Abstract: The study on short rotational cultivation began in many countries in the 1970's. In China, the experiment with Populus euramericana cv.' Sacrau 79' on short rotation (spacing of 2×2, 2×3, 3×3m) and mid-short rotation (spacing 3×6, 4×6, 5×6, 6×6m) was initiated in Zhanghe Forest Farm of Handan Prefecture, Hebei Province in 1978. The main results from it are as follows.1. Timber from all three spacings in short rotation stand were good for rafter use by the 4th year, more than 90% of them reached to the commercial maturity standard, and to the purlin standard by the 5th year. The highest productions in both years were from 2×3m spacing.2. The annual mean volume increased by 32—66%, and the annual net income by 560—1961 yuan (according to the timber price in 1983), at the second rotationage compared with the first rotationage, spacing 2×3m had the best economic benefit.3. Higher volume increment and,annual net income were found in about rotation stand including all three spacings at the 10th year. In 2×3m spacing of short rotation stand per ha volume and the net income were 104m~3 and 5055 yuan respectively higher than that in 4×6m spacing of mid-short rotation stand.

Key words: Short-rotation, Directive cultivation, Natural regeneration by shoots