Field Evaluation of Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. at Two Sites in Indo-gangetic Plains of India

Results from clonal trials of Populus deltoides conducted in two distinct agroclimatic regions of Punjab in northwestern India are reported and discussed. Sixteen clones were evaluated at Hambran and Bathinda where commonly grown clone ‘G-48’ was considered as control. Significant differences among clones (P < 0.001) were observed for diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height and volume at the age of four and six years under both the site conditions. Clone ‘L-48’ ranked first for volume at six year age at both sites and was followed by clone ‘Ranikhet’. The respective superiority for volume of these clones over control was 44.8 and 23.2 per cent at Hambran and 72.5 and 30.7 per cent at Bathinda. All growth traits registered significantly higher values at Hambran in comparison to those at Bathinda. Clone x site interaction was also significant (P < 0.001). The clones ‘L-168’, ‘154/86’, ‘Solan-z’ and ‘170/88’ experienced huge fluctuation in ranking between sites for volume at 6-year age. The DBH and height showed significant and positive correlation with each other and with tree volume at all the age combinations. The clonal mean heritability was quite high both at Hambran (0.73-0.86) and Bathinda (0.80-0.95). The genetic advance were the highest for volume (33.34-64.26%) and the lowest (10.65-22.79%) in case of height.