Hybrid Poplars: The New Addition to Syncrude's Land Reclamation Species

Field survival and growth of three hybrid poplar varieties, Walker (Populus deltoides
x Populus petrowskyana), Northwest (Populus deltoides x Populus balsamifera) and 38P38
(Populus balsamifera x Populus simonii) were compared to those of the native Balsam poplar
(Populus balsamifera L.) in a study at the Syncrude tailings dyke. Survival rates over a
three-year period were 98.7 percent for Northwest and 100 percent for Walker, 38P38 and
Balsam. Mean height increment of each of the hybrid varieties significantly exceeded that
of the native poplar. Subsequently, hybrid poplars are now proven suitable for addition
to Syncrude's list of operational land reclamation tree species.