Traditional eco-sustainable poplar cultivation

Traditional poplars and products derived from them

Traditional tall-trunk poplar cultivation is based on plants with a density of 270-300 plants per hectare and cycles of 8-12 years; it involves the use of relatively intensive and often agronomic cultivation techniques (fertilisation, weeding, pruning, etc.) to facilitate the productive potential of the plants used. The techniques used vary in quantity and quality according to the environmental characteristics, the clones used and the different types to be obtained.

Research plays a fundamental role in the continuous selection of clones characterised by high productivity, disease resistance, wood quality and adaptability to the different environmental conditions in which they will be used. At the end of the production cycle, the best part of the trunks is destined for stripping for the plywood and fruit and vegetable packaging industries, as well as for sawing for the production of slatted panels, packaging, semi-finished products for furniture and fixtures and furnishing components, while the by-products (logs, lops, twigs) used for the production of particle and fibre panels, paper pulp and biomass for energy use (wood chips).

Innovative pruning method that we have designed, aimed at increasing the quality of the wood 

Spring pruning

Carry out pruning at the start of May up to a height of 2.30 m of all the shoots on the trunk as shown in the photo. In the event of a new sprouting by some buds, the same operation must be carried out no later than June.

End of first vegetative year, pruning during autumn/winter

In the event that the correction of the central stem has not been carried out in the summer phase, the indication in point 1 must be carried out.

1. Cut in the whorl 4/6 branches flush with the trunk in competition with the central stem



Continuing with pruning both in the hypothesis of summer pre-pruning and winter pre-pruning, the following operations must be carried out:

1. Cut flush with the trunk all the branches on the central stem

2. cut to 30/40 cm all the branches present throughout the stage at the points indicated by the yellow arrows (this point must also be performed for plants where the vertical correction has been brought forward in the summer phase.

2nd Year of pruning the 2nd whorl

It is advisable to prune the second whorl in the months of May/June as, as can be seen from the images, performing the pruning at the end of the season has generated a significant tapering of the trunk between the 1st and 2nd year in the whorl. The 2nd year pruning must be carried out by cutting flush with the trunk 3/4 branches (those that compete more with the central stem) and 3/4 branches about halfway through its growth, thus obtaining a cylindrical whorl. In addition, the cutting of small herbaceous branches creates considerable advantages for operators in terms of work.

Pruning shoot growth on the trunk

In the first 5 years, whenever new shoots emerge in the first 9 metres of the trunk, they will be cut off no later than the end of May, even if there may be a small removal of bark. Therefore, they should not be cut flush with the trunk with the aid of scissors that would leave 1-2 dormant buds which, after the cut, would restart generating new shoots. This operation is necessary to avoid traces of knots in the stripping phase.



Per capita production per hectare will increase by adopting our pruning and soil tillage methods. – Some examples of poplars in the major poplar-growing areas in Europe with plantations of our clones.

Thanks to these innovative methods widely tested and with the use of suitable and selected clones, from our genetic improvement programme, the traditional cycle of poplar cultivation can be reduced by a few years.

Production of plywood made with thin layers of poplar wood

Poplar plantations are mainly intended for the production of plywood, made with thin layers or "veils" of poplar wood.

Poplar plywood is produced in several countries in southern and eastern Europe.

Characteristics of poplar plywood:

• very light product with a density ranging from 400 to 480 kg/m3
• good mechanical properties
• very easy to work with
• colourless, odourless and tasteless

Uses and end-user industries

The characteristics of poplar plywood are highly appreciated compared to other types of plywood or other wood panels and is therefore greatly sought after by different industries:

• production of high-end elements in the construction and transport industry especially for campers, boats, trains
• furniture
• production of packaging products for the agri-food industry
• boxes for fruit, oysters and cheeses
• disposable chopsticks or cutlery

In these applications, poplar replaces other less sustainable alternatives such as single-use plastic