Growth and Mortality of Hybrid Poplar Short Rotation Culture (AF8 Clone) in Response to Clostera anastomosis L. (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) Defoliation

The increasing worldwide interest in renewable energy and carbon storage has led to the development of relatively fast solutions obtain wood biomass. cultivation fast-growing tree species short-rotation crops, such as hybrid poplar clones, is one solution, at least temperate areas. Sometimes these monocultures are affected by disturbing factors, including severe insect defoliation, with strong destructive effects. impact defoliation on growth productivity crops often estimated context artificial defoliation. There have been few studies which effect was calculated after natural Among defoliating species, Clostera anastomosis L. most important defoliators young poplars. This developed a 4-year-old clone AF8 crop, from northeastern part Romania, spring summer 2017. study aimed assess both mortality defoliated trees crop. To reach this goal, height radial 150 different rates (50 non-defoliated, 50 partially defoliated, completely defoliated) were measured symptoms also evaluated for 4780 poplars (10% analyzed population). caused significant decrease annual (28.6% 38.5% trees) growth, between 82.2% 90.4%, respectively, depending rate. These decreases decline tree-level biomass accumulation, approximately 74.8% 83.1% trees, year As result, loss total (for four years rotation) 28.1% 34.6%, Therefore, 5 t·ha−1, representing 70% forecasted production 2017 only (approximately 7 t·ha−1).