Growing Poplar and Willow Trees on Farms, National - FAO

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systems; either as vegetation to be directly irrigated by the effluent, or as riparian buffer zone plantings to capture nitrogen from seepage or reirrigated tile drainage. The coppiced material must be cut <strong>and</strong> carried to stock, either milking or dried-off cows, or other livestock to disperse the nutrient. If used for effluent nutrient uptake, blocks should be located on l<strong>and</strong> accessible to the effluent irrigation system. Flat l<strong>and</strong> is preferable but gentle slopes up to 5-10 degrees may also be suitable. After early spring, soil moisture levels are usually depleted by sun <strong>and</strong> wind, <strong>and</strong> so effluent runoff into drains becomes less of a concern. Coppiced willows There is also more active growth of pastures at this time, which assimilates more nutrients. The effluent returned on these coppice blocks will raise soil nutrient levels. In theory, the trees ought to absorb the applied nutrients at the same rate as they are distributed on the area, to prevent leaching into groundwater <strong>and</strong> run-off into streams. In practice this nutrient balance can be difficult to determine due to variations in soil type, pasture cover <strong>and</strong> the local climatic conditions. For example, annual rates of up to 400 kg of nitrogen/ha were recorded being uplifted by a ‘Tangoio’ willow coppice block in a trial at Carterton, Wairarapa. The procedure for planting effluent coppice blocks is the same as described for browse blocks though high planting rates of 12,000-15,000 stems/ha are recommended, to increase nutrient uptake <strong>and</strong> reduce competition from pasture. The plant material used will also be similar, as will methods used to plant them – although access should be much easier on these sites. 35
However abundant foliage is needed to ensure maximum nutrient uptake, <strong>and</strong> layout is important to enable any irrigator movement <strong>and</strong> harvesting by machinery. Advice on establishing effluent coppice blocks should be sought from your local l<strong>and</strong> management officer. Livestock should be excluded from effluent coppice blocks because the trees will be cut by machine <strong>and</strong> transported to an adjacent pasture area for consumption by livestock. Controlling the pasture understorey growth during <strong>and</strong> after the trees are established may be an issue in an effluent coppice system. Possibly herbicides used in timber plantations for controlling understorey growth may also be used on these blocks after coppicing <strong>and</strong> before the next growing season. 36
Page 1 and 2: Growing Po
Page 4 and 5: CONTENTS 1 Poplars
Page 6: Introduction Millions of poplars <s
Page 9 and 10: was reported growing in Marlborough
Page 11 and 12: soils and desert a
Page 13 and 14: Eridano (P. deltoides × maximowicz
Page 15 and 16: ‘Crowsnest’), but are darker gr
Page 17 and 18: Available willow clones Tree willow
Page 19 and 20: managed to avoid heavy side-branchi
Page 22 and 23: 2 Establishing Poplar</stro
Page 24 and 25: The other steps to take before tree
Page 26 and 27: preventative for further slipping.
Page 28 and 29: 2.3 Planting poles Essentials of po
Page 30 and 31: Propagating on-farm material On the
Page 32 and 33: locks with newly planted poles, eve
Page 34 and 35: For converting a wet area to a brow
Page 38 and 39: 3 Managing Poplars
Page 40 and 41: Use the right equipment Experienced
Page 42 and 43: egrowth from the trunk each year. A
Page 44 and 45: They were also stationary. Risers a
Page 46 and 47: Managing browse blocks These are hi
Page 48 and 49: At the tenth year following plantin
Page 50 and 51: limb growth, leading to breakout <s
Page 52 and 53: Herbicide use There are numerous la
Page 54 and 55: Timing Treatment earlier in the gro
Page 56 and 57: treatment so proceed cautiously <st
Page 58: What about roots thicker than 10 mm
Page 61 and 62: Create a ‘pruning nest’ A tree
Page 63 and 64: 4.3 Pests Possums There can be nume
Page 65 and 66: adult is reluctant to lay eggs on t
Page 67 and 68: lock without trees because a reason
Page 69 and 70: established, the annual growth of e
Page 72 and 73: 7 Further information Public librar
Page 74: Guidelines to help land</st

Growing Poplar and Willow Trees on Farms, National - FAO

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