Effects of Propagule Phenology (Non-Dormant Versus Dormant) and Planting System (Vertical Versus Horizontal) on Growth P
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Effects of Propagule Phenology (Non-Dormant Versus Dormant) and Planting System (Vertical Versus Horizontal) on Growth Performance of Willow Clones Grown Under Different Weeding Regimes Monika Welc 1
&
Anneli Lundkvist 1 & Theo Verwijst 1
Published online: 6 July 2018 # The Author(s) 2018
Abstract To assess the effects of propagule phenology and planting system on growth performance of three willow clones grown under different weeding regimes, a field experiment was performed in central Sweden 2014–2016. Freshly harvested (non-dormant) and cold-stored (dormant) cuttings (planted vertically) and billets (planted horizontally) from willow clones Tordis, Tora, and Jorr were planted in weeded and in unweeded plots. Sprouting was significantly higher for willows grown from non-dormant (74%) than dormant (58%) propagules and for cuttings (84%) compared with billets (42%). Survival was higher for willows from nondormant propagules in weeded (71%) compared with unweeded (63%) plots, willows from dormant propagules in weeded (72%) compared with unweeded (60%) plots, and for willows from cuttings (93%) compared with billets (39%). During 2014–2016, aboveground biomass production was significantly higher for willows from cuttings (11.71 t DW ha−1) than from billets (6.13 t DW ha−1), grown in weeded (15.29 t DW ha−1) than in unweeded (2.55 t DW ha−1) plots, and differed significantly among willow clones (11.48, 9.27, and 6.01 t DW ha−1 for Tordis, Tora, and Jorr, respectively). In this study, (i) planting with cold-stored and freshly harvested willow propagules was equally successful and therefore cold storage could be potentially avoided and replaced with planting of freshly harvested propagules in early spring; however, (ii) in terms of measured growth performance parameters, willows grown from cuttings performed better than grown from billets; and (iii) weed competition significantly reduced survival and aboveground biomass production, confirming that weed control during establishment of willow is crucial. Keywords Billet . Biomass production . Bud burst . Cutting . Horizontal planting . Salix . Short rotation coppice . SRC . Survival . Vertical planting . Weeds
Introduction For further implementation of willow short rotation coppice (SRC), it is important to improve the profitability of the cropping system. Prospects for cost reduction regarding major cost components as establishment and harvest are good. In Sweden, willow SRC is commercially established from dormant hardwood cuttings planted vertically in the soil [1]. Cuttings are produced from 1-year-old willow shoots harvested after growth cessation (i.e., late autumn to early winter) and cold-stored until planting (i.e., early to late spring), thereby * Monika Welc [email protected] 1
Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Ulls väg 16, Box 7043, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
retaining their vigor and vitality [2]. Cold storage is logistically demanding and encompasses approximately 3–5% of the entire cost of planting materia
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