Procedure for plantation-based cultivation of leuce poplar clones suitable for use on sites with unfavourable growing conditions

Abstract

Procedure for plantation-based cultivation of Leuce poplar clones characterised in that budded shoots are cut from mother trees and transported to a laboratory within 24 hours, where pieces of meristem tissue are cut from the shoots, and the pieces of meristem tissue are placed in a nutrient solution. The meristem tissue pieces placed in a nutrient solution are grown into seedlings in a climate chamber and are multiplied, then the seedlings are placed in nursery containers and grown in a greenhouse. When the plants reach a height of 10-30 cm, they are transplanted into larger nursery containers or into a seedbed. When the plant reaches a height of 100 cm, it is planted into holes created by drilling, soil aeration is performed, and the seedling is cut down to ground level. During the establishment of the plantation, fast-growing and / or shade-tolerant interplanted tree species are planted, while providing for protection against game damage. Pruning is performed one month before the start of sap flow in the spring, when the plantation is 3-4 years old, during which the shoots and branches are removed from the lower 1 / 2 - 2 / 3 of the tree height,

Description

[0001] Procedure for plantation-based cultivation of Leuce poplar clones suitable for use on sites with unfavourable growing conditions

[0002] The subject of the invention is a procedure for plantation-based cultivation of Leuce poplar clones suitable for use on sites with unfavourable growing conditions.

[0003] Professional literature describes solutions for plantation-based cultivation of poplar and for the establishment of plantations. The subject of Hungarian patent document No. Pl 100320, for example, is a procedure for the establishment of intensive plantations of woody, deciduous plant species for energy and / or timber industry utilization, as well as for the creation of plant shelters and / or bee-pastures and / or mushroom colonies for human consumption and / or animal feed. During the procedure, soil preparation and weed control tasks are carried out as required, followed by planting fast-growing, ligneous (woody), sprouting plant varieties on a cultivation area with hydrological properties appropriate to the given plant variety, by the sowing and / or planting of seedlings from seedbeds and / or planting of cuttings, with the formation of a small growing space not exceeding 0.207 m2 on average, in such a way that the growing plants create a closed canopy by the end of the vegetation period at the latest. In the intensive plantation serving as the subject matter of the invention, ligneous (woody), deciduous, fast-growing, sprouting plant varieties are planted on the cultivation area, and the cultivation area is a site with hydrological properties appropriate to the given plant variety; furthermore, individual plants of the planted plant variety are arranged into small growing spaces not exceeding 0.207 m2 on average.

[0004] In addition to the known protection of industrial property rights claims in the subject matter, we are also familiar with literature descriptions, and forestry textbooks and handbooks that present plantation cultivation technologies for poplar trees. However, the available solutions typically rely on long-established, obvious forestry techniques and techniques for production on arable land (soil preparation by ploughing, planting of cuttings or seedlings using a planting machine in different patterns, followed by inter-row cultivation using a disc harrow or harrow). These technology specifications typically date back to the 1960s, with the latest versions being developed in the 1990s, in line with the technical standards of the time. There are no experimental results, and the technologies of the modem age (soil aeration, drones, micropropagation, battery-powered machines, rotary cultivation, etc.) are not present.Economical and climate-friendly precision farming has by now also appeared in plantation farming. These plantations are managed in a nature-friendly way, they are established using clones of hybrids of native species or non-native species, from officially approved varieties. In this way, genetic safety and biodiversity are both taken into account. With clones of hybrids of the Leuce poplar group, high-yield, resistant woody plantations can be established in a safe manner. However, the available solutions do not provide guidance for the safe, large-scale cultivation of these new varieties and variety candidates. It is essential to develop and disclose new types of cultivation technologies (plantation establishment technologies), and our present invention addresses this issue.

[0005] Given the deficiencies of the currently used technology, it seems necessary to present a modern production technology process that facilitates the plantation-based cultivation of Leuce poplar clones while also taking into consideration the most recent technical innovation in precision farming, as well as nature conservation and climate protection considerations. The technical solutions that have been in use until recently can still be used safely, however, the agricultural and forestry sectors are also severely impacted by labour shortage. For this reason, there is a need for techniques that involve the employment of fewer, but more highly skilled staff. These include the use of drones, robots, GPS-guided tractors, and battery-powered hand tools. The need to reduce the number of people working in the agricultural sector is definitely creating space for these techniques. Another main criterion of precision farming is climate-friendly operation: less fuel, fewer chemical substances applied, high accuracy and adopting and economical approach in the execution of technical tasks (less diesel fuel consumed). These new methods are to be integrated into the plantation-based wood production technology, as this is the only way to successfully and effectively operate these plantations planned for 20+ years.

[0006] The procedure specified in claim no. 1 offers a solution for the task at hand. Advantageous variants of the invention are specified in claims no. 2 to 8

[0007] The invention will be further elaborated below through the steps of the implementation process.

[0008] In the first step of the procedure to be patented, budded shoots are to be cut for the purpose of micropropagation from mother trees created via hybridization from native poplar species, and delivered to the laboratory within 24 hours. Subsequently, meristem tissue pieces are cut from the shoots, which are sustained in a nutrient solution and grown into seedlings. The plantletsare then placed in small nursery containers and are further grown in a greenhouse, gradually conditioning them to the outdoor environment. When the plants are approximately 10-30 cm high, they are transplanted into larger nursery containers, or into a seedbed and are grown further outdoors until they reach a height of 100+ cm. The seedlings can then be planted in the intended plantation.

[0009] The next crucial step is the planting of the pre-grown plants. Planting is traditionally performed either by planting or by rooting cuttings in fields that have been ploughed and / or deep-loosened and prepared for sowing. A modem no-till alternative to this is the drilling of holes with a GPS-guided robot or tractor in an area tilled flat after stem crushing or rotary tillage. The holes are drilled with centimetre accuracy, so the number of seedlings and thus the cultivation area can be planned in advance with complete accuracy. The exact geographical coordinates of every seedling are known, making this type of plantation suitable for research purposes and enabling identification at the level of the individual plants. The row spacing can typically be adjusted to the existing technical solutions for plantation maintenance used by the given farmer, typically varying between 250 cm and 500 cm, with 300 cm being the most common. Plant spacing within the row can also be adjusted to individual needs, with 150 cm being typical, but any other spacing within the row is possible, depending on the planned target trunk diameter and the planned number of thinnings. This row spacing can be safely cultivated or maintained between the rows by a GPS-guided robot or tractor. The seedling is manually placed into 100 cm-deep holes, before re-compacting the soil with hand tools (e.g., battery-powered hoe).

[0010] The disadvantage of hole drilling is that the surface of the hole hardens, making it difficult for the roots to penetrate. The next crucial procedural step is therefore soil aeration, which offers an excellent solution to this problem. During soil aeration, 10-12 bar air is introduced into the soil, at a depth of approximately 1 metre. As a result of the treatment, the soil breaks down into smaller blocks, and its macroporosity increases drastically. Winter precipitation can penetrate deeply into the soil, where it is stored, and in the summer the plants can reach it via their roots. Soil aeration also provides for the pruning of the roots (along the movement of soil clods), thus plants rapidly develop their roots, thereby achieving robust root surface growth, which greatly increases their survival chances during drought periods and periods characterised by high albedo. The effect of soil aeration lasts for 5 years.In the next procedural step after planting, the seedlings are cut down to ground level. The purpose of this operation is to ensure that the plant produces only as many shoots as its root can sustain. This is particularly important if the first summer is drought-stricken, as this way even with very little precipitation, the plant can survive until the next rainy period, thereby increasing its overall chances of survival.

[0011] The next crucial procedural step is interplanting (the mixing of species), which is not a typical solution for tree plantations, yet a mixed plantation excellently serves the stability and condition of the plantations, as well as biodiversity goals. Using schematic interplanting, every second or even less frequently placed interplanted trees / mixed species trees are useful. One way is to interplant with another fast-growing tree species, for example, black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), or honeylocust (Gleditchia triacanthos), preferably using the thornless version of the latter. Another solution is to interplant shade-tolerant interplanted tree species that will not be harmed if the poplar trees outgrow them. Examples include field elm (Ulmus minor), Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila), ash (Fraxinus excelsior), common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), yet other shade-tolerant or moderately shade-tolerant tree species may also be considered. Interplanting also helps integrate the plantation into the landscape, providing a colourful autumn canopy, increasing the landscape aesthetic value of the plantation and the interplanted species provide habitat for a wide range of small animals and tasty mammals.

[0012] In the next step, pruning is carried out when the plantation is 3-4 years old, one month before the start of sap flow in the spring. The lower 1 / 2-2 / 3 of the tree height is pruned, thus allowing significantly more sunlight to reach the soil level, which in turn can make intercropping successful (e.g., berries, medicinal herbs, beans, squash, potatoes or other row crops as well).

[0013] In many cases, protection against game damage may also be required. Safe solutions for this include game fences or electric fences, or even a combination of the two. Audio digital game deterrents are also available, the effectiveness of which varies across a very wide spectrum, while wind / rain / snow strongly affects their operational reliability. From the range of chemical solutions, certified organic chemicals (e.g. substances made from wool material) can be used safely; these typically have a combination of an extremely unpleasant smell and taste, and after the initial encounter, game animals quickly learn to avoid the area. Application by spreading the agents directly on the trees is the best solution, a task that can be performed even by a robot. The pruned trees should be treated with the chemicals appropriate to the rate of their growth, either individually with a backpack sprayer or using a robotic sprayer that only sprays the areawith trees. In the case of small trees, the chemical can also be applied by a hand brush. The young shoots should be retreated monthly, or as necessary during the first year as they grow beyond the treated surface (repeated treatment).

[0014] The advantage of the procedure presented as the subject matter of the invention is that it provides a modem, precision farming procedure for the plantation-based cultivation of Leuce poplar clones, particularly on sites with unfavourable growing conditions. The procedure ensures the outstanding rooting, survival and fast initial growth of the seedlings through micropropagation, targeted soil aeration, GPS-guided hole drilling, as well as pruning and interplanting techniques. The application of integrated precision technologies - such as robotic machines, certified organic protection against game damage and the conscious use of interplanted species - is not only less reliant on manual labour but also environmentally friendly. A plantation established in this manner is sustainable in the long term while providing a resistant stand with a wide range of uses.

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Procedure for plantation-based cultivation of Leuce poplar clones suitable for use on sites with unfavourable growing conditions, characterised in thata) budded shoots are cut from mother trees and are transported to a laboratory within 24 hours, b) pieces of meristem tissue are cut from the shoots,c) the meristem tissue pieces are placed in a nutrient solution and are grown and multiplied into plantlets in a climate chamber,d) seedlings are placed in nursery containers and grown in a greenhouse,e) when the plants reach a height of 10-30 cm, they are transplanted into larger nursery containers or into a seedbed,f) when the plant reaches a height of 100 cm, it is planted into holes created by drilling, g) soil aeration is performed,h) the seedling is cut down to ground leveli) fast-growing and / or shade-tolerant interplanted tree species are planted during the establishment of the plantation,j) pruning is performed one month before the start of sap flow in the spring, when the plantation is 3-4 years old, during which the shoots and branches are removed from the lower 1 / 2 - 2 / 3 of the tree height, andk) protection is provided against game damage.

2. The procedure according to claim no. 1 for plantation-based cultivation of Leuce poplar clones suitable for use on sites with unfavourable growing conditions, characterised in that the planting is performed in 100 cm deep holes in an area tilled flat after stem crushing or rotary tillage, and using a GPS-guided robot or tractor for drilling of the holes.

3. The procedure according to claim no. 1 for plantation-based cultivation of Leuce poplar clones suitable for use on sites with unfavourable growing conditions, characterised in that soil aeration is performed at a pressure of 10-12 bar and a depth of 1 meter.

4. The procedure according to claim no. 1 for plantation-based cultivation of Leuce poplar clones suitable for use on sites with unfavourable growing conditions, characterised in that the interplanted tree species are selected from the following group: Robinia pseudoacacia, Gleditchia triacanthos, or other fast-growing interplanted tree species.

5. The procedure according to claim no. 1 for plantation-based cultivation of Leuce poplar clones suitable for use on sites with unfavourable growing conditions, characterised in that the interplanted tree species are selected from the following group: Ulmus minor, Ulmus pumila, Fraxinus excelsior, Carpinus betulus, or other shade-tolerant interplanted tree species.

6. The procedure according to any of claims no. 1, 4 to 5 for plantation-based cultivation of Leuce poplar clones suitable for use on sites with unfavourable growing conditions, characterised in that interplanting is performed in rows, in groups or in lines.

7. The procedure according to any of claims no. 1 to 6 for plantation-based cultivation of Leuce poplar clones suitable for use on sites with unfavourable growing conditions, characterised in that the plantation is protected using certified organic chemicals applied directly to the trees by smudging.

8. The procedure according to any of claims no. 1 to 6 for plantation-based cultivation of Leuce poplar clones suitable for use on sites with unfavourable growing conditions, characterised in that the plantation is protected by a game or electric fence.