Development of eastern cottonwood cuttings as modified by cutting length and surface area available for rooting

Abstract

Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh.) is commonly propagated using un-rooted cuttings. While cutting length and diameter, genetics and environmental conditions are often cited as major factors contributing to the successful establishment of cottonwood plantations, it is difficult to determine which specific cutting characteristic or mechanism leads to improved root establishment or plant development. For example, increasing stem size can affect rooting and subsequent plant growth by altering the cutting energy reserves as well as the surface area from which latent roots develop. In this study, the contribution of cutting length and belowground surface area to rooting and early growth was examined for eastern cottonwood. To discern cutting length effects, the belowground portion of four different cutting lengths was restricted so each cutting had the same belowground surface area available for rooting. To discern surface area effects, 40-cm-long cuttings were restricted to produce four different levels of surface area from which roots could develop. Leaf area, stem height, aboveground and belowground biomass, and root numbers were measured after 13 weeks of growth. The only statistically significant relationships related to biomass were due to the initial differences in cutting length. Cuttings with greater surface areas formed more lateral roots, while longer cuttings did not. By contrast, increased cutting lengths resulted in greater numbers of basal roots, but not for cuttings with greater belowground surface areas.

Effects of soil preparation methods and plant types on the establishment of poplars on forest land

“…At the same time, it is important to find a proper balance between the parts of the cutting placed above and below the ground (Kaczmarek et al 2014). The long cuttings had the advantage of a large belowground part which made it possible to initiate roots over a large soil depth, thus reducing sensitivity to drought (Rossi 1991;Schuler and McCarthy 2015).…”

“…Unrooted cuttings of varying lengths are commonly planted worldwide, while in Sweden, it is more common to use rooted cuttings, either as containerized or bare-rooted plants. It has been reported that increased soil temperatures and soil moisture positively affect the rooting of dormant poplar cuttings (Hansen 1986;Landhäusser 2003;Zalesny et al 2005), while longer cuttings have shown better survival, more roots, and higher shoot growth compared to shorter cuttings (Allen and McComb 1956;Burgess et al 1990;Schuler and McCarthy 2015;Vigl and Rewald 2014). Böhlenius and Övergaard (2015) found that cuttings (30 cm) grew better than barerooted plants on agricultural land if the soil was prepared to reduce competing vegetation.…”

Establishment strategies for poplars, including mulch and plant types, on agricultural land in Sweden

“…In addition, information on what plant type that best combines a secure establishment with a good economy is still limited. For example: when using cuttings, large cuttings are more expensive than small ones, but it has been shown that increased length (Kaczmarek et al 2014 ; Schuler and McCarthy 2015 ) and thickness of cuttings (Dickmann et al 1980 ; Thomas et al 2016 ) are positively related to plant development.…”

<b>Successive mini-cuttings collection in <i>Piptocarpha angustifolia</i> mini-stumps: effects on maturation, adventitious root induction and root vigor

“…Mild, cold seasons favored its maintenance on the mini-cuttings, which was evidenced by the negative correlation between maximum temperature and leaf maintenance (-0.87). The lower air temperatures during the rooting process can expand the availability of carbohydrates, thereby reducing the leaf senescence (Druege & Kadner, 2008;Shibuya et al, 2014;Schuler & McCarthy, 2015).…”