Poplar in Southern European Agroforestry

Poplar is a fast-growing tree with high industrial demand for its timber which can be allocated to different uses such as plywood, sawwood, particle board, bioenergy, etc. Poplar adequacy as component of silvoarable practices is based on the reduced amount of light it intercepts when compared with other tree species, the great knowledge about its silviculture and decades of genetic improvement, its integration in the agricultural landscape and its shorter rotation. Agroforestry practices with poplar in Europe include alley cropping to produce biomass as renewable energy and silvoarable practices. The use of poplar as part of an agricultural plot increases productivity but also promotes environment protection and carbon sequestration while enhancing social benefits. This paper aims at reviewing the main poplar plantation areas in Spain, Italy and France and the potential of combining it with crops and also identifies the main drawbacks to implement agroforestry with poplar from a policy point of view.