New Poplar Clones from Conventional and Agroforestry Plantations in Northern Italy: Preliminary Results on Peeling Attitude and Properties of Solid Wood and Plywood

Specialized poplar plantations are relevant for wood-based panel production. In recent years, the Italian poplar sector has progressively moved towards more sustainable cultivation systems. Breeding programs developed new clones with fast growth and increased disease resistance. Agroforestry (AF) has emerged as a promising alternative to the conventional plantation (C), and its ecosystem services have been widely documented. This exploratory study compares the main physico-mechanical properties of solid wood from five new poplar clones cultivated in conventional and agroforestry plantation models. The peeling yields and the performances of plywood produced with their veneers are also investigated. Wood was obtained by harvesting seven-year-old trees in two experimental plantations located in the Veneto Region. All the clones were found to have a higher basic density than that of the ‘I-214’, the reference in the sector, and were suitable for veneers production. It was possible to obtain top-quality sheets from trees of both systems, with some differences between clones. However, the overall quality of the veneers depended on the type of clone and on the cultivation system, where conventional plantations provided better results. Higher mechanical performances were found in plywood produced from clones with higher density. The results provide knowledge to optimize agroforestry cultivation of poplar, also as a complementary source of timber supply for the concerned industrial sector.