Utilization of poplar biomass as a source of fodder

Trees and shrubs can supplement the quantity and quality of pastures for grazing livestock. Also they are an effective insurance against seasonal feed shortages or the risk of drought. In this research seven poplar clones with high productivity and high survival percentage were selected for experiment. The purpose of this study was to provide feed resources for animals. In this experiment productivity of poplar clones at three times removal intervals were evaluated for one-year-old plants. Estimation of biomass yield (leaf and edible branch) showed that the most amount of biomass production was belong to P. e. 561/41 , P. e. triplo and P.d. missoriensisclones with 18.02 , 17.65 and 16.64 t.ha¯¹ respectively and it was significantly different at 1% level of probability. Also some growth parameters such as leaf number, leaf weight, stem weight, stem number and stump sprout percentage measured during two years. The results indicated that leaf number, leaf weight, stem weight per stand for P. e. 561/41 clone were 401, 293 gr. and 180.7 gr. respectively, so that it was the best clones than others clones. With the view of stump sprout percentage P. nigra 42/78 and P. e. 561/41 clones had higher stump sprout percent during six removal time than other clones with 88% and 85% respectively