Softwood cutting technique in summer

Softwood cuttings are also called soft wood cuttings and green wood cuttings. Softwood cuttings are generally carried out in summer, and the branches are in a semi-lignified state in summer, which is relatively young, with more parenchyma cells and more water and soluble organic matter in the branches, and has strong ability of cell division and differentiation, and it is easy to root after cutting. Softwood cutting in summer is a good way to propagate saplings. For example, juniper, dragon cypress, metasequoia, yellow poplar, ginkgo, Robinia pseudoacacia, privet and many other trees can breed seedlings by cutting tender branches in summer. However, due to the high temperature, strong light and large evaporation in summer, if the softwood cuttage technology is not mastered properly, it will lead to failure. Therefore, in the process of raising seedlings, it is necessary to do a good job in raising seedlings in summer; we should pay attention to the following technical points:

I. selection of cuttings:

When collecting branches, the first thing is to choose the mother tree. Because the condition of the mother tree has a great influence on the rooting of cuttings. Generally speaking, the branches collected by 4-6-year-old mothers have a higher survival rate of cuttings. the older the mother tree is, the more difficult it is for the collected branches to take root. Therefore, when collecting branches, we should collect them from young mother trees and pay attention to the Lignification process of branches. The tender wood cuttings had better use the semi-lignified branches of the same year, and the over-tender and over-lignified branches are not good. After the cuttings are collected, put them in a cool and wet place in time, or wrap them with wetting materials to avoid loss of water. And cut the branches into cuttings, so that the cuttings can be picked, cut and cut at any time. The length of the cuttings depends on the characteristics of the tree species and the length of the branches. The general length is 1 to 4 internodes and 5 cm to 20 cm long. The upper leaves of cuttings should be properly retained in order to carry out photosynthesis, produce nutrients and plant hormones, and promote rooting, germination and growth of cuttings. Generally speaking, broad-leaved trees have 2 to 3 leaves, and trees with larger leaves should cut off the remaining leaves from 1 to 1 to 3 to reduce transpiration. The upper end of the cuttings should be cut flat at 2 cm above the bud, and the lower end of the cuttings under the leaf or axillary buds, cut into a Mal-shaped oblique incision. In order to improve the survival rate of cuttings, the base of cuttings can be soaked with naphthalene acetic acid from 500ppm to 1000ppm, and then wrapped with wetting material.

2. Cutting methods:

Softwood cuttings in summer should be carried out from the slow period of shoot growth to the cessation of shoot growth, generally from the end of May to the beginning of September. If there are no special protection measures, it is best to cut in the rainy season. Due to the abundant Rain Water in the rainy season and high air humidity, it is conducive to the rooting of cuttings and improve the survival rate. The cutting depth is generally 3 cm to 5 cm, and the cuttings should be upright after cutting. the cutting density generally holds that coniferous trees are 3 cm × 10 cm, broad-leaved trees can be thinner appropriately, and it is appropriate to spray water after cutting without overlap between leaves.

III. Field management:

Softwood cuttings require high air humidity and suitable moisture content in the bed substrate. In production, the method of spraying water is usually used to achieve the wetness of the bed matrix. at the same time, a small arch shed is supported by plastic film on the bed to ensure air humidity. In order to prevent the greenhouse temperature from getting too high: there should be shading measures, and the general shading intensity is about 70%. This is not only conducive to leaf photosynthesis, but also not due to excessive light, resulting in water imbalance of cuttings and affecting the survival rate. The temperature of seedbed substrate should be between 22 ℃ and 28 ℃, at this temperature, cuttings are the easiest to take root. The measures to adjust the temperature on growth are mainly through water spraying and shading.

After the cuttings survived, loosen the soil and weed around the rhizosphere of the seedlings, combined with watering and topdressing for 1 or 2 times, so that the cuttings grew more healthily.