Contribution of Populus Deltoides to Farm Economy of Punjab

Progressive farmers of Punjab and the adjoining states have adopted agroforestry intensively keeping in view its good economic returns by growing trees in conjunction with agricultural crops on field boundaries and as inter-culture with field crops. The present paper deals with the economics of growing Populus deltoides Bartr. ex.-Marsh on farm lands in Punjab. otal area under poplar plantation in Punjab, mostly agroforestry, is estimated to be 75,000 ha and is steadily increasing. Poplar-based agroforestry in Punjab is economically viable and more profitable to the farmers than -1 many other crop rotations. The bole biomass was found to vary with site, ranging from 19.8 t ha at 8 years on average -1 sites to 36.2 t ha on excellent (site quality I) sites. The biomass of branches, twigs, bark and ischolar_mains would be in addition to these values.