Responses of nondormant black willow (Salix nigra) cuttings to preplanting soaking and soil moisture

Published source details Pezeshki S. R., Brown C. E., Elcan J. M. & Douglas Shields F. (2005) Responses of nondormant black willow (Salix nigra) cuttings to preplanting soaking and soil moisture. Restoration Ecology, 13, 1-7.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Soak trees/shrubs before planting: freshwater wetlands Action Link

Soak trees/shrubs before planting: freshwater wetlands

A replicated, randomized, controlled study in a greenhouse in Tennessee, USA (Pezeshki et al. 2005) found that the effects of soaking black willow Salix nigra cuttings before planting depended on both the duration of soaking and soil moisture after planting. All cuttings soaked for 15 days died within 42 days of planting. Under permanently or intermittently flooded conditions, cuttings soaked for 7 days and unsoaked cuttings had statistically similar survival rates after 48 days (soaked: 100%; unsoaked: 86–100%) and shoot biomass over 48 days (soaked: 1.4–1.8 g/plant; unsoaked: 1.4–1.7 g/plant). Under well-watered conditions, cuttings soaked for 7 days had a higher survival rate than unsoaked cuttings after 48 days (soaked: 86%; unsoaked: 57%) but had statistically similar shoot biomass over 48 days (soaked: 1.0 g/plant; unsoaked: 0.5 g/plant). Methods: A total of 378 cuttings (30 cm long, 1 cm diameter) were taken from actively growing black willow trees and planted in pots in a greenhouse (dates not reported). Of these, 252 random cuttings had been soaked in aerated tap water before planting (for 7 or 15 days). The other 126 cuttings had not been soaked. After planting, cuttings were exposed to one of three soil moisture treatments (permanently flooded, flooded for 4 in every 14 days, or daily watering). Seven cuttings/treatment were harvested 0, 4, 10, 17, 42 and 48 days after planting, then dried and weighed.

(Summarised by: Nigel Taylor)