Abstract: Based on brief introduction of concept and characteristics of agroforestry, the designing principles for establishing effective agroforestry system of Populus plantations were described;while the allocation of three-dimension space, potential productivity, utilization of resources, stability and economic benefits of some major agroforestry management patterns of Populus plantations were summarized.Moreover, the topics required for future research on agroforestry system of Populusplantations were also suggested to set up and popularize the optimal agroforestry management patterns of Populus plantations in the future.