Scientific Papers Series Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development

Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2016

PRINT ISSN 2284-7995, E-ISSN 2285-3952
"PAULOWNIA SPECIES" GROWING FOR SAPLINGS IN POTS IN
ROMANIA: TECHNOLOGICAL ASPECTS AND COMPARATIVE
EXPENSES, INCOMES AND PROFIT

Agatha POPESCU1, Liviu SABAU2

1
University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest, 59 Marasti Boulevard,
District 1, Zip code 011464, Bucharest, Romania, Phone: +403182564, Mobile: 0722462647,
Email: [email protected]
2
SC Galya 3000 SRL, Cerneteaz Commune, 109 Principal Street, Zip Code 307211, Timis
County, Romania, Phone: 0256369507, 0786513053, 0786513052, 0747012219, Email:
[email protected], [email protected]

Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

The paper aimed to comparatively analyze the economic efficiency of Paulownia Species, Shan Tung variety, grown
for producing 10,000 saplings in pots at SC Galya 3000 SRL, Cerneteaz Commune, Timis County, Romania in the
year 2016. The research includes three alternatives for producing 10,000 saplings in pots as follows: V1- saplings
in pots 7x7x8 cm, V2- saplings in pots of 19 cm, and V3-saplings in pots of 36 cm. In case of V3, the production cost
for 8 months to produce saplings of 1-1.5 m height in a pot of 36 cm was Lei 8.95, 2 times higher compared to V2,
where the cost per sapling of 50 cm in a pot of 19 cm was Lei 4.06 and 7.16 times higher than in case of V1, where
the cost per sapling of 4 cm in a small pot of 8 cm was Lei 1.25. The income is 6 times higher in case of V3
compared to V1 and 2 times higher compared to V2, and as a consequence, the gross profit increases from V1 to
V3, while the profit rate decreases from 300.14 % in case of V1 to 235.04 % in case of V3. Therefore, the profit rate
is enough high to consider Paulownia growing a real business for all the three variants. As a final conclusion,
Paulownia tree growing is a real business for farmers interested to get income and profit in a short period of time
varying from1.5 months to 8 months. Also, the plants could be grown in plantations for fuel and furniture wood
whose price is much higher if the wood is sold in the international market.

Key words: economic efficiency, growing, Paulownia Species, Shan Tung variety, saplings in pots

INTRODUCTION fargesii, P. glabrata [8].

Paulownia Sp. has its origin in China, where

about 2,600 years ago it was used for timber.
At present, the plant is largely spread in
China, Vietnam, Laos, Japan, Korea, in
general in Asia, but also it is cultivated in
Australia and America.
The name of Paulownia was given in honour
of Anna Paulowna, Queen consort of the
Netherlands (1795–1865), daughter of Tsar
Paul I of Russia. For this reason, the plant it is
named "princess tree".
From a botanical point of view, it belongs to
Fig.1.World zones where Paulownia is grown
the "Pauloniaceae family", consisting of a Source: http://www.worldpaulownia.com/international-
large number of species. At present, there are map/ [14]
many Paulownia species, among the most
important being: P. tomentosa, P. fortunei, P. The species are able to adapt easily to
elongata, P. albiphloea, P.catalpifolia, P. different climate and soil conditions. But the
australis, P. kawakamii, P. taiwaniana, P. plant has better results when it is cultivated
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on fertile soils, deep lose sandy soils. The agro-forestry, micropropagation techniques
only condition is as the water table to be are largely applied by various researchers [1,
deeper than 1.5 m. Also, the optimum 5].
temperatures for Paulownia growing are Another important method for Paulownia
ranging between - 20 and + 45 Celsius propagation is seedlings production.
degrees. However, the plant requires a lot of The seeds are very small. In one gram of
water to grow well and mainly in the warm seeds there are 2,666-3,333 seeds, or 1,000
seasons, because the tree has a high seeds weigh 0.17-0.25 g depending on variety.
transpiration rate. The seeds germination rate also depends on
It is a fast growing tree, at the age of 6-7 years hybrid and ranges between 70 % up to 90 %.
reaching about 15 meters height and the age In Romania, the researches on Pawlonia Sp.
of 10 years it has about 30-40 diameter and started since 1984-1986 for finding
0.3-0.5 m3 volume of timber. The timber is possibilities to produce wood with special
strong and dries easily, its grain is fine and it uses and reduce wood import. [10]
is resistant to deformation, cracking or In the last decade, Pawlonia Sp. was
wrapping. cultivated on various surfaces in different
For this reason, the Paulownia tree has a large regions of Romania. At present, Pawlonia
range of uses, being cultivated for the growing for saplings and wood has become a
following purposes: (i)fuel wood, (ii) real business.
furniture of high quality, plywood and Paulownia tree has a special chemical
musical instruments (guitars etc), wood for composition and a high energetic value, a
planes and ships, because the word can be reason to be suitable to produce bioetanol in
easily carved, (iii) for intercropping in Romania. [7]
agriculture, as it is able to develop a suitable In Romania, the Shan Tong hybrid, which is a
climate for agricultural crops increasing selected clone resulted from the combination
yields, (iv) an organic fertilizer because the of two species: P. tomentosa x P. fortunei,
leaves are rich in Nitrogen, (v) the leaves can has started to be recently cultivated. Its main
be also used as animal fodder, (vi) fuel pellets qualities are: the well developed saplings of
for heating, (vii) the flowers are rich in nectar one year old which can be easily planted
completing the picking alternatives for bee directly in the field and the high quality of
families and contributing to an increased timber plantations, as the tree lignifies faster.
honey production, (viii) for landscape In Romania, other researches on Paulownia
architecture in the urban and rural areas, (ix) trees were done in nurseries created in
for protecting rods, farms, houses etc, against greehouses and in the field at ICAS
wind and snow storms, (x)for reclamation of Ștefănești, Simeria and Hemeiuș,
the areas affected by mining, (xi) for the Transilvania, [2] and the behaviour of the
afforestation of various areas where forests plantation of Paulownia tomentosa created
were cut or are insufficient, (xii) the flowers based on pot seedlings was also studied. [4]
and leaves have medicinal properties. [11, 15] În 2014 there were created Paulownia
The Paulownia leaves contain: protein 22.6 plantations over 100 hectares in 10 counties of
%, Organic matter 91.4 %, Phosphorus 0.6 %, Romania (Timiș, Constanţa, Galaţi,
Calcium 2.1 %, Iron 0.6 %, Zinc 0.9 %, 7.8 % Teleorman, Călărași, Sălaj, Cluj, Satu Mare,
ash, metabolizable energy 15-18 MJ/kg. [3] Sibiu, Suceava, and Bihor. [6]
The Paulownia wood is surnamed "the wood In Romania, the cities Baia Mare, Cluj-
aluminum". About 2 thirds of a tree could be Napoca, Băile Herculane, Timisoara, Arad,
used for timber, and one third for biomass for București, Buzău, Horezu-Mănăstire, Govora
producing green energy. The price of one Băi, Caracal, Craiova, Miniș, Slatina, Tîrgu
cubic meter of timber is about Euro 500. [9] Jiu,Vaslui have old Paulownia trees whose
Paulownia can be multiplied from seeds, roots age varies between 30-50 years. [13]
or stem cuttings. In order to produce In this context, the objective of the paper was
genetically uniform clones of high quality for to present three business alternatives of
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Paulownia production as saplings in pots and nursery, and (b) to transfer the plants from the
the related costs, income, profit and profit rate small pots 7x7x8 cm into pots of 19 cm. In ors
to prove that this tree could be a big deal for experiments, the small plants were moved into
the Romanian farmers. pots of 19 cm. In June and July, the plants
growth continued so that in August, they
MATERIALS AND METHODS reached 50 cm height. In September, the
plants could be used in four directions: (i) to
The experiments were carried out at the firm be moved from the post of 19 cm into post of
SC Galya 3000 SRL [12], situated in 36 cm and continue their growing or to be
Cerneteaz Commune, Timis County, in the sold as such on the market, (ii) to be moved
West part of Romania. The period of in larger pots of 50 cm when they have 60 cm
experiments lasted 8 months from February height; (iii) to be planted directly in the field
till September 2016. in pits of 0.8-1 m depth; (iv) to remain to be
The Paulownia hybrid used in this experiment grown in pots of 19 cm till December. In this
was Shan Tung variety, imported as experiment, the plants were transferred from
phytosanitary certified seeds from China. small pots of 19 cm into pots of 36 cm in
A number of 10,000 saplings were considered order to be sold as such in the market.
the goal of the experiment. V1-Producing 10,000 saplings in small pots
The project designed in this research includes 7x7x8 cm.
three alternatives for producing 10,000 Seeds. The average number of seeds used in
saplings in pots as follows: V1- saplings in this variant was 3,000/g. For producing
pots 7x7x8 cm, V2- saplings in pots of 19 cm, 10,000 saplings in small pots, it was needed
and V3-saplings in pots of 36 cm. 16,000 seeds imported from China, as
For each experimental variant, it was phytosanitary certified seeds. It was needed to
presented the production technology and the take into account that the sprouting rate is 75
related costs, income, profit and profit rate. % and at the transfer of the plants from cell
The results for the three variants were trays into pots of 7x7x8 cm, there are 16.66 %
comparatively analyzed regarding this plant losses. Therefore, 5.4 g of seeds were
indicators. bought at the price of USD 2.66/g (all taxes
included). The cost of seeds acquisition
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS totalized USD 14.36, or, at an exchange rate 1
USD= Lei 3.95, this meant Lei 56.72.
The calendar for producing Paulownia Cell trays. The seeds are put into special cell
plants was the following one: February was trays. In this experiment there were used the
the month when the experiments started. The trays with 104 cells, whose price is Lei
small seeds were put into cell trays in a 1.7/tray. Therefore, for sowing 16,000 seeds,
special room where the temperature was about there were needed 154 trays, whose total cost
27-28 Celsius degrees. After germination, in was Lei 261.8.
maximum 10 days from sowing, the small Sprouting substratum is represented by TS 3
plants have appeared. The germination rate peat, which has a fine granulation ( 0-7 mm)
was 75 %, therefore 25 % seeds were lost. In and ph= 5-5.5. This sort of peat is imported
March, at the age of 1-1.5 months, the plants from Lithuania. To fill the 104 cells of a tray,
reached about 4 cm height, when they were it is needed 500 g peat, therefore for all the
transferred from the cell trays into small pots 154 trays it was needed the amount of 77 kg
of 7x7x8 cm. About 16.66 % losses were peat. Peat is commercialized in sacks of 200
recorded after the plant transfer in small pots. liters ( equivalent to about 50 kg peat) and the
In April, the plants continued to grow and in price is Lei 63/sack. Therefore, two sacks of
May, they reached 10 cm height. From this peat are enough and their cost is Lei 126.
moment, there are two alternatives to use the After sowing, the small plants of 1 cm height
small plants: (a) to move the plants of 10 cm will appear in 10 days and they will continue
height and 1-1.5 cm diameter in a Paulownia their growth till they reach 3-4 cm height at
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the age of 1-1.5 months. period of about 45 days when the plants are
in this stage of vegetation. For the whole
period, the electricity consumed by heater
totalize 2,160 KWh, and at the price Lei
0.2734/KWh, this means Lei 590.50 total
cost with heater electricity consumption.
Labor force required to fill the 154 trays with
peat, to sow the seeds and wet the plants is
represented by one permanent employee for
the duration of 45 days and one worker
working only 7 days for filling the cell trays
with peat and 2 days for sowing the seeds. At
a tariff of 100 lei/working day, the total labor
cost accounted for Lei 5,400.
Transfer of 12,000 small plants from cell
trays into small pots 7x7x8 cm. Taking into
Photo 1. Paulownia seedlings in a cell tray. account that the germination rate is 75 %,
Source: Original photo. therefore 4,000 plants were lost 925%), only a
number of 12,000 plants will be moved into
Watering is compulsory to help the sprouting small pots.
process and plants to grow. For 50 plants, its i (a)The acquisition of the 12,000 small pots
needed 2 liters water/one watering and 3 7x7x8 cm at the price Lei 0.08/pot, lead to
waterings are enough per week at this stage of Lei 960 total cost.
vegetation. To water 16,000 seeds and (b)The substratum in small pots, was
seedlings it is required an amount of 1,920 represented by 14 sacks of TS 3 peat, bought
liters ( 1.92 m3) water, which is supplied at at the price Lei 63/sack of 200 liters.
the price Lei 4.50/ m3. Therefore, water cost is Therefore, the total cost with peat substratum
Lei 8.64. in small pots is Lei 882.
The water needs to be assured by a (c)Watering the plants in small pots needed
Submersible Pump QDX 1.4 32 M, 1.4 KW 7,200 liters water, whose cost was Lei 32.4,
engine power and 5,000 liters/hour ( 5 m3) considering that a plant in a pot must receive
water flow. The pump price is Lei 239. For 150 ml water two times a week for a period of
pumping 1,920 liters water, it is consumed two weeks.
0.53 KW and taking into account the price of (d)The Atonik biostimulator was also used to
electricity Lei 0.2734/KWh, this means Lei help plant growth in small pots, in the same
0.15 expenses. concentration ratio (1 ml biostimulator/1 liter
Biostimulation for germination and water). For the amount of 7,200 liters of water
growth. At the same time with the water required to wet the plants, the related cost
assurance, it is needed to apply Atonik with Atonik biostimulator accounted for Lei
biostimulator (1 ml/1 liter water), more 1,205.7.
exactly 2 liters for the whole amount of water (e)The submersible pump has to operate 3.6
1,920 liters. The price of biostimulator is Lei hours to assure the needed water volume, and
165.7/liter, therefore, the two liters cost was this means 5.04 KWh and electricity cost is
Lei 331.4. Lei 1.38.
Heating in spring season. When it is cold (f)The labor force required to transfer the
outdoors, like in February and March, in the small plants from cell trays into small pots
room where the plants are grown in cell trays, 7x7x8 cm is represented by 4 workers who
it is needed to assure 27-28 Celsius degrees must work 6 days for a tariff of Lei
for germination and plant growth. In this 100/working day, totalizing Lei 2,400 labour
purpose, an electric heater of 2,000 W, with a cost. The number of working days was
consumption of 48 KW/day is needed for a established taking into account that a worker
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is able to transfer only 500 plants/working day small pots of 7x7x8 cm, 2,112 plants (
from cell trays into small pots. 16.66%) will be lost. Taking into account that
The expenses related to the production after the transfer from small pots 7x7x8 cm
technology for producing 10,000 Paulownia into pots of 19 cm, the loss of plants is small,
saplings in pots 7x7x8 cm are presented in more exactly 5.34 % ( 563 plants), finally,
Table 1. 10,000 saplings at a height of 50 cm in pots
of 19 cm could be sold in the market.
Table 1. The expenses related to the production Therefore, the 16,900 seeds means 5.63 g
technology for producing 10,000 Paulownia saplings in
pots 7x7x8 cm
seeds, which are bought at the price USD
Crt. Cost item Total 2.66/g. This means USD 14.98 or, at the
No. Expenses exchange rate of 1 USD=Lei 3.95, this means
(Lei) Lei 59.17, total cost with the seeds
MATERIALS
1 Seeds 56.72 acquisition.
2 Cell trays 261.80 Cell trays. For 16,900 seeds it is needed 163
3 Small pots 7x7x8 cm 960.00 trays ( a tray with 104 cells), which are
3 Peat substratum, of which: 1,008.00
-for sprouting in cell trays 126.00
bought at the price Lei 1.7 lei/tray. Therefore,
-in small pots 7x7x8 cm 882.00 the acquisition of all the trays totalizes Lei
4 Watering, of which: 41 .04 277.1.
-seeds and plants in cell trays 8.64
-plants in small pots 7x7x8 cm 32.40
Substratum for germination and plant
5 Submersible pump 1.4 KW, 5 m3/h 239.00 growth. In this purpose, it is used TS 3 peat (
6 Atonik biostimulator, of which: 1,537.10 0-7 mm granulation), ph= 5-5.5, imported
- for seeds and plants in cell trays 331.40 from Lithuania. The amount of peat to fill the
-for plants in small pots 7x7x8 cm 1,205.70
7 TOTAL MATERIALS 4,103.66 cells of a tray with 104 cells is 500 g peat.
8 SERVICES WITH THIRDS Therefore, for 163 trays it is needed 81.5 kg
9 Electricity, of which: 592.03 peat. Because, it is known that a sack of peat
-for pumping water for seeds and plants 0.15
in cell trays 590.50
has 200 liters ( 50 kg), it is needed to buy 2
-for heating in spring season 1.38 sacks and at the price Lei 63/sack, the total
-for pumping water for plants in small cost with peat acquisition is Lei 126.
pots 7x7x8
10 TOTAL SERVICES WITH THIRDS 592.03
Watering. It is known that for 50 plants in
11 LABOR this stage it is needed 2 liters water/watering
12 Labor force, of which: 7,800 and 3 times a week, totalizing 6 liters. For
-for working with seeds and plants in 5,400 16,900 seeds and plants, it is needed 2,028
cell trays 2,400
-for working with plants in small post liters water, at the price Lei 4.50 m3, this
7x7x8 cm means Lei 9.14 watering cost.
13 TOTAL LABOR 7,800 Submersible pump QDX 1.4 32 m, 5 m3/h
14 TOTAL PRODUCTION EXPENSES 12,495.69
Source: Own calculation water flow costs Lei 239.
Electricity for water pumping. Taking into
Therefore, for producing 10,000 saplings in account that the pump has 1.4 KW power and
small pots of 7x7x8 cm, the production costs gives 5,000 liters/hour, it is needed 2,028
are Lei 12,495.69, of which the expenses with liters water to be pumped, and this means 0.57
the required materials represent 32.84 %, the KWh electricity consumption. At the tariff Lei
labor costs represent 62.42 % and the cost 0.2734/KWh, this means Lei 0.16 cost with
with the thirds for electricity delivery electricity.
represent 4.74 %. Biostimulation for germination and
V2-Producing 10,000 saplings in pots of 19 growth. For V2, it is needed to apply Atonik
cm diameter biostimulator (1 ml/1 liter water), more
Seeds. In this case, it is needs to start with exactly 2 liters for the whole amount of water
16,900 seeds, which at a germination rate of 2,028 liters. The price of biostimulator is Lei
75 % will led to 12,675 small plants in cell 165.7/liter, therefore, the two liters cost was
trays. After the transfer from cell trays into Lei 331.4.
Heating in spring season. Taking into
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account that, the electric heater of 2,000 W (f)The labor force required to transfer the
will operate daily in February, March and small plants from cell trays into small pots
April, that is 89 days, this means 4,272 KW 7x7x8 cm is
consumed and at the tariff Lei 0.2734/KWh, represented by 4 workers who are able to
this means Lei 1,168, heating cost. transfer 500 plants/working day, this means
Labor force. For filling the 163 trays with about 6.5 working days and at the tariff Lei
peat and taking care of plants from February 100/day, the total labor cost is Lei 2,600.
to May, that is 89 days, it is needed one Transfer of the plants of 10 cm height from
permanent employee and one worker to fill small post 7x7x8 cm into pots of 19 cm
the 163 trays with 81.5 kg peat in 2.5 days (a)The acquisition of the 12,675 pots of 19 cm
and to put 2,500 seeds/day in trays, he needs at the price Lei 1.01/pot, lead to Lei 12,801.75
about 7 working days. At the tariff Lei total cost.
100/day, the total labor cost accounts for Lei (b)The substratum for plants in pots of 19 cm
9,850. is a mixture consisting of manure, sand, perlit,
Transfer of 12,675 small plants from cell peat with big granulation and garden ground.
trays into small pots 7x7x8 cm. For the 12,675 pots, there were required the
(a)The acquisition of the 12,675 small pots following amounts of these components of the
7x7x8 cm at the price Lei 0.08/pot, lead to mixture: 2,281.50 kg manure, 1,267.5 kg
Lei 1,014 total cost. sand, 126.75 liters perlit, 633.75 kg peat and
(b)The substratum in small pots, was 633.75 kg garden ground. As a consequence,
represented by 14 sacks of TS 3 peat, bought there were bought:
at the price Lei 63/sack of 200 liters. (i)156.1 sacks manure at the price Lei
Therefore, the total cost with peat substratum 10/sack, meaning Lei 1,521 manure cost;
in small pots is Lei 882. (ii) 0.75 m3 sand at the price Lei 40/ m3 sand,
(c)Watering the plants in small pots. Knowing meaning Lei 30;
that a plant receives 150 ml water 2 times a (iii) 2 sacks of perlit at the price Lei 85/a sack
week, and the duration of watering is 8 weeks of 100 liters, meaning Lei 170;
from the middle of March to the middle of (iv) 51 sacks of peat at the price Lei 20.24/ an
May, this lead to 2.4 liters/plant in pot and Agro CS sack of 50 liters, meaning Lei
multiplied by 12,675 pots ( plants), it totalizes 1,032.24;
30,420 liters water, i.e. 30.42 m3, and the (v) 13 sacks of garden ground of 50 kg each at
tariff Lei 4.5/ m3, it results Lei 136.89 the price Lei 23/sack, meaning Lei 299.
watering cost. Therefore, the total expenses with the
(d)The Atonik biostimulator for plants in substratum mixture needed to fill the 12,675
small pots is used to help plant growth, in the pots of 19 cm account for Lei 3,052.24.
same concentration ratio (1 ml biostimulator/1 (c)Labor for transferring the plants from
liter water). For the amount of 30,420 liters of small pots 7x7x8 cm into pots of 19 cm.
water required to wet the plants, the related Because 2,000 plants/working day could be
cost with Atonik biostimulator accounted for transferred by 4 workers, there are needed 6.5
Lei 5,059.30, because there were bought 30 working days and the tariff per day is Lei
liters at the price Lei 165.70 /liter and 500 ml 100/person. In this case, the labor cost for this
Atonik at the price Lei 88.30/dose of 500 ml. operation account for Lei 2,600.
(e)The electricity consumption made by the (d)Watering the plants in pots of 19 cm. In
submersible pump. Knowing that the pump of this purpose, it is needed a Kärcher sprinkler
1.4 KW provides 5,000 liters/hour, for 12,675 with a complete rotation, PS 300, 703 m2,
plants and for a period of 8 weeks, it is needed with a sprinkling ray 30 m, and water flow 18
the amount of 30,420 liters water. In this liters/min ( 1,080 liter/hour). The sprinkler
purpose, the pump must operate 6.084 hours, price is Lei 66.59/piece. Arranging the pots in
consuming 8.52 KWh and at the tariff Lei a squared shape, 113 pots of 19 cm on the side
02.734/KWh, the total cost with electricity for of the square and 114 pots on the other side,
pumping is Lei 2.33. the surface covered by the 12,675 pots of 19
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cm totalize 465 m2. In this case, the sprinkler period of 10 weeks. This totalize 64,800 liters
is placed in the middle of the square with or 64.8 m3 and at the tariff Lei 4.5/ m3, it
pots. results Lei 291.6 water cost.
The 64,800 liters water are pumped by the
Table 2. The expenses related to the production pump of 1.4 KW and 5,000 liters/hour water
technology for producing 10,000 Paulownia saplings in flow, meaning that there are required 13
pots of 19 cm
Crt. Cost item Total
hours. In this case, the electricity consumption
No. Expenses is 18.2 KWh and at the tariff Lei
(Lei) 0.2734/KWh, it results Lei 4.97 electricity
MATERIALS
1 Seeds 59.17
cost for pumping.
2 Cell trays 277.1 Therefore, the total expenses with watering
3 Small pots 7x7x8 cm 1,014 the pots of 19 cm account for Lei 363.16.
4 Pots of 19 cm 12,801.75 As mentioned at the beginning of the V2
5 Peat substratum, of which: 1,008.00
-for sprouting in cell trays 126.00 presentation, during the growth of plants in
-in small pots 7x7x8 cm 882.00 post of 19 cm, it is recorded a loss of 5.34 %
6 Substratum mixture for plants in pots of 3,052.24 plants, that is 563, finally, remaining 10,000
19 cm, of which: 1,521
-manure 30
saplings at a height of 50 cm in pots of 19 cm
-sand 1,032.24 to be sold in the market
-peat 170 The expenses related to the production
-perlit 299
-garden ground
technology for producing 10,000 Paulownia
7 Watering, of which: 437.63 saplings in pots of 19 cm are presented in
-seeds and plants in cell trays 9.14 Table 2.
-plants in small pots 7x7x8 cm 136.89
-plants in pots of 19 cm 291.60
Therefore, for producing 10,000 saplings in
8 Submersible pump 1.4 KW, 5 m3/h 239.00 small pots of 19 cm, the production costs are
9 Sprinkler PS 300, 703 m2, 30 m 66.59 Lei 40,571.64, of which the expenses with the
sprinkling ray, 18 liters/min water flow materials represent 60.00 %, the labor costs
10 Atonik biostimulator, of which: 5,390.70
- for seeds and plants in cell trays 331.40 represent 37.09 % and the cost with the thirds
-for plants in small pots 7x7x8 cm 5,059.30 for electricity delivery represent 2.01 %.
11 TOTAL MATERIALS 24,346.18 V3-Producing 10,000 saplings in pots of 36
12 SERVICES WITH THIRDS
13 Electricity, of which: 1,175.46
cm diameter. All the technological and
-for pumping water for seeds and plants 0.16 economical aspects of V2 are available for V3
in cell trays 1,168.00 till the moment of saplings transfer from the
-for heating in spring season 2.33
-for pumping water for plants in small 4.97
pots of 19 cm into the pots of 36 cm diameter.
pots 7x7x8 The plants of 50 cm height at the age of 4
-for pumping water for the plants in months in the month of May are transferred
post of 19 cm
14 TOTAL SERVICES WITH THIRDS 1,175.46
from the pots of 19 cm into pots of 36 cm,
15 LABOR where they are grown till they attains 1-1.5 m
16 Labor force, of which: 15,050 height at the age of 8 months, that is at the
-for working with seeds and plants in 9,850 end of August, and the beginning of
cell trays 2,600
-for working with plants in small post 2,600 September.
7x7x8 cm (a)The acquisition of the 10,000 pots of 36 cm
-for working with plants in pots of 19 at the price Lei 3.3/pot, means Lei 33,000
cm
17 TOTAL LABOR 15,050 total cost.
18 TOTAL PRODUCTION EXPENSES 40,571.64 (b)The substratum for plants in pots of 36 cm
Source: Own calculation is represented by the same mixture consisting
of manure, sand, perlit, peat with big
The water amount used to wet the 12,675 post granulation and garden ground used in case of
of 19 cm was calculated taking into V2.
consideration that the sprinkler water flow For the 10.000 pots of 36 cm, there are
1,080 liters/hours, the need to wet the plants required the following amounts of these
for two hours and three times a week for a components of the mixture: 2,700 kg manure,
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1,500 kg sand, 150 liters perlit, 750 kg peat 96,000 liters or 96 m3, which at the tariff Lei
and 750 kg garden ground. As a 4.5/ m3, means Lei 432 water cost.
consequence, there bought: Having in mind, that it is needed as water to
(i) 180 sacks manure at the price Lei 10/sack, cover a surface larger than 1,296 m2, it is not
meaning Lei 1,800 manure cost; enough only one sprinkler.
(ii) 0.89 m3 sand at the price Lei 40/ m3 sand, In this case, it is required to buy an additional
meaning Lei 35.6; Kärcher sprinkler, PS 300, 703 m2, with 30 m
(iii) 2 sacks of perlit at the price Lei 85/a sack sprinkling ray, and 18 liters/min (1,080
of 100 liters, meaning Lei 170; liter/hour) water flow. The sprinkler price is
(iv) 60 sacks of peat at the price Lei 20.24/ an Lei 66.59/piece at the market price.
Agro CS sack of 50 liters, meaning Lei The 96,000 liters water must be supplied by
1,214.4; the pump of 1.4 KW and 5,000 liters/hour
(v) 15 sacks of garden ground of 50 kg each at water flow, meaning that there are required
the price Lei 23/sack, meaning Lei 345. 19.2 hours.
Therefore, the total expenses with the In this case, the electricity consumption is
substratum mixture needed to fill the 12,675 26.88 KWh and at the tariff Lei 0.2734/KWh,
pots of 19 cm account for Lei 3,565. it results Lei 7.35 electricity cost for pumping.
(c)Labor for transferring the plants from pots Therefore, the total expenses with watering
of 19 cm into pots of 36 cm. Because only 240 the pots of 36 cm account for Lei 505.94.
plants/working day may, this means that all
the 10,000 plants will be transfer in about 42
days. But, normally, this operation must be
done in maximum one week.
For this reason, there are needed 6 workers,
who are able to move 1,440 plants per day
and in 7 days to finish the whole number of
pots.
The total expenses for 1 permanent worker
working 4 months (May, June, July and
August) and for other 5 workers totalize Lei
11,900 for a tariff of Lei 100 for working day.
(d)Watering the plants in pots of 36 cm.
The arrangement of pots to be wet could be
made in a square shape as in case of the pots
of 19 cm. If we put 100 pots on one side of
the square and other 100 pots on the other
side, the surface of the square occupied by
10,000 pots of 36 cm is S= 1,296 m2.
But we have to take into account that the
plants have more leaves, the vegetative mass
is larger and larger, and at a moment they
need more space to develop. In his case, it is
required a larger surface of irrigation.
But, even under this condition, it is known Photo 2. Paulownia saplings of 50 cm height in
that a plant in a pot of 36 cm needs about 2 pots of 36 cm.
liters water a day and 3 waterings a week for a Source: Original photo.
period of 16 weeks ( 4 months) from May to
the end of August. The expenses related to the production
Therefore, for the whole period of time, a technology for producing 10,000 Paulownia
plant in a pot of 36 cm needs 96 liters water, saplings in pots of 36 cm are presented in
and for the 10,000 saplings it is required Table 3.
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Table 3. The expenses related to the production Therefore, for producing 10,000 saplings in
technology for producing 10,000 Paulownia saplings in pots of 36 cm, the production costs are Lei
pots of 36 cm
Crt. Cost item Total
89,542.58, of which the expenses with the
No. Expenses materials represent 68.58 %, the labor costs
(Lei) represent 30.09 % and the cost with the thirds
MATERIALS
1 Seeds 59.17
for electricity delivery represent 1.33 %.
2 Cell trays 277.1
3 Small pots 7x7x8 cm 1,014
4 Pots of 19 cm 12,801.75
5 Pots of 36 cm 33,000
5 Peat substratum, of which: 1,008.00
-for sprouting in cell trays 126.00
-in small pots 7x7x8 cm 882.00
6 Substratum mixture for plants in pots of 3,052.24
19 cm, of which: 1,521.00
-manure 30.00
-sand 1,032.24
-peat 170.00
-perlit 299.00
-garden ground
7 Substratum mixture for plants in pots of 3,565.00
36 cm, of which: 1,800.00
-manure 35.60
-sand 170.00
-peat 1,214.40
-perlit 345.00
-garden ground
8 Watering, of which: 869.63
-seeds and plants in cell trays 9.14
-plants in small pots 7x7x8 cm 136.89
-plants in pots of 19 cm 291.60
-plants in pots of 36 cm 432.00
9 Submersible pump 1.4 KW, 5 m3/h 239.00
10 Sprinklers PS 300, 703 m2, 30 m 133.18
sprinkling ray, 18 liters/min water flow
11 Atonik biostimulator, of which: 5,390.70 Photo 3. Paulownia at 1.5 m height at the age of 8
- for seeds and plants in cell trays 331.40 months
-for plants in small pots 7x7x8 cm 5,059.30 Source: Original photo.
12 TOTAL MATERIALS 61,409.77
13 SERVICES WITH THIRDS
14 Electricity, of which: 1,182.81
-for pumping water for seeds and plants 0.16
in cell trays 1,168.00
-for heating in spring season 2.33
-for pumping water for plants in small 4.97
pots 7x7x8 7.35
-for pumping water for the plants in
pots of 19 cm
-for pumping water for the plants in
pots of 36 cm
15 TOTAL SERVICES WITH THIRDS 1,182.81
16 LABOR
17 Labor force, of which: 26,950
-for working with seeds and plants in 9,850
cell trays 2,600
-for working with plants in small post 2,600
7x7x8 cm 11,900
-for working with plants in pots of 19
cm
-for working with plants in post of 36
cm
18 TOTAL LABOR 26,950 Photo 4. Paulownia flowers.
19 TOTAL PRODUCTION EXPENSES 89,542.58 Source: Original photo.
Source: Own calculation
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Table 4. The comparative economic efficiency in
Paulownia growing for producing 10,000 saplings in
pots in the three variants V1, V2 and V3
Indicator V1- V2- 10,000 V3-10,000
10,000 saplings in saplings in
saplings in pots of 19 pots of 36
pots of cm cm
7x7x8 cm
Production 12,495.69 40,571.64 89,542.58
costs (Lei)
Production 1.25 4.06 8.95
cost per
plant
(Lei/plant
in pot)
Sale price 5 15 30
Income 50,000 150,000 300,000
from sold
pots (lei)
Gross profit 37,504.28 109,428.36 210,457.42
(Lei)
Profit rate 300.14 269.72 235.04
(%)
Net profit 31,503.60 91,919.83 176,784.24
( Lei)
Photo 5. Paulownia tree plantation at one year age
Source: Own calculation
and the farmer Eng. Liviu Sabau, the owner of
SC Galya 3000 SRL
Source: Original photo. The comparative economic efficiency in
Paulownia growing for producing 10,000
saplings in pots in the three variants presented
in this paper is shown in Table 4.

CONCLUSIONS

All the three variants to produce 10,000

Paulownia saplings in pots are profitable.
This aspect is important for the farmers
interested to develop such a business.
In case of V3, the length of the plant growing
is about 8 months, and the production cost are
the highest ones, accounting for Lei
89,542.58. The production costs are 7.16
times higher than in case of V1 and 2.2 times
higher than in case of V2.
The production cost per plant increases from
V1 to V3. In case of V3, the farmer can pay
Lei 8.95 to produce saplings of 1-1.5 m height
in 8 months. The production cost is more than
double in case of V2, when there are produced
samplings in 4 months at 50 cm height, and
Photo 6. Paulownia tree at two years from planting.
7.16 times higher than in case of V1, when a
Source: Original photo. farmer could produce a plant of 4 cm height in
1-1.5 months.
The sale price is higher when the plants have
a higher height and are commercialized in
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larger pots. tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud, Bulletin of the University of
The income is 6 times higher in case of V3 Agricultural Sciences & Veterinary Medicine Cluj-
Napoca. Horticulture . 2008, Vol. 65 Issue 1, p.489.
compared to V1 and 2 times higher compared [5]Jagannathan, L., Marcotrigiano, M., 1986,
to V2. Phenotypic and ploidy status of Paulownia tomentosa
Gross profit increases from V1 to V3, proving trees regenerated from culture hypocotyls. Plant cell,
again that the plants with the highest height Tissue and organ culture, Vol.7 (3): 227-236
are more vigorous and better sold. The net [6]MADR, Plantaţiile de Paulownia: „arborele
inteligent”, între teorie și practică, 2014, Romania
profit has a similar increasing trend from V1 rurala, Anul II, Dec.2014, pp.18.
to V3. [7]Oprea, C., 2012, El a avut curajul sa infiinteze o
The profit rate declines from V1 to V3, but it plantatie de Paulownia la Arad, Diverse, 30 August,
is enough substantial to prove that Pawlonia 2012,
tree culture is profitable. http://agroromania.manager.ro/articole/diverse/el-a-
avut-curajul-sa-infiinteze-o-plantatie-de-paulownia-la-
Therefore, as a final conclusion, farmers arad-12454.html
interested to grow Paulownia for saplings [8]Paulownia, Wikipedia,
could get a substantial profit in 1.5 months, 4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulownia
months or 8 months. [9]Paulownia- arborele minune care i-a vrajit pe
Paulownia could be successfully grown in romani, http://agrointel.ro/9792/pawlonia/, Retrieved
June11, 2013
Romania for saplings in pot. Also, it could be [10]Radu, S., Cristecu, V., Dumitru – Tataranu, I.,
sold as cut plants with roots which could be 2012, Cercetarile privind cultura forestiera a speciei
directly planted in the field to develop Paulownia tomentosa, 28 Mai 2012,
plantations for fuel wood and mainly for http://www.ecobios.ro/423
furniture wood which is required for export [11]Radu Tenter Ancuta Cristina, 2015, Cercetari
privind influenta produsa asupra proceselor de
and the best paid. germinatie a speciei Paulownia supusa campurilor
fizice si a transferului izotopului CS, Ph.D.Thesis,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary
Medicine, Cluj Napoca, Romania
The collaboration between the two authors [12]SC Galya 3000 SRL, Experimental data on
Paulownia Tree culture, 2016.
was very good and the main author thanks a [13]Simion, O.F., 2009, Cercetări privind producerea
lot Enginer Liviu Sabau, the owner of the SC materialului săditor și introducerea în spații verzi a
Galya 3000 SRL, for sharing his experience in speciiei Paulownia Tomentosa (Thunb.) Sieb.
Paulownia cultivation and for his kind Et.Zucc.,Ph.D.Thesis, University of Craiova
support in developing this research and setting [14]World zones where Paulownia is grown,
http://www.worldpaulownia.com/international-map
up this paper. [15]Zhu Zhau-Hua, Chao Ching-Ju, Lu Xin-Yu, Xiong
Yao Gao, 1986. Paulownia in China. Cultivation and
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