Standard Operating Activities for Poplar Based Agroforestry

Poplar based agroforestry (PBAF) is one of the highly successful integrated tree-crop production systems that virtually integrates agriculture crops throughout the retention of trees on farmland [1]. It is being practiced in one of highly productive land-use in Indo-Gangetic plains of North India by thousands of farmers for wood production to the wood-based industry. Poplar (Populus deltoides) is now grown around 1000 Km from Pakistan border in the west to northern districts of Bihar and around 100Km from the foothills of North Indian Himalayas to south towards New Delhi and central parts of Uttar Pradesh (Figure 1). Some stray plantations of the tree are also grown in other locations including some southern states. According to an estimate around 0.3267 million ha area is under native and introduced poplars in India, out of which 0.312ha area being under P. deltoides [2] which is largely grown on farm fields under agroforestry. India raises one of highly productive poplar plantations and many of them (around 90%) are now routinely harvested between 3 to 3.5 years ago with some stray cases of harvesting between 2 years age and around 5 years for peeling log production [3]. The Current Annual Increment (CAI) and Mean Annual Increment (MAI) are found to culminate at around 3 years production cycle (Figure 2) and there is no such parallel example of fast-growing poplar plantations being grown anywhere in any other country [4]. PBAF integrates suitable agriculture crops during different stages of tree growth and the intensive inputs provided to crops are also shared by trees enabling them to grow very fast. Higher net returns from PBAF compared to traditional agriculture productions systems is the main motivational factor for its adoption in the region of its intensive culture (Figure 1). The net economical returns from combined trees and intercrops of PBAF were estimated to be around Rs. 1lakh/acre/year around a decade back [5] which have now increased to Rs. 2 lakh/acre/year as its wood is now being traded at all time high prices [3].

Figure 1:Region of intensive popular culture in India [4].

Figure 2:CAI and MAI curve for D₂H for eight years rotation poplar.

Poplar plantations on farm fields were initiated and promoted by the private sector safety match company WIMCO Ltd. for match wood production from mid-1970’s and since then it expanded in volume and geographical locations. The tree was initially planted under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in which company provided technical knowhow, supplied quality planting material, and procured wood on harvest whereas farmers received financial loan from the designated banks which was returned by them from sale of wood proceeds [6]. Poplar culture thus could largely remain a private-private partnership between farmers and its promoter company in the beginning and the knowledge base for raising good quality plantations largely among the select good growers along with WIMCO and its employees. Some families have grown this tree for many rotations and the information on standard operating activities has also been passed on to the next generation, the current being 4th generation now. With expanding poplar culture and termination of PPP model in late 1990’s, numerous commercial nurseries mushroomed in different locations which started supplying poplar saplings to the growers. Many new farmers gradually started growing it and a majority of them were lacking easy access to the complete list of standard operating activities. As a result, many of them fail to grow good poplar plantations. This is illustrated in Figure 3 in which poplar was grown by an ignorant grower in paddy fields where it is seen struggling for survival and growth in inundated water. Paddy and chari (Shorghum spp) are two crops which are avoided under PBAF. Whereas paddy creates water inundation and chari does not favour agri-operations suitable for good poplar growth besides its root system being highly competitive with tree roots for growth inputs. This paper documented the standard operating activities based on the experience of the three authors who have been deeply associated with poplar farming, R&D, and extension activities for around 4 decades while being in WIMCO Ltd, Wimco Seedlings (ITC-PSPD) and elsewhere from the very beginning and the compiled list is placed in a tabular form.

Figure 3:CA good growing 1 year poplar bock plantation in PBAF (left), and poorly grown 1year old poplar in paddy fields which is not a recommended crop under PBAF (right).

Month-wise standard operating activities for growing good poplar plantations for the full rotation period are presented in Table 1 below. Any repetitive activity in subsequent years is explained in the beginning and its reference is cited thereafter to avoid overlapping.

Table 1:Monthly operational activities for all ages of poplar plantations.

The list of standard operating activities provided here is broad based and is followed by numerous good poplar growers. There are many local level innovations/crops being tried by some farmers in some parts of its farming which may need additional and specific intercrop-based activities and inputs. Similarly specific diseases and insect pest infections are treated on a case-to-case basis. Unlike many forest trees planted on forest land, poplars are grown on farmland and their growth and productivity is in consonance with the quality of inputs provided at different stages of tree growth. Limited poplar plantations grown on forest land in Uttarakhand are harvested at 12 years rotation and they produce much less wood even at half the rotation grown and harvested on farm fields [4]. The only difference is that standard operating activities applied for both the trees and intercrops in PBAF help in growing good quality poplar plantations and wood on farmland compared to that in forest land.

Poplar is one of the highly domesticated trees. It suitably responds to cultural and silvicultural operations. If the tree is grown with the proper standard operating procedure, it grows well and thus it needs appropriate inputs for exploiting the biological potential of tree and site. The well trained integrated multidisciplinary extension team engaged during the beginning of poplar culture is now largely missing. With extensive value chain evolved around its production and utilization process [7] has led to shifting of extension mechanism to the background and marketing forces are playing a leading role in its culture and quality. Currently, information is largely exchanged through print and digital media. The standard operating activities enlisted here would be available on digitally accessible publications like this for making better use of the given information by numerous growers for growing good quality poplar production.

PBAF has already established a benchmark of high economic returns compared to other land use options practiced in the region of its growth. Besides, being economically and agro-silviculturally sound practices, PBAF provides a very large number of fringe area benefits from other goods and services generated directly or indirectly. The standard operating activities reported here will help a great deal in producing good poplar plantations in addition to encouraging tree growers to remain engaged in its culture.

1. Dhiman RC (2012) Diagnosis of intercrops in poplar-based agroforestry. Indian Forester 138(7): 600-609.
2. ENVIS (2012) Poplars in India. ENVIS Forestry Bulletin, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, India.
3. Dhiman RC (2024) Trees transitioning from sacred and scary perception to large scale farming for industrial and economical transformation. Ply Insight.
4. Dhiman RC (2014) Poplars in India: past, present and future. In: Bhojveid PP, Khandekar N (Eds.), Sustainable Forest Management for Multiple Values: A Paradigm Shift. Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, India, pp. 183-206.
5. Chaudhary NP, Chaudhary G (2012) Poplar culture on farmland: Farmer’s experience from Uttar Pradesh. ENVIS Forestry Bulletin 12(1): 68-74.
6. Dhiman RC (2015) Contractual arrangements for sustaining agroforestry with special reference to WIMCO’s poplar program. In: SK Dhyani, Ram Newaj, et al. (Eds.), Agroforestry: Present Status and Way Forward, Biotech Books, Chapter 8, ISBN 978-81-7622-349-2, New Delhi, India, pp. 135-168.
7. Dhiman RC, Arunachalam A, Shiv Kumar Dhyani, Aqeel H Rizvi, Archna Singh, et al. (2024) Circular economy of poplar-based agroforestry in India. Indian Journal of Agroforestry 26(1): 12-22.