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Effects of environment and progeny on biomass estimations of five hybrid poplar families grown at three contrasting sites across Europe

Effects of environment and progeny on biomass estimations of five hybrid poplar families grown at three contrasting sites across Europe
Effects of environment and progeny on biomass estimations of five hybrid poplar families grown at three contrasting sites across Europe
The quantitative and qualitative estimation of above ground biomass production is essential for short-rotation forestry. Indirect methods of biomass estimation have been developed based on the establishment of regressions between biomass components and tree dimensions as well as canopy architecture. The difficulty encountered with this method is to know whether, and to what degree, the obtained equations can be used under contrasting environmental conditions and for different genetic backgrounds.

In the present study, allometric equations were developed linking tree dry weight (stem, branch and aboveground tree dry weight) with stem circumference, stem height and number of sylleptic branches for five 2-year-old intra- as well as interspecific poplar (Populus) families growing at three contrasting sites in Europe, i.e. Northern Italy, Central France and Southern UK. The multiple regression method was used to find the most precise biomass equation which represents the genetic variation for each family at each site, independently, as well as a common equation involving all families and sites.

The two F(1) P. deltoides × P. trichocarpa families and the F(1) P. alba × P. alba family were the most productive families irrespective of site. However, different patterns in biomass accumulation were observed between these crosses. The F(1) P. alba × P. alba family accumulated significantly more biomass in branches than in the stem as compared to both other families. In most cases, different transformations of the dependent variables were needed to improve the linear equations. Stem circumference was superior in predicting tree dry weight, but stem height and number of sylleptic branches were often needed to optimize the equations dependent on family and site.

A standardized equation combining the five families and the three sites explained more than 95% of the observed variation for tree dry weight. However, there was a significant family effect, and at the UK site, a severe rust attack could have affected the relationships among the three predictors resulting in a significantly different equation for this site. When the UK site was excluded from the model, no overall site effect was observed. Thus, a single equation might be applied at family level regardless of the environmental conditions when stand density, age and plantation management are comparable.
allometry, populus hybrids, allocation, short-rotation coppice culture (SRC), stem biomass, branch biomass
0378-1127
12-23
Dillen, Sophie Y.
0107eac6-bda3-4b48-b229-71b3943f4ea3
Marron, Nicola.
d60f5062-ffc3-4026-a782-f9d074de3647
Bastien, Catherine.
bab9aa09-b09f-4b61-9f41-c3e69f7f36e8
Ricciotti, Luca.
0821ab6a-56a0-4f00-bceb-774080d9f4ba
Salani, Francesco
a7fb8b20-871a-4c72-8764-5cb61de4aed6
Sabatti, Maurizio
1af6616e-e66f-44c0-b783-bb355468a619
Pinel, Matthieu P.C.
2e1eac8a-cd92-46c5-927e-b9acea42519c
Rae, Anne M.
59c24658-bfd8-44f0-b368-00ce449264fc
Taylor, Gail
Ceulemans, Reinhart
2a21441a-1912-4985-b19a-a67b9640347a
Dillen, Sophie Y.
0107eac6-bda3-4b48-b229-71b3943f4ea3
Marron, Nicola.
d60f5062-ffc3-4026-a782-f9d074de3647
Bastien, Catherine.
bab9aa09-b09f-4b61-9f41-c3e69f7f36e8
Ricciotti, Luca.
0821ab6a-56a0-4f00-bceb-774080d9f4ba
Salani, Francesco
a7fb8b20-871a-4c72-8764-5cb61de4aed6
Sabatti, Maurizio
1af6616e-e66f-44c0-b783-bb355468a619
Pinel, Matthieu P.C.
2e1eac8a-cd92-46c5-927e-b9acea42519c
Rae, Anne M.
59c24658-bfd8-44f0-b368-00ce449264fc
Taylor, Gail
Ceulemans, Reinhart
2a21441a-1912-4985-b19a-a67b9640347a

Dillen, Sophie Y., Marron, Nicola., Bastien, Catherine., Ricciotti, Luca., Salani, Francesco, Sabatti, Maurizio, Pinel, Matthieu P.C., Rae, Anne M., Taylor, Gail and Ceulemans, Reinhart (2007) Effects of environment and progeny on biomass estimations of five hybrid poplar families grown at three contrasting sites across Europe. Forest Ecology and Management, 252 (1-3), 12-23. (doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2007.06.003).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The quantitative and qualitative estimation of above ground biomass production is essential for short-rotation forestry. Indirect methods of biomass estimation have been developed based on the establishment of regressions between biomass components and tree dimensions as well as canopy architecture. The difficulty encountered with this method is to know whether, and to what degree, the obtained equations can be used under contrasting environmental conditions and for different genetic backgrounds.

In the present study, allometric equations were developed linking tree dry weight (stem, branch and aboveground tree dry weight) with stem circumference, stem height and number of sylleptic branches for five 2-year-old intra- as well as interspecific poplar (Populus) families growing at three contrasting sites in Europe, i.e. Northern Italy, Central France and Southern UK. The multiple regression method was used to find the most precise biomass equation which represents the genetic variation for each family at each site, independently, as well as a common equation involving all families and sites.

The two F(1) P. deltoides × P. trichocarpa families and the F(1) P. alba × P. alba family were the most productive families irrespective of site. However, different patterns in biomass accumulation were observed between these crosses. The F(1) P. alba × P. alba family accumulated significantly more biomass in branches than in the stem as compared to both other families. In most cases, different transformations of the dependent variables were needed to improve the linear equations. Stem circumference was superior in predicting tree dry weight, but stem height and number of sylleptic branches were often needed to optimize the equations dependent on family and site.

A standardized equation combining the five families and the three sites explained more than 95% of the observed variation for tree dry weight. However, there was a significant family effect, and at the UK site, a severe rust attack could have affected the relationships among the three predictors resulting in a significantly different equation for this site. When the UK site was excluded from the model, no overall site effect was observed. Thus, a single equation might be applied at family level regardless of the environmental conditions when stand density, age and plantation management are comparable.

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Effects_of_environment_and_progeny_on_biomass_estimations_of_five_hybrid_poplar_families_grown_at_three_contrasting_sites_across_Europe.pdf - Version of Record
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Published date: 30 November 2007
Keywords: allometry, populus hybrids, allocation, short-rotation coppice culture (SRC), stem biomass, branch biomass

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Local EPrints ID: 159981
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/159981
ISSN: 0378-1127
PURE UUID: 15deecbd-1cf4-4b45-acb4-b2c67dbb4236

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Date deposited: 09 Jul 2010 11:17
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 01:56

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Contributors

Author: Sophie Y. Dillen
Author: Nicola. Marron
Author: Catherine. Bastien
Author: Luca. Ricciotti
Author: Francesco Salani
Author: Maurizio Sabatti
Author: Matthieu P.C. Pinel
Author: Anne M. Rae
Author: Gail Taylor
Author: Reinhart Ceulemans

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