Interactions of willow varieties grown in mixtures, contributing to sustainability
Project leader Dr. Alistair McCracken
Project objectives
Based on the results obtained in project 8872 mixtures have been established as the main control strategy for foliar rust in short rotation coppice willow plantations. This project will provide the basis to improve the output from and the sustainability of mixed species / varietal plantations by having a greater understanding of how these are influenced by the physical and physiological interactions between mixture components.
Journal articles
McAlpine, W. , Shield, I. F. , Walsh, L. R. E. , McCracken, A. R. , Wilson, H. , Gilliland, J. , Hughes, A. R. , Cunniff, J. , Karp, A. (2011). Rothamsted Research willow (Salix spp.) breeding programme; multi-site yield trial results. Aspects of Biology, 112:263-270
McCracken, A. R. , Walsh, L. R. E. , Moore, J. P. , Lynch, M. , Cowan, P. , Dawson, M. D. , Watson, S. (2011). Yield of willow (Salix spp.) grown in short rotation coppice mixtures in long-term trials. Annals of Applied Biology, 159(2):229-243
McCracken, A. R. , Moore, J. P. , Walsh, L. R. E. , Lynch, M. (2010). Effect of planting vertical / horizontal willow (Salix spp.) cuttings on establishment and yield. Biomass and Bioenergy, 34(12):1764-1769
Begley, D. , McCracken, A. R. , Dawson, W. M. , Watson, S. (2009). Interaction in Short Rotation Coppice Willow, Salix viminalis genotype mixtures. Biomass and Bioenergy, 33:163-173
McCracken, A. R. , Walsh, L. R. E. , Moore, J. P. (2008). Growing SRC willow in genotype mixtures. Aspects of Biology, 90:101-108
McCracken, A. R. , Dawson, W. M. (2003). Rust disease (Melampsora epitea) of willow (Salix spp.) grown as short rotation coppice (SRC) in inter-and intra-species mixtures. Annals of Applied Biology, 143:381-393
Books
McCracken, A. R. , Dawson, W. M. , Carlisle, D. J. (2005). Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) willow mixtures and rust disease development. In: Rust Diseases of Willow and Poplar, (Eds. Pei, H. M., McCracken, Alistair R), C. A. B. International, Cambridge, U. K. pp:185-194 (In-Press)
Dawson, W. M. , McCracken, A. R. , Carlisle, D. J. (2005). SRC willow mixtures and yield. In: Rust Diseases of Willow and Poplar, (Eds. Pei, H. M., McCracken, Alistair R), C. A. B. International, Cambridge, U. K. pp:185-194 (In-Press)
Pei, H. M. , McCracken, A. R. (Editors) (2005). Rust Diseases of Willow and Poplar, C. A. B. International, Cambridge, U. K., 0 pp. (In-Press)
Knowledge transfers
McCracken, A. R. (2010). Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) willow. Practical On-Farm Renewable Energy Event, CAFRE - Greenmount
Caslin, B. , Finnan, J. , McCracken, A. R. (2010). Short Rotation Coppice Willow Best Practice Guidelines. Revised RENEW project guidelines (ISBN 1-84170-568-3)
McCracken, A. R. , Walsh, L. R. E. (2006). Use of SRC willow for bioremediation of effluent. Hosted visit of International Poplar and Willow Consortium to N. Ireland including a one day visit to NIHPBS
McCracken, A. R. (2006). Growing SRC willow. Local Planet (Ireland's Journal for Sustainable Living)
The influence of insect pests on the sustainability of short rotation coppice willow
Project leader Dr. Colin Fleming
Project objectives
Results from project 9651 have shown that the blue willow beetle Phratora vulgatissima can cause significant damage to short rotation coppiced willow grown in mixtures, and that varietal preference is shown. This project will examine the effect of P.vulgatissima (and other insect pests) on the sustainability of established mixed species/varietal plantations, and those grown for waste water biofiltration or environmental bioremediation. Any interaction between rust susceptibility and willow beetle herbivory in mixed variety plantings will also be investigated.