Effects of High Water Supply on Growth, Water Use, and Nutrient Allocation in Willow and Poplar Grown in a 1-Year Pot Trial

Abstract

This study was carried out to test ex situ growth and soil nutrient removal efficiency of 1-year-old potted willow and poplar plants. Plants were grown under two different water regimes: low irrigationaround soil field capacity (W)-and high irrigationfive times higher than field capacity (W 5 ). Results showed that plant productivity and water use efficiency were greater when trees were grown in the appropriate level of soil water content rather than at excessive moisture levels. Nutrient leaching was also affected by the high irrigation treatment. However, the poplar and willow clones used in this experiment showed different nutrient allocation patterns in the plant-soil-water system. The poplar clone accumulated the highest quantities of N and P in the soil. Willow accumulated N and P mainly in the biomass due to better root development under both treatments. This indicates the better performance of the willow clone in removing N and P from contaminated aquaculture wastewaters during the first growing season.

European aspen and hybrid aspen under changing environment – Leaf traits, growth and litter decomposition

“…Although pioneer species are often adapted to variable soil water conditions, drought and wet conditions limited aspen growth (II), in accordance with results reported by others (e.g. Ibrahim et al 1997, Guidi andLabrecque 2010).…”

Untapped Potential: Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Bioenergy Production from Marginal Lands in the Northeast USA

“…5). Willow is particularly suited for the marginal soils in the region, as it tolerates wet soil well [95,96]. Despite the fact that wet soils are inherently linked to limited trafficability, this presents a challenge only for willow planting operations because harvest is often carried out when the soil is frozen.…”

“…For instance, nutrient uptake could be limited by low water availability during the growing season on drought-prone marginal soils, since some studies have shown greater yields where willow is well watered and fertilized [100,108]. Conversely, excessive soil moisture can negatively impact nutrient acquisition and growth in woody species, although for poplar more than for willow [95,96]. Most studies on willow production to date are based on relatively short time series and/or on a limited number of sites.…”

Poplar

“…Guidi and Labrecque [9] studied growth and performance of the hybrid poplar Populus maximowiczii × P. nigra in a pot study with very high (five times higher than field capacity) water supplies. Their focus was on assessing the suitability of poplar for purification of wastewaters from aquaculture and the chemical composition effects of drainage water.…”