Establishing an SRC plantation
The steps required to establish an SRC plantation of willow or poplar are:
- Site selection
- Plantation design
- Selecting and handling the appropriate willow or poplar material
- Site preparation
- Planting the material.
Pests and diseases
Both willow and poplar are very palatable to a range of mammals; the strategy for protecting the plantation should be considered during site preparation.
Willows and poplars are also host to a wide range of fungal pathogens and leaf-eating insects. Current recommendations:
- Use recommended varieties as a good defence against diseases and pests
- Plant intimate mixtures of varieties to limit economic losses caused by rust infection.
Weed control
It is very import to establish an SRC crop in completely weed-free conditions. Willows and poplars are intolerant of weed competition, and even low levels of weed cover will cause uneven growth and greatly reduced yields. A completely weed-free site is required at planting and must be maintained until the crop foliage shades out the weeds.
Crop management
This includes:
- Cut back
- Cutting cycle
- Use and choice of fertilisers
- Harvesting machinery
- Crop reinstatement.