Techniques for Vegetative Propagation of Japanese Larch by Hardwood Cuttings

Hardwood cuttings of Japanese Larch. (Larix leptolepis Gord) with bursting buds collected from 2~4-year-old stock have been successfully propagated with mist irrigation under natural condition. Effects of donor stock's age, hormones and their interactions on rooting were studied. According to the results, rooting rate can be as high as 96.7% when suitable rooting agents PL3 and PL4 were used. The result also show that cuttings collected from different ages of donor stock need to be treated with different kinds and concentrations of agents. 35 000 rooted cuttings of the current year transplanted successfully on July 7, 1992 with a survival rate of 97.1%. These young plants grew well after planting. Promising results is also obtained softwood when cuttings were planted on the same bed after the first batch rooted cuttings were removed. This shows that it is possible to propagation L. leptolepis vegetatively twice a year.