-162

Huse, S. K. A., Singh, N.B., Choudhary, P., Sharma, J. P., Thakur, I. K. and Anand, R. K.

2015.Variability estimate of growth and physiological parameters among commercially

important tree willows. Indian Forester. 141(5): 505-513.

Iqbal, K., Bhat, J. A., Pala, N. A. Hussain, A. and Negi, A. K. 2014.Carbon and biomass density

of trees in Duggada area of Garhwal Himalaya, India. Indian Forester. 140(1):18-22.

Iqbal, K., Pala, N. A., Bhat, J. A. and Negi, A. K. 2012. Regeneration status of trees around

Khohriver in Garhwal Himalaya. Indian Journal of Forestry. 35(4): 471-476.

Jat, S. R. and Thakur, P. S. 2012. Growth and physiological responses of Matricaria chamomilla

to different doses of organic manures under poplar based agroforestry systems. Journal of

Non-Timber Forest Products. 19(2): 81-88.






26

Jha, R.K. 2012.A study of variability, associations, and path analysis in poplar (Populus

deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh).Journal of Sustainable Forestry. 31(3):185-204.

Kalia, S. and Semwal, D. P. 2014. Biology of Parasalepida Cramer (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae)

on Populus from India.I ndian Journal of Entomology. 76(4): 296-298.

Kanime, N., Kaushal, R., Tewari, S. K., Raverkar, K. P., Chaturvedi, S. and Chaturvedi, O. P.

2013.Biomass production and carbon sequestration in different tree-based systems of

Central Himalayan Tarai region. Forests, Trees and Livelihoods. 22(1): 38-50.

Kapoor, K. S. and Rawat, R. S. 2013.Intercultivation of Populus ciliata as a nurse crop: it's effect

on survival and growth performance of Abies pindrow and Picea smithiana. Indian

Journal of Forestry. 36(4): 431-434.

Kaur, N., Gill, R. I. S. and Singh, B. 2012. Effect of seed rate and nitrogen on growth and yield

of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) intercropped with poplar. Journal of Non-Timber

Forest Products. 19(4): 253-256.

Kaur, N., Singh, B. and Gill, R. I. S. 2012. Intercropping of medicinal and spice crops under

different agroforestry tree species in Punjab. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products.

19(3):167-173.

Kaushal R, Dhiman,R.C.,Tewari S., Chauhan, S. and Chaturvedi, O. P. 2015. Poplar utpadan,

ropan and pravandhan (in Hindi).Under publication in Farmer’s Digest.

Kaushal, R. and Dhiman, R.C. 2015. Decision Support System for Poplar. Submitted to ENVIS.

Khaket, T. P., Kumar, V., Singh, J. and Dhanda, S. 2014. Biochemical and physiological studies

on the effects of senescence leaves of Populus deltoides on Triticumvulgare. The

Scientific World Journal. Article ID 126051.

Khan, M. R., Ashwani Kumar, Khan, S. A. 2013.Studies on important plant characters of poplar

(Populus deltoides) for agroforestry system of Central Uttar Pradesh. Journal of Non-

Timber Forest Products. 20(1): 1-5.

Kumar, R. 2004. Studies on agroforestry systems and development of suitable agroforestry

models in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Final Project Report. Forest

Research Institute, Dehradun. 64 p.

Kumar, D. and Singh, N.B. 2012. Status of poplar introduction in India. ENVIS Forestry

Bulletin. 12(1): 9-14.

Lodhiyal, L. S. and Lodhiyal, N.2014.Impact of varying densities of poplar (Populus deltoides)

plantation on soil physico-chemical properties in the Tarai region of Uttarakhand. Indian

Journal of Soil Conservation. 42(3): 298-304.

Luna, R. K., Thakur, N. S. and Kumar, V. 2012. Growth performance of twelve new clones of

Populus deltoides in Punjab, India. Indian Forester. 138(12):1077-1080.

Mandal, B. S., Mandal, N., Singh, Y. P., Kaushik, J. C., Ajit. 2013. Involvement of farmers for

adoption of agroforestry system is the today's need. Progressive Research. 8(1): 183-185.

Masoodi, T. H., Ahmad, H., Gangoo, S. A., Sofi, P. A., Bhat, M. A. and Islam, M. A. 2014.

Ecological occurrence of Himalayan poplar (Populus ciliata Wallich ex Royle) and its

nursery evaluation under temperate conditions of Kashmir. The Bioscan, 9(2): 585-588.








27

Masoodi, T. H., Masoodi, N. A., Gangoo, S. A., Mushtaq, S. M. and Ahmad, H. 2013.

Comparative field performance of some agricultural crops under a canopy of Populus

deltoides and Ulmus wallichiana. Journal of Forestry Research, 24(4):783-790.

Mushtaq, S. M., Masoodi, T. H., Khan, P. A. and Parrey, G. N. 2014. Biomass production and

carbon sequestration potential of Salix alba plantations under temperate conditions of

Kashmir (India).International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences. 5(2): B-223-B-230.

Nabi, G., Mugloo, J. A., Singh, A. and Bhat, G. M. 2012. Status, raw material requirement and

employment generation of wood based industries in South Kashmir. 25(2): 567-569.

Pande, P. K. and Dhiman, R.C. 2015.Variation in growth traits in different progenies of Populus

deltoides Bartr.ex Marsh. Indian Forester. 141(11):1124-1128.

Pande, P. K., Aziz, M., Uniyal, S., and Dhiman, R.C., 2012. Variation in wood anatomical

properties and specific gravity in relation to sexual dimorphism in Populus deltoides

Bartr.Ex Marsh. Current Science. 102(11):1580-1585.

Pande, P.K., and Dhiman, R.C., 2012. Variations in wood anatomical properties and specific

gravity of half sib progenies of Populus deltoides. Journal of Forestry Research. 23(3):

491-496.

Panwar S. and Wani, A. M. 2014.Economic analysis of different organic manures in sweet

potato production under poplar-based agroforestry system. International Journal of Farm

Sciences. 4( 4): 117-121.

Panwar, P., Pal, S., Chakravarty, S. and Alam, M. 2013. Soil quality and production of low land

paddy under agrisilviculture systems in acid soil of West Bengal, India.Range

Management and Agroforestry. 34(1):51-57.

Panwar, S. and Wani, A. M. 2014.Economic analysis of different organic manures in sweet

potato production under poplar-based agroforestry system. International Journal of Farm

Sciences. 4(4):117-121.

Poonam, Bawa, R., Sankhyan, H. P., Nayak, D., Sharma, S. S.2015. Land use ecology of major

ecosystems in cold deserts of Himachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Forestry. 38(4): 295-

301.

Poonia, P. K. and Tripathi, S. 2015. Effect of microwave treatment on permeability of Populus

deltoides Bartr.wood. Indian Forester. 141(5): 528-532.

Puranik, H. V., Nain, A. S. and Murty, N. S. 2015.Site suitability analysis for Willow tree

plantation in Uttarakhand using GIS. Current World Environment. 10(1):288-295.

Rani S., Chauhan, S. K., Dha, K. K. and Sharma, R., 2014.Flower seed production for

remunerative returns under poplar based agroforestry system. Proceedings of

International Workshop on Women in Agroforestry, 28-29 November 2013, Kathmandu,

Nepal, 2014.pp 82-95.

Rattan, G. S., Singh, P.,Chowdary, R. N. V. V. 2012.Studies on Myrothecium roridum - an

emerging problem of tree species in the nurseries of Punjab. Plant Disease Research

(Ludhiana), 27(1):60-65.







28

Rawat, L., Kamboj, S. K. and Kandwal, A. 2015.Biomass expansion factor and root-to-shoot

ratio of some tree species of Punjab, India. Indian Forester. 141(2):146-153.

Rawat, Y. S. and Everson, C. S. 2013.Availability and use of willow species in representative

cold desert areas of northwestern Himalaya, India. Journal of Mountain Science. 10(3):

472-481.

Saloni, P., Kumar, D. andUpreti, N. K. 2015.Plasticization of mango and poplar wood using

vapour phase ammonia treatment. Indian Forester.141(11):1137-1142.

Sangha, K. S. 2013. Larval performance and oviposition preference of Clostera fulgurita

(Walker) (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) on Populus deltoides clones. Journal of Insect

Science (Ludhiana). 26(2): 258-264.

Sangwan, A. K. 2014. Physiological behaviour and yield evaluation of colocasia under agri-

horti-silviculture system. Hort Flora Research Spectrum. 3(2):114-121.

Sangwan, A. K., Dhillon, W. S., Singh, H., Singh, N. P., Chohan, S. K., Gill, P. P. S. 2015

Influence of horti-silviculture combinations on pre-bearing growth and physiological

parameters of pear. Indian Journal of Horticulture. 72(1): 21-27.

Sarvade, S., Mishra, H. S., Kaushal, R., Chaturvedi, S. and Tewari, S. 2014. Wheat

(Triticumaestivum L.) yield and soil properties as influenced by different agri-silviculture

systems of Terai region, northern India. International Journal of Bio-resource and Stress

Management. 5(3):350-355.

Shah, M., Masoodi, T. H., Khan, P. A., Wani, J. A. and Mir, S. A. 2015. Vegetation analysis and

carbon sequestration potential of Salix alba plantations under temperate conditions of

Kashmir, India. Indian Forester.141(7): 755-761.

Sharma, J. P., Singh, N.B., Thakur, I. K. and Chaudhary, P. 2015. Field performance and genetic

parameters of newly introduced tree willow (Salix species) clones. Indian Forester.

141(8):854-860.

Sharma, N.K., Singh, R. J. and Kumar, K. 2012a. Dry matter accumulation and nutrient uptake

by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under poplar (Populus deltoides) based agroforestry

system. ISRN Agronomy.

Sharma, S.K., Singh, H. and Sultan, M. S. 2012b. Evaluation of some fruit and agroforestry

plants against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Plant Disease Research

(Ludhiana), 27(1):121-122.

Sharma, S., Singh B. and Sikka R. 2015.Soil organic carbon and nitrogen pools in a

chronosequence of poplar (Populus deltoides) plantations in alluvial soils of Punjab,

India. Agroforestry Systems. 89(6):1049-1063.

Singh, A., Singh, R. P. and Kaur, H. 2013. Response of wheat to different irrigation regimes

given under poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex. Marsh) based agro forestry system.


Singh, B. And Gill, R.I.S. 2014.Carbon sequestration and nutrient removal by some tree species

in an agrisilviculture system in Punjab, India. Range Management and Agroforestry.

35(1):107-114.




29

Singh, B. and Sharma, K. N. 2012. Concentration of nutrients in litterfall of some tree species in

various agroclimatic zones of Punjab. Indian Journal of Forestry. 35(4): 421-424.

Singh, B. and Singh, N.B. 2013. Variation and genetic correlation in growth and branching

characters of Populus deltoides Bartr. clones. Indian Forester.139(8): 667-673.

Singh, C., Dadhwal, K.S., Dhiman R.C., Kuma, R. and Avasthe, R. K. 2012.Allelopathic effects

of Paulownia and poplar on wheat and maize crops under agroforestry systems in Doon

Valley. Indian Forester. 137(11): 986-990.

Singh, G. and Sangha, K. S. 2012.Ovipositional preference and larval performance of poplar

defoliator, Clostera restitura on different poplar clones in north-western India. Journal of

Forestry Research. 23(3): 447-452.

Singh, M.K. 2012. Morphological markers for identification of Populus deltoides clones in

nursery. Hort Flora Research Spectrum. 1(4):383-384.

Singh, M.K. 2014. Analysis of peroxidase isozyme for identification of poplar clones. Hort

Flora Research Spectrum. 3(1):91-93.

Singh, M. K., Singh, N.B., Sankhyan, H. P. and Naik, P. K. 2014a. Congruence of random

amplification of polymorphic deoxyribonucleic acid (RAPD) and simple sequence

repeats (SSR) markers in genetic characterization of willow (Salix spp.). African Journal

of Biotechnology. 13(32): 3217-3229.

Singh, M., Verma, K. K. and Verma, C. L. 2013a. An approach to develop a model for

describing the influence of fluoride-contaminated irrigation water on physiological

responses in poplar (Populus deltoides clone S7C15). Acta Physiologiae Plantarum.

35(12): 3357-3364.

Singh, N.B., Choudhary, P., Joshi, S., Srivastava, D. K. and Sharma, J. P. 2014b. Molecular

characterization of promising willow clones using RAPD markers. Indian Forester

140(5): 456-461.

Singh, N.B., Kumar, D., Gupta, R. K., Kumar P. and Singh K. 2013b.Improvement of Populus

deltoides Bartr.ex Marsh. In India - provenance variation and intraspecific breeding.


Singh, N.B., Sharma, J. P., Choudhary, P. and Gupta, R. K. 2014c.Genotype x environment

interaction and growth stability of exotic tree willow (Salix spp.) clones. Indian Journal

of Genetics and Plant Breeding. 74(2): 222-228.

Singh, N.B., Sharma, J. P., Huse, S. K., Thakur, I. K., Gupta, R. K. and Sankhyan, H. P. 2012.

Heritability, genetic gain, correlation and principal component analysis in introduced

willow (Salix species) clones. Indian Forester. 138(12):1100-1109.

Singh, N.B., Sharma, J. P., Singh, M. K. and Sankhyan, H. P. 2015a. Performance of new clones

of willow (Salix species) developed through inter and intraspecific hybridization and

open pollinated progenies. International Journal of Farm Sciences. 5(3):134-144.

Singh, N.B., Singh K. and Choudhary, P. 2015b.Correlation coefficients and path analysis of

quantitative characters in full-sib progenies of Populus deltoides Bartr.Indian Journal of

Genetics and Plant Breeding. 75(1):145-149.


30

Singh, N.B., Singh, B. And Kumar, D. 2014d. Genetic analysis of poplar (Populus deltoides

Bartr.) clones for early generation selection. Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant

Breeding. 74(4): 487-495.

Singh, N.B., Singh, M. K., Naik, P. K., Thakur, S. and Sharma, J. P. 2013. Analysis of genetic

diversity in female, male and half sibs willow genotypes through RAPD and SSR

markers. African Journal of Biotechnology. 12(29): 4578-4587.

Singh, N.B., Singh, K., and Choudhary 2015c. Studies on heterotic parameters in Populus

deltoides. Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding. 75(3): 400-403.

Singh, N. R., Mishra, H. S., Tewari, S. K. and Chaturvedi, S. 2015d. Suitability of soybean

varieties under second year Populus deltoides plantation in tarai region of Uttarakhand.

Indian Forester, 141(9): 981-984.

Singh, S., Harsh, N. S. K. and Gupta, P. K. 2014e. A novel method of economical cultivation of

medicinally important mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum. International Journal of

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (IJPSR). 5(5): 2033-2037.

Singh, Y. P., Uniyal, K., Bagwari, A., Kavita, Barthwal, S., Dhiman, R.C., and Gandhi, J.N.

2012c. Status of poplar diseases in India. ENVIS Forestry Bulletin. 12(1):84-99.

Sirohi, C. and Bangarwa, K. S. 2015. Nutrient status of soil under different spacings of poplar

(Populus deltoides) based agroforestry system in semi-arid region of Haryana.

International Journal of Tropical Agriculture. 33(2) (Part III):1245-1248.

Sirohi, C., Bangarwa, K. S. and Dhillon, R. S. 2015.Evaluation of poplar (Populus deltoides)

boundary plantation based agri-silvicultural system for soil chemical properties.

International Journal of Tropical Agriculture, 2015, 33, 2 (Part III), pp 1241-1244.

Sirohi, C., Rao, O. P. and Rana, B. S. 2012. Varietal comparison of wheat and paddy under

Populus deltoides based agri-silvicultural system in sodic soil. Indian Journal of

Forestry. 35(3): 291-294.

Tripathi, S. K. 2012. Impact assessment of field boundary planted poplar (Populus deltoids) on

wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Uttarakhand. Indian Journal of Agronomy. 57(4): 338-342.

Verma, A., Saralch, H. S., Chauhan, S., Saresh, N. V., Sankanur, M. and Srivastva, V. 2013.

Growth behaviour of poplar (Populus deltoides) clones under farm forestry. Indian

Forester. 139(12):1079-1083.

Verma, R. K. and Kapoor, K. S. 2013.Floristic diversity along an altitudinal gradient in Namgia

valley of cold desert in district Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. Indian Forester. 139(3): 202-

211.

Verma, R. K. 2014. Altitudinal gradients affecting floristic diversity in Shingan valley of

Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary district Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. Indian

Journal of Forestry. 37(1):25-34.

Verma, R. K. 2014. Floristic diversity along an altitudinal gradients in Hango valley of cold

desert in district Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. Biological Forum. 6(2):115-126.






31

Yadav, Y. S., Lal, S. B. and Mehra, B. S. 2014.Productivity and economics of wheat (Triticum

aestivum) under poplar (Populus deltoides) plantation with different fertility levels.

Trends in Biosciences. 7(18): 2845-2848.

Yadav, Y. S., Lal, S. B., Mehra, B. S. 2014.Productivity and economics of wheat (Triticum

aestivum) under poplar (Populus deltoides) plantation with different fertility levels.

Trends in Biosciences. 7(18): 2845-2848.

Yangdol, Y., Kumar, S. and Sharma, Y. P. 2014. A new edible variety of Laetiporus sulphurous

from the cold desert of Ladakh.Journal of Mycology and Plant Pathology. 44(4): 463-

465.

Zaka-Ur-Rab, M. 2013. The sawfly, Pontaniaviminalis (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae)

producing Pea-Galls on leaves of Salix fragilis, in Ladakh (Kashmir). Bionotes.

15(4):103.

3. Relations with other countries

Include here information also on the international exchange of cuttings and plants of

poplars and willows, training etc.

India organised the 24th Session of the International Poplar Commission and 46th

Session of its Executive Committee during Oct 29 to Nov 2, 2012.

Forest Research Institute, Dehradun obtained cuttings of one cultivar of Salix alba from

Hungary.

4. Innovations not included in other sections

List here any new developments not included elsewhere.

Bhat et al. (2013) reported about the incidence of aero-allergy, characterized by lung and

throat infection, from P. deltoides seed cotton in Kashmir valley during April-May months.

Detailed clinical studies are required. Gangoo et al. (2015) recommended lateral pruning (at least

50% clear bole) as a means of reducing cotton menace as well as producing quality timber in P.

deltoides. Banyal (2014) suggested to plant male and female cultivars in suitable ratio to manage

the problem of flying cotton.

A new edible variety mushroom, Laetiporus sulphureus var. himalayansis var. nov., was

collected from Salix alba in the Trans-Himalayan part of Leh district, Jammu and Kashmir

(Yangdol, 2014).

IV. SUMMARY STATISTICS (Questionnaire)

Complete the attached questionnaire on poplars and willows summarizing statistics of key

parameters in poplar and willow resources, production, utilization, trade and future trend.

See the following pages

QUESTIONNAIRE ON POPLARS AND WILLOWS 2012 - 2015


32

INTRODUCTION

The questionnaire on poplars and willows is designed to complement the Country Reports for the

25th IPC Session in 2016.

Response to the questionnaire is crucial for FAO to allow country, regional and global analyses of

status and trends in forest sector development and to assist in improving formulation of policies,

preparing outlook studies and undertaking planning, management, monitoring and reporting.

We understand the difficulties that experts may find in providing such information, however in

lack of detailed statistical data, aggregated data and/or best professional estimates are also very

much appreciated.

CONTACTS For queries in completing this questionnaire please contact:

IPC-Secretariat, [email protected], or

Mr. Walter Kollert, IPC- [email protected]

Thank you very much for your cooperation !

We would appreciate your contact details in case we may have any queries

Country India

Contact person Dr Dinesh Kumar

Position of contact person: Technical Advisor (National Poplar Commission, India) and

Scientist F, Silviculture Division, Forest Research Institute,

Dehradun, India

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: +91 135 222 4610

References:

National Poplar Commission, 2011. India Country Report on Poplars and Willows. Period 2008-2011.

Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dehradun, India.61 p.

Dhiman, R.C. 2016. Personal communication on estimates of area under poplars and willows in India.

Dated 27 March – 2 April 2016.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


33

Question 1:Total area of poplars and willows 2015 and area planted from 2012 to 2015 (area

change over the last 4 years)

The main FAO forest categories can be classified as:

Indigenous forest forest of native species, where there are no clearly visible indications of human activities

Planted forest forest of native species, or of introduced species, established through planting or seeding mainly for

production of wood or nonwood goods and/or provision of environmental services

Agroforestry/trees

outside forests (TOF):

Stands smaller than 0.5 ha; trees in agricultural land (agroforestry systems, homegardens, orchards);

trees in urban environments; and scattered along roads and in landscapes

In the following table please indicate for the year 2015 the area (ha) of poplars and willows, the forest area allocated to forest

functions (%) and the area planted (afforestation and reforestation) from 2012 to 2015 (4 years).

Please note that the total of the four forest functions cannot be more than 100% horizontally

Forest category

Total

Area 2015

(ha)

Total area by forest function in %

Area planted from 2012-

2015. (reforestation and

afforestation)

(ha)

Production

Protec-tion

(%)

Other*

(%)

Industrial

roundwood,

(%)

Fuelwood

biomass

(%)

Indigenous Poplars 47,000 40 20 40 - 0

Willows 108,000 0

Mix of P&W 5,000 0

Total 160,000 0

Planted Poplars 800 90 5 5 - 100

Willows 1000 10 40 25 25 -

Mix of P&W - - - - - -

Total 1,800 100


34

Agrofor./

TOF

Poplars 270,000 100 - - - -45,000

Willows 28,300 25 40 10 25 -

Mix of P&W - -

Total 298,300 -45,000

Grand Total 460,100 -44,900


35

Question 2: Wood removals in 2015

Please quantify by forest category, species and/or cultivar the wood removals in cubic metre (m³) of each respective product. If

possible group the total removals according to industrial roundwood and fuelwood/woodchips.

Forest category and species,

cultivar or clone

Wood removals 2015 in m3

Total removals for industrial roundwood for fuelwood, wood

chip Veneer/plywood Pulpwood Sawnwood

Indigenous poplars

P. ciliata Data not

available

Data not available Data not available Data not available Data not available

P. gamblei Data not

available


P. jacquemontii var.

glauca

Data not

available


P. rotundifolia Data not

available


Indigenous willows

Several species Data not

available


Planted poplars

P. deltoides Data not

available


P. nigra Data not

available


P. alba Data not

available


P. euphratica Data not

available


Planted willows

P. alba ssp.

coerulea

Data not

available



36

P. alba var. alba Data not

available


S. tetrasperma Data not

available


S. acmophylla Data not

available


S. fragilis Data not

available


Question 3: Forest products from poplars and willows 2015

Please list by forest category the products that have been produced from poplars and willows in 2015. Please use roundwood equivalents

(1000 m3 r) as measuring unit. The general conversion factors for each single product are given below (in case your country specific

conversion factors are not available):

Product Measuring unit of the product Conversion factor to roundwood equivalents

Fuelwood metric tonnes or

m3 stacked wood

1 metr. tonne = 4 m3 (r)

1 m3 stacked wood = 1.8 m

3 (r)

Chips metric tonnes 1 metr. tonne = 1.7 m3 (r)

Mechanical woodpulp

Chemical woodpulp

metric tonnes 1 tonne mech. pulp = 2.5 m3 (r)

1 tonne chem. pulp = 4.5 m3 (r)

Particleboard

Fibreboard (hardboard, MDF)

m3 of the product 1 m

3 particleboard = 1.4 m

3 (r)

1 m3 fibreboard = 2.0 m

3 (r)

Veneer sheets m3 of the product 1 m

3 = 1.9 m

3 (r)

Plywood m3 of the product 1 m

3 = 2.5 m

3 (r)

Sawn timber m3 of the product 1 m

3 = 1.8 m

3 (r)


37

Forest category

Fuelwood

chips

Industrial

roundw.

(logs,

pulpw.)

Wood-pulp

(mech. or

chem.)

Particleboard

fibreb.

(MDF,

(hardboard)

Veneer

sheets

Plywood Sawn-timber

„000 m3 (r)

Indigenous From

poplars

Data not

available

Data not

available

Data not

available


From

willows

Data not

available

Data not

available

Data not

available


Planted From

poplars

Data not

available Data not

available Data not

available Data not available Data not available Data not available Data not available

From

willows

Data not

available Data not

available Data not


Agrofor./

TOF

From

poplars

Data not

available Data not

available Data not


From

willows

Data not

available Data not

available Data not



38

Question 4: Your opinion is important to us! Please reflect on the prevailing trends until 2030 in the

development of poplars and willows in your country!

What is your opinion on the following issues:

Please put a cross in the column you think most appropriate.

Increase Decrease Remain as it is Don’t know

The conversion of natural poplar and willow forests

to other land uses will... x

The area of planted poplar and willow forests will.... x

The area of poplars and willows for bioenergy

plantations will ..... x

Investments in poplar and willow tree breeding

programs will ..... x

Government investments in the poplar and willow

sector will ... x

Private investments in the poplar and willow sector

will ... x

The significance of poplars and willows for

productive purposes

will .......

x

The significance of poplars and willows for

environmental purposes will ....... x

The rejection by environmental groups of planted

poplar and willow forests will ........ x

The acceptance by the general public of poplars and

willows being important natural resources will........ x


39

---END OF QUESTIONNAIRE---


40

Compiled by

Dr Dinesh Kumar, Scientist Silviculture Division, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun,

Uttarakhand

Dr R.C. Dhiman, General Manager, WIMCO Seedlings Ltd., Bagwala, Rudrapur, Uttarakhand

country report (2012-2015): poplars and willows in india

Documents