Effects of irrigation and coppicing on above-ground growth, physiology, and fine-root dynamics of two field-grown hybrid poplar clones

To determine the effects of irrigation and coppicing on above- and below-ground growth dynamics, a plantation of Populus × euramericana cv. ‘Eugenei’ and Populus tristis × Populus balsamifera cv. ‘Tristis 1’ was established in May 1984 on a level site in East Lansing, MI, USA. Supplemental water in the form of drip irrigation was applied to half the trees beginning the first growing season. All trees were cut down in March 1988 and the stumps allowed to coppice. Pre- and post-coppice height and diameter growth of ‘Eugenei’ always exceeded that of ‘Tristis’, and the former clone showed a positive response to irrigation, whereas the latter did not. The greater growth of ‘Eugenei’ was primarily due to its full use of the growing season. Post-coppice rates of photosynthesis were not affected by irrigation in either clone, but stomatal conductances were reduced in non-irrigated trees. Analysis of microvideo images taken in minirhizotron tubes buried in the soil close to the trees showed that ‘Tristis’ produced a greater length and number of fine roots in the top 30 cm of soil than ‘Eugenei’, regardless of treatment. Irrigated trees consistently produced more fine roots at 0–30 cm soil depth than non-irrigated trees only in ‘Eugenei’, but both clones showed greater fine-root production in non-irrigated trees at 30–100 cm. Both clones also showed substantial fine-root production in the spring immediately following coppicing, with no evidence of a shock-induced dieback of roots. The root systems of these two poplar genotypes apparently contain sufficient carbon and nitrogen reserves to fuel a spring flush of fine-root growth, even though the tops have been severed during the dormant season.