Irrigating short rotation coppice with landfill leachate: constraints to productivity due to chloride

A pot-based experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different c hloride concentrations (0-422 mmol l(-1)) on the growth of transplanted sap lings of Salix viminalis (clone Q683). Chloride had a very rapid effect on the growth and development of the willow plants and on evapotranspiration ( ETa). The degree of reduction in ETa of willows was directly related to chl oride concentration and, in the short term, evaporative demand. Sustainable growth and development of willow is unlikely at chloride concentrations gr eater than 70 mmol l(-1). Further investigations into the management of sol ute accumulation in the root zone are required in order to develop effectiv e landfill leachate irrigation strategies for trees. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd. All rights reserved.