Early root development of Salix alba and Populus nigra cuttings in a controlled nursery experiment
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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3382-7683
Abstract
Vegetation-based stabilization approaches increasingly rely on living plant cuttings; however, root system development in woody cuttings remains poorly quantified, particularly with respect to species-specific differences during initial establishment. This study quantified early root system development in cuttings of white willow (Salix alba) and black poplar (Populus nigra) at 2, 4, and 6 months after planting, corresponding to the typical nursery phase prior to field transfer for stabilization applications. A total of 120 cuttings per species were grown in uniform loamy soil, and 30 cuttings per species were destructively sampled at each time point. Root number, total root length, midpoint diameter, root dry mass, root volume, root tissue density, and specific root length were measured, and the root volume– to–soil volume ratio was calculated to assess differences in root system traits between species. Across both species, root number, total root length, root volume, and root dry mass increased significantly with time. However, S. alba consistently exhibited greater root proliferation, greater root volume, higher specific root length, and greater root biomass accumulation than P. nigra, indicating more extensive early belowground development. Root tissue density was initially higher in P. nigra but became similar between species over time. Strong positive correlations among root number, root length, root volume, and root dry mass indicated coordinated root system expansion during establishment. Overall, the findings demonstrate clear species-specific differences in early root development, which are relevant to vegetation-based stabilization and riparian bioengineering applications.
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