1. Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management Randall J. Rousseau Mississippi State University

3. Important Factors: Fast Growth Species well suited to Plantation Mgmt. Species must be matched correctly to Soil/Site Conditions Seedling quality, proper establishment and care is needed to achieve maximum growth rates a. In terms of growing in even-aged stands at similar growth patterns Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management

4. Baker-Broadfoot Site Evaluation for Hardwoods Based on Four Factors : a. Soil Physical Properties b. Moisture Availability c. Soil Aeration d. Nutrient Availability

6. Nuttall Oak Seedlings 1-0 Bare-root Stock B A First-Order Lateral Root Numerous buds for increased leaf area Excellent Root Collar Diameter Tap Root length and diameter are excellent

8. Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management Important Factors: More desirable sawtimber species, such as oaks, can be grown in pure stands but will demand longer rotation length with an increased awareness of genetics and competition effects While work has been going on for some time it has been spotty and typically inconsistent through time.

9. Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management Important Factors: Today, the production of 2 nd -Generation Biofuels using woody material has generated renewed interest intensive hardwood plantation culture Utilization will be different (whole tree vs stem wood) but so are the type of sites where these plantations are expected to being grown

10. Short-Rotation Woody Crops Although there were other groups in the Northeast that were looking at Hardwood Plantations, the USFS Stoneville Group was the first in the South This work primarily revolved around the production of eastern cottonwood and included silviculture, genetics, biometrics, pathology, and entomology This was the forerunner to the Short-Rotation Woody Crops instituted by DOE which faded due to a lack of an outlet - except for segments of the pulp and paper industry 1. 2. 3. Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management

11. Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management Short-Rotation Woody Crops As a result, only a limited number of organizations such as Westvaco, IP, Champion, Boise-Cascade, James River, and Union Camp continued research and development of this system. 4. 5. In the mid-1990s, a renewed interest was undertaken by the pulp and paper industry in short-rotation plantations as there appeared to be a shortfall of hardwoods. a. Uplands and Fertigated Sites were evaluated

18. Because of costs and the changing face of the industry the majority of these programs went by the wayside 6. 7. Recently increased oil prices, climate change data leading to GHG reduction – Focus on renewable energy In the South - Biomass is the Key and definitely Woody Biomass will play a major role Short-Rotation Woody Crops Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management

19. Currently - Resurgence of SRWC research with a variety of species USDA/DOE grants focus on supply to emerging bioenergy/biofuels industry (KiOR, ZeaChem, and Gevo) Build on traditional tree improvement with newly developing genomic tools (increasing selection efficiency) Genetic modification to develop genotypes designed to meet the needs of increased growth and reduced costs Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management

21. Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management Current US Locations and Species Northeast : Growing primarily willows (shrub willow), this is being used for generation of power however biofuels tests are underway. Production rates – 12 gt/ac/yr Mid-West : Growing primarily hybrid poplars with many of these being DxN hybrids, primarily being grown for pulp and paper production Pacific Northwest : Growing primarily hybrid poplars with many of these being DxT and DxM hybrids, originally for pulp and paper production, then sawtimber, and now biofuels

29. Information on inheritance of specific traits such as stem form, disease resistance, growth, wood density and genetic gain per unit of time - allowing clones to be moved as soon as possible from testing to operational plantations Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management Example - Cottonwood

30. Dicamba 2,4-D + Roundup Genetics along with Silviculture and Physiology must be combined to realize maximum gains

31. Breeding : 1. Done in a greenhouse 2. Four months to maturation 3. Approx. 30 seed/capsule Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management

32. Progeny tests Three-Stage Testing Progeny tests and clonal screening trials are established on a single site that have specific requirements Operational release CP Seed Breeding Population Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management (S) (S) (S) (S) (S) Clones Clonal Screening Trials Biotechnology Standard Clone Tests

33. Gains through Time 12-yr Rotation 8 gt/ac/yr 10-yr Rotation 12 gt/ac/yr 8-yr Rotation 16 gt/ac/yr

34. Can we continue to increase growth rates and yields? Newly developed clones have been found but must be incorporated into the overall program Question: Answer: 10” DBH Clone at Age 5 Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management

35. Breeding : Also plays an important role in developing hybrids that result in increased adaptability, growth, and disease resistance For Biomass production both upland and bottomland sites will have to be productive and breeding of hybrids may be the most viable alternative 1. Hybrid poplars have been shown to do well on non-alluvial and more upland sites in other geographic areas outside of the South and they have been the first option for upland sites in the South 2. Unfortunately, disease has been the greatest stumbling block to the use of hybrid poplars in the South Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management

36. DM 12 ft 9/1/2010 9 ft D

37. Hybrid Aspen on an Upland Site in Western Kentucky

38. Genomics and Biotechnology : This is the future , but it must be combined with traditional breeding systems and newly developing silvicultural tools to fully succeed Genomics is another tool that will enhance our ability to become much more efficient at breeding and selecting the correct genotypes as it ties directly to the genome 1. In 2006, the Populus genome was sequenced 2. Using genomic techniques will make it possible to select and breed for specific genes or gene combinations Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management

39. Genomics and Biotechnology : 1. Genetic modification has been achieved in many plants as well as forest species including – Populus and Eucalyptus Genetic Modification 2. Traits such as herbicide resistance and cold tolerance have been shown to be effective but deregulation and a clear understanding of the risks have been the primary stumbling blocks Risk would be the movement of the engineered gene to a natural population and reducing the fitness of the natural population Intensive Hardwood Plantation Management

45. Needs extensive testing for a number of reasons Genetic Modification

47. Aspen Eucalyptus