A note on demand and supply of poplar wood in Pakistan
A note on demand and supply of poplar wood in Pakistan
Muhammad Tahir Laeeq
ABSTRACT
In Pakistan three species of Poplars are indigenous i.e. Populus ciliata, P.alba and P. euphratica. P. ciliata and P. alba are strictly temperate species and grow in the moist and dry temperate zones in the northern parts of the country in the altitudinal range from 1500-3000 m. While P. euphratica occupies the riverain tract right from sea-level to 4000 m in the mountains (Sheikh, 1985). The indigenous Poplar species are comparatively slow growing and take a long time to attain exploitable size (Sheikh, 1972), therefore, do not find a high recognition for the commercial production of poplar wood. The search for fast growing tree species to meet the rapidly increasing demand for wood in the country lead to the introduction of exotic poplars in late fifties. The first introductions were from Italy followed by clones from U.S.A., Yugoslavia, Turkey, Netherlands. Australia, etc. Research work conducted over a period of 15 years indicated the suitability of some clones like Populus euramericana CV-I-214, and Populus deltoides clones 63/51, 18/62, 90/60, 69/55 for large scale planting in different parts of the country.
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March 1999
Vol. 49, Iss. 1
