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The Forest Service National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) is a leading source of technical information for nurseries and land managers regarding production and planting of trees and other native plants for reforestation, restoration, and conservation.

 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Salix (boothii)

Edie Trimmer
Nursery Manager
Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Land - Lone Peak Nurse
271 Bitterbrush Lane
Draper, Utah 84020
801 571-0900
801 571-0468 (fax)
edietrimmer@utah.gov
http://www.ggnpa.org
Family Scientific Name: Salicaceae
Family Common Name: Willow Family
Scientific Name: Salix boothii Dorn
Common Synonym: Salix myrtillifolia auct. non Anderss.
Common Name: Booth's willow
Species Code: SALBOO
General Distribution: S. boothii is found throughout western United States and Canada in montane and subalpine riparian areas.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: vegetative
ProductType: Bareroot (field grown)
Stock Type: 1+0
Time To Grow: 1 Years
Target Specifications: Height: 12 in.<br> Caliper: 3/16 in.<br> Root System: Root system must balance top growth.
Propagule Collection: Cuttings are collected from stooling beds that are hedged to maintain juvenile wood that is straight and for ease of handling and sticking in field beds. Wild collections are also grown at our nursery and kept separated according to source.
Propagule Processing: Hardwood cuttings are collected from stooling beds or from wild collections in late winter before budbreak and cut to 8 to 10 inch lengths. Cuttings can be wrapped, bundled and stored in the cooler until they are stuck into field beds.
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:		 Soils: Our field soils are Taylorsville Sandy clay loam with Cca horizon shallower than 12", Taylorsville sand clay loam variant with Cca deeper than 12",Taylorsville Clay loam variant with Cca horizon shallower than 12" and Taylorsville Clay loam variant with Cca horizon deeper than 12".

Field Bed Preparation: We mark out and form beds as needed; and apply 0-45-0 (N:P:K) in April. 2 to 3 inches of compost are applied to cutting beds prior to sowing. Sulfur is applied during May. Fields are cultivated for weeds as needed throughout the growing season.
Irrigation: We use overhead irrigation with two inch aluminum pipe that can be moved from field to field each year. Our principle water source is from a canyon stream to the north of here and is very good quality water.
Establishment Phase: Cuttings are stuck by hand in prepared field beds during early spring to a depth of 6 inches. Soil is firmed around stems after sticking to remove air pockets and irrigated after planting. Beds are irrigated as surface begins to dry. Rooting occurs when field soils warm in later spring and rapidly produce root growth.
Length of Establishment Phase: 1 month after rooting in the spring.
Active Growth Phase: Fertilization: We apply Morgro 21-0-0 (N:P:K) with the Gandy spreader (setting 18, speed 2 mph, rpm 1100 to 1200) the second week of each month during the growing season; from April to August. We apply fertilizer at the rate of 120 lbs/acre.
We irrigate for at least 45 minutes following all fertilizer applications. This insures that foliage will not burn and incorporates fertilizer into the root zone. Fertilizer is not applied when foliage is wet. All sulfur and 0-45-0 (N:P:K) applications must be mechanically incorporated since these amendments are not mobile in the soil.
ROOT PRUNING PROCEDURES:
Cuttings are root pruned after they are well established in June. Test an area to see if cuttings can handle root pruning. If excessive wilting occurs, do not prune.
Irrigate heavily for 2 to 3 days prior to pruning to saturate the root zone. Set pruning blade to slightly wrench seedlings as they are pruned. Check pruning depth frequently and adjust as needed. Irrigate for a minimum of 2 hours following root pruning to settle soil back around roots. This step is critical to eliminate post root pruning mortality. Irrigate field heavily for 2 to 3 days to further settle the soil.
Top Pruning: Top pruning is typically done with sickle bar mower attached to the 656. Operational speed varies, but is not done above 1200 rpm. Cut at the desired height; constantly checking and adjusted the cut during the process. Keep field workers behind the cutting head.
Length of Active Growth Phase: 4 months
Hardening Phase: Hardening begins during the third week of August or when dormancy is induced. No fertilizer is applied after August 28th. Irrigation frequency and duration is shortened and applied only when needed.
Length of Hardening Phase: 1 month
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: Lifting window is duringmid November when cuttings are completely dormant. Cuttings are hand lifted after the beds have been undercut at a depth of 12 inches using a lifter.
Fall lifted stock are "heeled in" in sandy soils after we have graded and bundled them in bundles of 25. They are lifted in spring before they break dormancy then stored in our cooler on stacked pallets.

We keep lifted stock in our cooler at between 36 to 42 degrees F and at a relative humidity of 92 to 98% with good air circulation.

Citation:

Zeidler, Scott; Justin, John. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Bareroot (field grown) Salix boothii Dorn plants 1+0; Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Land - Lone Peak Nurse Draper, Utah. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/01). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.