The importance of initial cutting size for improving the growth performance of Salix alba L.

Abstract

Survival and early growth and yield of Salix alba L. over two successive 2‐year rotations were evaluated under nursery conditions that included irrigation during the first growing season. A six‐year‐old coppice of Salix alba was used as a source of cuttings. Cuttings were planted in single row plots at a 30 cm spacing within rows and 100 cm between rows. Cuttings ranged in size from <0.6 to 3.2 cm in diameter and 7.6 to 45.7 cm in length. Use of small cuttings resulted in lower survival with survival rates ranging from 13.3 to 100%. Cutting length and diameter were both significant factors, but cutting length was the most critical. The smallest cuttings that resulted in 100% survival after two rotations were 0.6 to 1.3 cm in diameter and 30.0 cm in length. Stem number, cumulative height, and biomass all increased markedly with use of larger cuttings up to a certain size and ranged on a per stool basis from 17.3 to 23.4, 14.3 to 20.2 m, and 194 to 300 g, respectively, at the end of the second rotation. Use of cuttings larger than 1.3 to 1.9 cm in diameter and 22.9 cm in length did not result in any significant improvement in growth. The conclusions are that cutting size can be an important factor influencing early plantation performance and use of mini‐cuttings to establish fast‐growing plantations is not recommended.

Key words:

• Salix alba
• cutting size
• biomass
• nutrient content
• coppicing
• early performance
• survival