It is called “Poplar “ to the assembly of vegetal species within the Populus gender, meaning 35 species.
In Spain the land poplars are: “temblón” (Populus tremula), “álamo” (Populus alba) and the poplar itself or black poplar (Populus nigra) and it can be also found some improved species.
Wooden crate manufacturing process consists mainly of poplar unrolling, to make both some crate components and poplar plywood for some other components, and finally components assembling.
The most useful part of the poplar log is profited for unrolling, but it can be also be used for sawing, and cellulose or chip board manufacturing.
Poplar is becoming more and more important in the world. European production means 5 million of cubic meter a year, and the spanish one has reached more than 600.000 cubic meter in the last 15 years for several times.
In Spain, the most outstanding poplar production region is Land of Castilla-León, mainly the Duero river basin, meaning more than 50% of spanish poplar crops surface. Lands of Andalucía and Castilla-La Mancha, and the Ebro river basin lands of La Rioja, Navarra, Aragón and Cataluña, are also important poplar growing areas.
Poplar is one of the most significant forestation species in river basins, for it helps to regulate and balance the river flows and improves landscape quality recovering huge forestry spaces.Moreover, is an economic and life quality sustain in the rural areas where it is grown as a planned forest.
The poplar standard age is between 10 and 15 years old. It is necessary a 25 to 50 cm diameter range to unroll a poplar log and get the maximum performance (from 60 to 70%) facing other kind of profits.
Fur further information:
National Poplar Commission (Comisión Nacional del Chopo)
Subdirección General de Materias Grasas y Cultivos Industriales (Mº Agricultura, Pesca y Almentación)
Avda. Ciudad de Barcelona, 6
Madrid 28007
Tfno. +34 91-3476904
Fax: +34 91-3476982
Secretaría: Dª. María Nieves Alonso Díaz
E-mail: malonsod@mapya.es
Web: www.mapya.es (buscar Agricultura/ Comisión Nacional del Chopo; contiene Estadísticas/ Informes/ Publicaciones/ Direcciones de Interés)
International Poplar Commission of FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations )
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla,
00100 Roma, Italia
Tel:+39-6-52254047
FAX:+39-6-52255137
Contact: Jim Carle, The Secretary
E mail: jim.carle@fao.org
E-mail: international-poplar-comm@fao.org
Web: www.fao.org (search for Forestry/ Technical Statutory Bodies)
Web: http://www.efor.ucl.ac.be/ipc