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The influence of alternative plant propagation and stand establishment techniques on survival and growth of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr.) clones

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Abstract

Four eastern cottonwood clones, including standard operational clone ST66 and three advanced clonal selections were produced and included in a test utilizing five different plant propagation methods. Despite relatively large first-year growth differences among clones, all clones demonstrated similar responses to the treatments and clone × cutting treatment interactions were generally non-significant. The effects of changing cutting lengths are consistent with previous studies which indicated the potential for increased plant survival and growth with increased cutting lengths. Differences in stored carbohydrate reserves alone do not appear to completely control first-year growth and development of cuttings. First-year growth of 51 cm long cuttings planted 30.5 cm deep was greater than the same cuttings planted 48 cm deep. Stem form of plants derived from whip-tip propagation did not differ from plants derived from standard, unrooted cuttings. This propagation method offers the potential of far greater production capacity from a cutting orchard and rapid bulk-up of new or limited clones. Stand uniformity assessments suggest that surviving trees of each individual cutting treatment exhibit similar levels of growth variation. Optimization of plantation establishment techniques has the potential to increase growth of young Populus plantations.

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Notes

  1. Hereafter referred to as cottonwood.

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Acknowledgments

This research was designed and installed while the senior author was a Research Scientist with MWV Forest Research. We thank this organization for their support of this research. Many individuals were instrumental in making this test possible including Keith Byrd, Ana Hahn, Neal Murdaugh, and Jamie Bryan. We would also like to thank ArborGen Corporation for providing access to these data sets and allowing this research to be published. The paper was developed and written with the support and funding provided by the Department of Energy-Savannah River Operations Office through the U.S. Forest Service Savannah River and the Forest Service Southern Research Station. Biomass equations were developed from research and data sets developed at the Savannah River Site.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aiken, SC, USA

    Donald J. Kaczmarek

  2. Department of Forestry, College of Forest Resources, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, 39762, USA

    Randall J. Rousseau

  3. ArborGen Incorporated, 2011 Broadbank Court, Ridgeville, SC, 29472, USA

    Jeff A. Wright

  4. Corvallis, OR, USA

    Brian C. Wachelka

Authors
  1. Donald J. Kaczmarek
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  2. Randall J. Rousseau
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  3. Jeff A. Wright
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  4. Brian C. Wachelka
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Donald J. Kaczmarek.

Additional information

Donald J. Kaczmarek was formerly with the USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 241 Gateway Drive, Aiken, SC 29803, USA.

Brian C. Wachelka was formerly with MeadWestvaco Forest Research, Summerville, SC 29485, USA.

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Kaczmarek, D.J., Rousseau, R.J., Wright, J.A. et al. The influence of alternative plant propagation and stand establishment techniques on survival and growth of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr.) clones. New Forests 45, 487–506 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-014-9411-2

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