Bojnourd – After 30 years of research, seven fast-growing poplar varieties have been introduced to farmers in Bojnourd, the capital of North Khorasan province, to boost wood cultivation, an official says.

 

Ali Bozorgmehr, a researcher at the North Khorasan Agricultural Research Center, said that out of 100 poplar cultivars studied at the Bojnourd center, 21 were selected, and seven were found best suited to local climate and soil conditions.

 

“While adaptable to other provinces, these varieties perform optimally in North and Razavi Khorasan.”

 

The varieties underwent long-term testing for disease resistance, pests, growth rate, and water needs. One well-known cultivar, "Alborz," has already been introduced elsewhere, he added.

 

Native poplar species, including the Shirvan black poplar, which reaches three meters in diameter, remain economically valuable but take 20-30 years to mature. In contrast, the new varieties become profitable within 8-10 years.