COTTONWOOD CULTURE AND RESEARCH IN THE SOUTH II

Plantation culture of cottonwood became operational by the mid-sixties, and by 1970, more than 5,000 acres per year were being planted to cottonwood in the South. Indications were that this amount might increase. But, in spite of improved clones and additional research findings, acreage planted per year has decreased to about 3,000 acres. This decline in planted acreage was caused by a combination of factors including soaring land values, interest rates and costs of fuel, labor and equipment; problems with survival rate and anticipated long-term growth rate; misjudgment of site; land use for soybeans; failure of pulpwood markets to develop as expected; and recent losses to floods, insects, and diseases. New clones, techniques that reduce establishment costs, improved markets for small ~ood, and interest outside the Delta should result in an increased rate of planting. Planting culture of cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr.) was operational in the South by the mid-sixties. Following the guidelines of the Southern Hardwoods Laboratory (McKnight 1979), growers cleared highly productive sandy loam bottomland sites containing degenerate natural stands and planted them to cottonwood. Site preparation consisted of shearing stumps and residual trees just below the soil surface, piling part of the debris around the edge of the clearing to exclude deer and burning the rest, and then discing. During the dormant season, 20-inch long hardwood cuttings were placed in subsoil trenches or holes made by planting bars at 9 x 9 to 12 x 12 ft. spacing. Cuttings were either genetically unselected or had been through some mursery selection for rootability and early growth rate. Clean cultivation was practiced the first year. Cultivation was continued the second year if needed. Generally, fertilizer and herbicides wer~ not used. Repeated thinnings were planned so that a mixture of products couid be provided. Individual companies had as their primary goal such products as pulp, particleboard, lumber, matches, and veneer. Acreage planted per year exceeded 5,000 by 1970. Dutrow et al. (1970) reported that the economics of growing cottonwood were attractive and predicted that a million acres could realistically be planted to cottonwood.