W. Stephens et al., Irrigating short rotation coppice with landfill leachate: constraints to productivity due to chloride, BIORES TECH, 75(3), 2000, pp. 227-229
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.