Kashmir’s poplar tree issue: Myths, facts and remedies

19 February 2022

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Introduction

Populus Spp. Or Poplar (Vernacular: Fras: Safeeda) is a genus of 44 species of deciduous flowering plant in the family Salicaceae. It is a dioecious species having separate having separate male and female trees. These are widely distributed in the temperate and sub-tropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Six indigenous species of Poplars Viz., Populus Ciliata, Populus alba, P.euphratica, P.gamblii, P.jacquemontii and P.rotundifolia are reported in India. In recent years their cultivation has extended to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, UP and West Bengal. Poplars are grown all over Jammu and Kashmir. A study on trees outside forests by Forest Survey of India reveals that poplars are one of the ten most prominent tree species grown in J and K with an approximate population of 15.22 million of different dia classes with a total estimated volume of 5.29 million cubic meters. In Kashmir region Populus is a bewildering genus with ancient history of traditional cultivation.

Indigenous species :

Indigenous species of poplars occurring in Jammu and Kashmir are discussed as under:

P.ciliata (Jungli Fras): This species is distributed from Kmr. to Arunachal Pradesh at an altitude of 1300-3000 mt. This is the most widespread species of native poplars, Trees usually occur on the banks of water courses.

P.euphratica : It occurs in Ladakh region and extends to Punjab and Sindh (Pakistan), Tibet, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Turkey.

P.alba (White poplar): It occurs in Kannaur, Himachal Pradesh and parts of Kashmir and Ladakh.

Exotic Species:

P.deltoides (Russi Fras): This is the most widely planted species of poplar in India.

P.nigra (Black poplar): This occurs in avenue plantations in the Kashmir valley.

Among the two exotic species while P.nigera was reportedly introduced as avenue tree around four centuries ago and P.deltoides was introduced by Department of Social Forestry during the year 1984. According to FSI report that around 90% of the volume realized from Poplars is obtained from the plantation of various clones of Populus deltoides . Locally misquoted as “Rousee Fras” (Russian Popular) though native to North America, a major portion of the plants of P.deltoides in Kashmir are female cultivars.

Economic Importance or Benefits of poplars:

Poplars have been highly adopted by farmers in agro-forestry system in J and K especially P.deltoides. They serve as backbone of farm economy in J &K. in general and Kashmir valley in particular and have transformed the landscape by way of extension of green cover outside forest and helped reduce the pressure of forest for timber.
The timber from this species sustains fruit industry by meeting around 40% of 8 to 10 lakh fruit boxes required per annum for exporting the fruit from kmr. saving about 3.00 lac Cfts of valuable conifer timber annually.
It is used as a timber for trusses and roofs as well as used in veneer industry and for other construction purposes, construction and making of packing crates. match industry.
Fast growing with 20-35 CUM/ha/yr.

Ecological importance.

Carbon sequestration.
Phytoremediation.
Extension of green cover by way of avenue plantation as well as through Agroforestry.
Improvement in soil organic matter without any allelopathic effect.
In Kerewas poplars are grown as boundary plantation to prevent soil erosion.

Facts about Poplars

Poplars are fast growing deciduous trees. P.deltoides locally called Russi Fras is the most commonly grown of Poplars in agroforestry. Poplars are dioecious species having separate male and female trees. They have inflorescence in the form of catkins. Catkins of Male poplars are typically smaller and reddish purple in colour. Catkins of female Poplars are significantly larger and greenish in appearance. Female Poplars produce seed enveloped in cottony tufts for dispersal by wind.

Myths about Poplars

Myth: The cotton produced by Poplars is Pollen
Fact: The cottony tufts are appendages of seeds essential for their dispersal
1. Myth: Only Populus deltoids produces cottony seeds.
Fact: Female trees of all Poplars, indigenous as well as exotic produce cottony tufts.
- MYTH: Allergy is caused due to cottony tufts of poplars
- Fact: Allergy is caused due to pollen of other tree species which may be trapped in these tufts also.
PROBLEM OF FLYING COTTON FROM POPULUS IN KASHMIR VALLEY AND SOME REMEDIAL MEASURES

    The Poplars were introduced in J and K in large scale in 1980’s, meet 80% demand of fruit boxes and 14-15% of raw material for veneer/ply board industry. The exotic species of Poplars adapted well to the local climate with a temperature range of -100C to 380C.

  There is sexual dimorphism as male and female sexes occur on separate trees. The flowers appear in Spring season when trees are still leafless. The Poplars are wind pollinated and fruits ripen from ending May to early June. Ripe fruits release small seeds which have a mass of long, silky hair to aid their dehiscence by wind. Seed production in Poplars starts when the trees are 5-10 years old, increasing rapidly in amount as the trees become older and larger. Annual seed production estimate of a single open-grown tree have been estimated as high as 48 million seeds. The Poplars introduced in JK were propagated vegetatively, multiplying the clones of the same type. Large scale propagation of female clones start producing seeds accompanied with flying cotton.

REMEDIAL MEASURES

    There is no authentic research from any expert from the field of forestry or any medical report who has so far revealed that cotton from female poplars or pollen from male Poplars is responsible for any allergy or health issue. The problem of flying cotton can be tackled through systematic research and adopting short and long term measures.
- Short term measures
- PUBLIC AWARENESS: It is very important to make people aware that cotton seeds of Female poplars donot induce any allergic conditions in humans. However, it could be a carrier of some of the pollen and fungal infections that cause allergic reactions. However, people already suffering from allergies of pollen etc. face complications. An awareness campaign and set of precautionary measures can be given especially by the Health and Forest deptts. During the seeding period. Distribution of pamphlets/ brochures will help a lot.
- Precautionart measures: During the month of April-May female poplars produce cotton which in itself is not allergic, but it could be a carrier to a large number of pollen grains, which could be allergic and are produced by other trees like walnut, Rubinia, Ash etc. People sensitive to seed pollen allergies should use mask when exposed to the cotton during the month of April-May (generally for 15-30 days) when seeds are shed. They should avoiud going to places where there are poplar trees growing on mass scale.
Lopping of Female Poplar Trees: The upper branches of the trees produce more seeds and therefore more cotton than the lower branches, so lopping could help in minimizing the dehiscence quantum. It is believed that 50% lopping of branches can reduce 80% cotton production. Poplar growing govt.departments, Farmers and other growers may be advised to
1. 1. cut down the upper and middle branches before fruit formation during the monthy of February and March.
- Controlled destruction of cottony tufts: The cotton dehiscence from female poplars can also become a fire hazard, due to its highly inflammable nature. The cotton tufts may be collected and destroyed by burning or burying under controlled conditions , so that it does not spread and become a fire hazard, The areas around habitations and agriculture fields need to be kept clean.
- Phasing out of female Polars: Mass plantation of female poplar trees within the urban areas/ habitations is the real problem. Identifying female poplars after proper survey in the month of March-April when they start flowering and subsequently removal of the female trees in a phased manner over a period of time will help to curb this menace . Once again it is reiterated that proper monitoring is essential till the trees become reproductive.
- Identification of male poplars: During the survey process male poplars should be identified and marked when male catkins are visible. The male poplars can be used for taking the cuttings for vegetatively growing the male poplars.
- LONG TERM MEASURES
- Mass plantation of male poplar clones: The problem can be redressed by planting only male poplar clones for plantation purposes. Improved male clones of poplar suitable to the local conditions can be identified for future plantations.
- Establishment of identified germ plasm banks: Establishment of germplasm of identified male/female clones and their mass multiplication will allow farmers and growers to maintain clonal identity. Identified Elite cotton free male or less cotton producing germ plasm will lead to more efficient economic and environmental gains.
- Biotechnological studies: Biolotechnological studies may also be carried out to develop genetic markers to identify and functionally characterize male and female cultivars in early stages in order to eradicate the flying cotton menace. This will help in production of identified germplasm banks or production nurseries with respect to their sex and clonal details.
- Release of right sex mixing ratio of poplars: The forest deptt. especially Social forestry deptt after identification and verification of male and female trees should release appropriate ratio of poplars while going for mass cultivation and distribution of plants to the farmers and growers.
- Registration of Private nurseries: The private nurseries that are involved in the production of the poplar seedlings be got registered with the Social Forestry deptt., that would check or provide them certified planting material for multiplication and ultimately distribution to the people. The process has already been started by Social Forestry Department.