Are Poplars and Willows in Your Farm Plan?

Posted on October 20, 2018

Soil

Poplars and willows are the pre-eminent trees for slope, gully, stream and river protection
Once established they reduce slips on hill country by 95%
They can dry out wet areas, dewater earth flows, and arrest gully erosion
Appropriate tree planting allows greater management focus on remaining pasture land often offsetting pasture lost from tree planting
Poplars and willow root systems bind more soil than any other tree used on our farms
They add carbon to the soil via their roots and leaf fall.
They improve drainage and slow runoff

Well managed space planted poplars and willows allow ~ 90% of maximum pasture growth
Soil pH is raised through the influence of these trees
They reduce evapotranspiration from pasture and reduce summer soil moisture loss

P+W also offer great benefits in river management confining rivers within channels and reducing the erosion of river and stream banks
Stock utilise their summer shade, and benefit from the shelter
Bees collect pollen from willows, propolis and wax from poplars
P+W provide fodder options
Leaves, stems and bark have pharmaceutical benefits
Poplar and willow are suitable trees for farm shelterbelts

They absorb nutrients, particularly nitrogen from groundwater - at deeper levels than pasture
They bring deep nutrients to the soil surface layers
Poplar and willow trees absorb CO2, moderate the temperature and moisture microclimate

Trees can be managed for timber and wood products
Large poplars can supply farm posts, battens and rails
Both P+W can be pollarded to keep their size down
Both will grow new trees from protected stumps
Erosion control/spaced P+W plantings can be eligible to enter the Emissions Trading Scheme