Variation in biomass production, moisture content, and specific gravity in some North American willows (Salix L.)

Abstract

Biomass production and quality in seedlings and coppices of Salixamygdaloides Anderss., S. eriocephala Michx., S. exigua Nutt., and S. lucida Muhl. were investigated in a full-sib family test. Between 65 and 77% of the variation in plant biomass was due to species, while less than 5% was due to families. Approximately 39% of the variation in moisture content and 37% of the variation in specific gravity was due to species differences, while only 3 and 14%, respectively, was due to families. Salixeriocephala produced the highest yields, with an average 1-year coppice production of almost 1 kg/plant (dry matter) and had the lowest moisture content and highest specific gravity of the four species. There was a strong positive correlation between seedling and coppice productivity for all species, with S. eriocephala and S. lucida producing the most vigorous regrowth from coppice.

Willows (Salix spp.) as pollen and nectar sources for sustaining fruit and berry pollinating insects

“…66839?20.45ƒW) with seven different willow species native to eastern North America (Table 1) that were collected from natural populations located in southern and eastern Ontario and adjacent areas of the Ottawa River Valley in Quebec [see Mosseler et al (2014b) for population origins]. These seven willows were initially selected for their growth potential and as promising species for biomass production for emerging energy, chemicals, and materials industries (Mosseler et al 1988(Mosseler et al , 2014b. The common garden was established with stem cuttings collected during winter from vigorous 1-and/or 2-yr-old stem sections (Densmore and Zazada 1978).…”

Growth-allometry relations in Salix species and families, having different tree form and being under different mating design

“…These species are morphologically different. S. amygdaloides @each leaved willow) has a tree form, attaining heights of between 10 and 20 m usually with one main stem up to 40 cm in diameter (Mosseler 1987). S. eriocephala, one of the most vigorous North American willows, is a shrub species with many stems averaging between 3 m and 4 m in height (Mosseler 1987).…”

“…Fiftyfour of these species are considered important for biomass production systems (Stott 1984). Native to North America are about 70 species and about half of these could be of importance for biomass production (Mosseler 1987). For over a decade interest has been growing in the use of willows as a source of short rotation woody biomass for energy and chemicals (Zsuffa 1983).…”

Phytoremediation Efficacy of Salix discolor and S. eriocephela on Adjacent Acidic Clay and Shale Overburden on a Former Mine Site: Growth, Soil, and Foliage Traits

“…as a source of biomass for energy purposes [1][2][3][4][5]. More recently, there has also been a growing interest in using willows for various environmental applications and land reclamation, including phytoremediation and phytoextraction of contaminated soils [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17].…”

“…(DIS) and S. eriocephala Michx. (ERI) are widespread across eastern and central Canada and are being field tested in common-garden studies because both species show promise as fast-growing sources of biomass for bioenergy production [1,49]. Both DIS and ERI are shrub willows that occur in natural populations on disturbed wetland sites across eastern and central North America, but DIS can also be found colonizing drier upland sites throughout its botanical range and is a common, naturally occurring colonizer of the Salmon Harbour (SH) coal mine site near Minto, New Brunswick (NB), Canada (Lat.…”