Growth and production of a short rotation coppice culture of poplar I. Clonal differences in leaf characteristics in relation to biomass production

Seventeen different poplar (Populus) clones were studied during the first growing season of the second rotation of a high-density coppice culture. In August 2001, total leaf area (tLA), number of leaves and specific leaf area (SLA) were determined for 15 shoots per clone. Above-ground woody biomass production and leaf area index (LAI) were estimated by using allometric relationships and an up-scaling approach. Significant clonal variation was observed in LAI, biomass production, tLA and number of leaves per basal shoot area. Biomass production ranged from 3 to 8 Mg ha−1 y−1 and LAI ranged from 2 to 6 m2 m−2. The LAI, tLA per shoot, and SLA were the most important determinants of above-ground woody biomass production. The production of many small leaves was shown to give a similar biomass production as the production of few but large leaves.