BIO TREE

The BIO TREE Company was established in 2008, with the aim of developing highly effective technologies for the ultivation of valuable fast growing tree species via the in vitro method. The cultivation of such tree species for industrial applications together with their commercial use presupposes high economic, social and ecological results.The production of planting material from such tree species would create the possibility for the industrial production of wooden pellets, biomass, biodiesel fuel, timber, raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry, renovating of forest areas destroyed by fires and landslides, the greening of parks and gardens etc.The company directs its efforts mainly towards the quality of the products it offers. In the research department, the purity of the genetic material shall be accentuated upon. Species shall be created with better timber quality, better resistance to maladies and broader areas of proliferation. Our ambition is to introduce fast growing species and hybrids of the genus Paulownia, with creating species withstanding lower and higher temperatures. (from-30°C to +60°C). The genus Paulownia (in the family Scrophulariaceae) includes nine highly productive species with valuable timber. Those are P. elongata, P.tomentosa, P. fortuneti, P.australis, P. fargesii, P.albiphloea, P.catalpifoliaq P. kawakami.They are native to southeastern China, where they have been cultivated for centuries. Paulownia is attractive with its exceptional fast growth, high quality timber, beautiful flowers and large leaves.All species of the genus Paulownia are fast growing, with excellent timber, but most promising in this respect are P.elongata or (the emerald tree) and P. fortunei, which within six - seven years can reach 20 m in height and 30-40 cm stem diameter. For harvesting, 5 to 6 years old trees can be used, 30 cm in diameter. From one such tree only, more than 1 m3 of high quality timber can be obtained. In China, Paulownia is grown on total area of 2.5 million hectares, in order to meet the huge demand for timber in the country. The high drought resistance, unpretentiousness towards the soil composition and the broad range of temperatures for growing (from -20 to +40°C) makes the Paulownia species highly sought on the world market. The creating of hybrid species allows for their growing in different climactic conditions.The species are of special value for planting large industrial fields, in burnt down woods, cut-over areas and landslides.The timber of Paulownia is light and at the same time exceptionally strong, which is the ideal combination for the cases where such ratio matters. The timber easily allows all types of treatment. It is light in color and it stains well with all varieties of colors.Learn more about Paulownia and his history. Planting and growing The natural area for the spreading of the Paulownia species is Asia, mainly China, where they originate from. The species of the genus are widely introduced to North and South America and New Zealand. uch rarely they are seen in Germany and in Russia. In the countries on the Balkan Peninsula, species of the genus are almost lacking. In Bulgaria, single specimens of the genus P. tomentosa known as "Royal Paulownia" or "Empress Tree" are very rarely met.In recent times, great interest is shown towards the species of the genus Paulownia, not only with regard to the superior qualities of the timber, but as a source for biomass for renewable bio-fuel.The species of the genus Paulownia propagate through seedlings and in the vegetative way - through root and stem cuttings.The seeds have low rate of germination and the resulting seedlings develop slower compared with the plants propagated through tissue cultures. The In vitro propagation of the tree species is much more difficult, but once mastered it provides a fast method for the production of planting material for forestation, production of timber and an effective way for improving the initial planting material. In 1998, the scientist Bergman conducted a research on the development of seedlings of species of the genus Paulownia in greenhouse conditions after adaptation in North California, and found that the plants produced from tissue cultures develop much better.Those produced from seeds developed much slower and some are perished before reaching the age of 3 years. In principle, the plants produced from tissue cultures have other advantages also. They are virus free and develop much better. Under favorable conditions from one explanted 1 million plants can be obtained annually, with much higher values for the diameter and the height of the stem.Learn more about:- Propagation- Planting and growing- Planting and growing for biomass production- Planting and growing for timber- Intercropping Usage For afforestation and decorationThe fast growth of these tree species makes them of special value for planting large commercial areas, reclaiming burned down forests, cleared plots and landslides.Unlike other tree species, Paulownia grows 5-10 meters in height only for 2 to 4 years. In spring and in summer the trees are covered with beautiful cluster-like panicles varied in form and color from creamy to deep purple. The fast growth and large leaves ensure shady areas in shortly. All this makes the Paulownia species exceptionally suited for the decoration of parks and gardens. The fast growth and large leaves ensure shady areas in shortly.All this makes the Paulownia species exceptionally suited for the decoration of parks and gardens. Paulownia wood usesThe timber of Paulownia is light and at the same time - exceptionally strong, which is the ideal combination for the cases where such ratio matters. The timber of P. elongata and P. fortunei is half the weight of oak and of the coniferous species timber. The high ratio of strength/weight makes the Paulownia timber irreplaceable in shipbuilding, aviation, for surfboards, caravans etc.The timber easily allows all types of treatment. The strength, smoothness and the lack of blemishes make this timber the preferred choice for furniture linings, veneers etc. The timber is with amazing resonance which makes it highly valued and sought for musical instruments. It is light in color and it stains well with all varieties of colors.The Paulownia timber can be air-dried fast (without kilns). The necessary time to be dried in kilns is between 24 to 48 hours and outdoors – 30 to 60 days. Paulownia retains little moisture (up to 10-12%). The timber is water-resistant, it is exceptionally stable, withstands warping, breakages and deformations. The timber is with fine structure and silky smooth surface, without blemishes (knots). Utilization of the leavesThe leaves are used quite often for animal fodder (given to cows, sheep, pigs etc.) Their nutritional value is close to that of the alfalfa as they contain 20% of proteins assimilated to 60%.The leaves measure up to 75 cm in diameter and are the best “oxygen plants”. They absorb very large quantities of carbon dioxide and release a lot of oxygen in purifying hundreds of thousands cubic meters of air. This is of very high ecological value.In China, Paulownia leaves are used in the pharmaceutics industry for medicines against abdominal typhus, liver diseases, cases of bronchitis, etc. As Paulownia leaves are very large, they provide a lot of shade and preserve soil humidity, creating a favorable microclimate for the plants cultivated jointly. After the fall, the leaves fertilize the soil, enrich it with nitrogen and improve its structure. In this way, they make it suitable for the species grown jointly with Paulownia to ensure higher yields. Utilization of the blossoms and the seedingsThe beautiful shape and coloring of the blossoms and their fragrance attract bees which contributes a lot for the development of the bee-keeping. The honey obtained from these blossoms is very beneficial to the higher breathing tract, to the lungs and also to the digestive organs.The blossoms, in the form of teas and syrups are used for the treatment of illnesses of the liver, the gallbladder, the spleen, and for bronchitis.Lately, the blossoms are used intensively in cosmetics for the production of perfumes, fragrances and other cosmetic products. Utilization of paulownia as raw fuelBesides in industry, Paulownia is used in power engineering for the production of pellets (raw fuel for electricity) and as the raw material for alternative renewable bio-fuel. For this purpose not only the stem is used but also branches and leaves. The pellets can be used for private steam heating of single buildings and apartments and for large installations and power plants. Of most interest and economic value is the use of Paulownia for the production of bio-fuel. The advantages of the species in this respect are numerous:— the cultures used for the same purpose are redirected to their original use as food for humans and animals;— Paulownia plantations do not require such extensive care and cultivation costs – like - tilling, fertilizing, pesticides, watering, herbicides etc.— The tree does not require repeated annual planting, as its roots grow fast and go deeper in the soil and each year more timber mass can be obtained with harvesting the stem;— For the production of raw material the whole biomass is used: the stem, the branches, the leaves and the blossoms;— The stem can be harvested on an as-required basis and we are not bound to seasons and short terms for gathering as with other species. Paulownia and the environment Paulownia is capable of adapting, growing and developing in poor soils. It is an ideal tree for improving and reclaiming poor, polluted and endangered soils. Paulownia grows on soils polluted with heavy metals and harmful substances, where other trees would not survive. Absorbing these substances, it relieves he earth from them. Paulownia helps for remedying the fragile soils, which otherwise would perish and be lost completely.The huge leaves of Paulownia reach 50-70 cm in diameter. After falling they not only fertilize, but also restructure the soil with natural humus. In this way, they ensure the necessary conditions for the growth of the species grown jointly with Paulownia and after.Paulownia is a preferred tree species also in fighting erosion. Besides purifying the soil and the waters in it, Paulownia clears the air of harmful gases, which are often in inadmissible high concentrations, especially in the large industrial cities.Paulownia absorbs 10 times more CO2 than any other tree species, releasing large quantities of O2. The plantations of Paulownia can serve as sheltering belt from the strong winds and water streams in spring, when the waters from mountain snow melting are high. Paulownia improves the soil, controls the pollution of subsoil waters with heavy metals, chemicals and animal waste polutants, controls erosion, serves as shelter and barrier from the sun and winds, purifies the air from pollutants and releases large quantities of O2. Not least is the importance of Paulownia for the enrichment of the landscape and the biological diversity of the country. Learn more about Paulownia and the environment