Response of Standard Eastern Cottonwood and Novel Black Willow Clones to Artificial Lighting
Dormant hardwood cuttings provide convenient propagation material for various forestry applications. The success of these applications, however, depends on achieving high survival of outplanted rooted cuttings. The type and intensity of artificial lighting during nursery production may affect subsequent field performance of rooted cuttings. Dormant hardwood cuttings of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoids W. Bartram ex Marshall) and black willow (Salix nigra Marshall) were exposed to low-intensity wide-spectrum fluorescents, low-intensity LEDs (light-emitting diodes), and high-intensity LEDs for 33 days. Biomass partitioning did not differ among light treatments but root, shoot, and total biomass were higher for black willow compared to eastern cottonwood. For eastern cottonwood, light treatments had no significant effect on net photosynthesis-light response curves, although low-intensity LEDs tended to have the highest shoot-root ratios and maximum photosynthesis. Photosynthetic parameters were not measured on black willow. LEDs’ specific light spectrum capabilities and efficient energy production may be a practical, cost-effective tool for improving outplanted seedling quality. Additional research is warranted.
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Author(s): Alexander Hoffman, Joshua Adams, Mohammad M. Bataineh, Benjamin A. Babst, Andrew Nelson
Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 60, Number 1 (2017)
Volume: 60
Number: 1
