Effect of Spacing and Intercropping on Stress Wave Velocity of Planted Poplar Trees

Nondestrutive evaluation of wood quality of fast growing standing trees such as poplar has an important role in optimal management of wood production with desired quality and properties. Tha aim of this research was the use of stress wave technique for nondestructive evaluation of poplar standing trees (Populus deltoids) and to study the effect of intercropping (with wheat) and spacing on wood quality. For this purpose, stress wave velocities were measured in radial and longitudinal directions of poplar trees in four intercropping treatments with different spacing of 3×4 m, 3×6.66 m, 3×8 m, 3×10 m and treatment of net poplar with spacing 3×4 m. The velocities of stress wave in radial and longitudinal directions of poplar trees were determined using stress wave equipment. The results showed that at same spacing (3×4m), the radial and longitudinal velocities of stress wave in net treatment are significantly higher than those of intercropping treatment. The results also showed that increasing spacing in intercropping treatments will increase the stress wave velocities in both directions significantly. A poor regression relationship was obtained between stress wave velocities in radial and longitudinal directions