ADAPTATION OF SOME POPLAR CLONES TO THE LAKE DISTRICT IN TURKEY

In this study, growth performances of poplar clones at the trial site at Isparta province were investigated. Experiment located at ORMA (Wood Products Integrated Industry and Trade Inc.) were established with 14 P.x euramericana and 10 P.deltoides clones using two replicated randomised block design in 6 x 6 meter spacing. Evaluations on heigt, diameter, survival, index value and volume production of the clones were made at the end of 8 year rotation period. Some of the clones showed better growth performances and survival rates than control clone I-214. Stem analysis was made to find the stem volumes of the top 9 poplar clones determined from the assesment of index values, and then calculate volume productions and mean volume increments of the clones per hectare. P.x euramericana “39/61” had the maximum mean annual increment (18.9 m3 /ha/year) and it was followed by “I-214”(17.4 m3 /ha/year). Factor analysis made for 9 clones concerning their growth values, survival and some characteristics of the trial site has showed that mean annual volume increment (MAI) was the most important variable among the variables in Component 1. Three groups of the clones were seperated by discriminant analysis. It is concluded that The P.x euramericana clones in the first group and P.deltoides clones in the second group showed considerably good adaptation capacities to the Lake District in Turkey. Keywords : Poplar, Clone, Adaptation, Factor and Discriminant Analysis