Stem and Crown Biomass Production of Paulownia RBTC15 Clone

Abstract

This paper examines the production potential of Croatian domestic Paulownia RBTC15 clone in Požega-Slavonia County over a single growing season. In total, seven fields were included in the research, together with 417 measured trees. At the level of all measured fields, an average DBH increment in researched season was 2.1 cm, and an average height increment was 1.8 m. Biomass and stem volume equations explained more than 95% of the variability. Stem and crown biomass increment together at the field level ranged from 1.04 t/ha to 12.29 t/ha, while stem volume increment ranged from 3.0 m³/ha to 24.32 m³/ha. For both measurements (before and after the growing season), the determined moisture content was higher in the stem than in the crown. The determined basic wood density of the stem wood was quite lower than that determined density for the crown wood. Overall results present a starting point for further research, but also provide valuable information about the production potential of an unresearched Paulownia clone developed for Croatian climate conditions.