Site-Specific and Economic Optimization of Populus Plantations for Veneer Production in Appalachian Landscapes

Western North Carolina (WNC), part of the Appalachian landscape, hosts a robust forest product industry but faces increasing challenges like land marginalization, warming temperatures and raw material shortages. This study evaluates the site suitability and cost-effectiveness of cultivating Populus species for high-value veneer–plywood (VP) production in WNC using the Veneer-Poplar Productivity and Economic Assessment Model (VP-PEAM). The model integrates site-specific variables (elevation, soil characteristics, landform and land-use history) to optimize site-species management strategies across diverse landscapes. Twelve scenarios are analyzed to assess how biophysical and land-use factors influence VP growth and profitability. The results show that VP productivity and profitability decline with increasing elevation, past land-use intensity, soil compaction and decreasing soil depth. All land-use types studied support profitable VP production. Yet, flood plain sites with medium-textured soils and moderate water table depths (0.61–1.83 m) offer optimal conditions. Even under suboptimal conditions, extended rotations maintain profitability, except on sites with persistent waterlogging or shallow water tables (