Ideal Depth for Gliricidia Cuttings

[Tyler_Depke]

I’m just wondering if anyone has observed or noticed a difference in gliricidia cutting growth performance when planted at different depths. We usually bury about 20-40cm depending on the specific hole. I’d like to get a little more precision within that 20-40cm range, but the main thing I’ve found is making sure that they are stable and aren’t wiggling at all, especially after the first rain after planting. Depth also slightly depends on the diameter of the cutting because the heavier/bigger cuttings need more depth to support all the weight. Do roots only come out at the terminal end on the bottom, or would they come out at other nodes as well? Has anyone planted/observed a felled gliricidia flat along the ground with shoots coming straight up from the ground and roots on the bottom of the log?

Has anyone else done plantings at an angle like this? If so, any recommendations on depths for different soil types?

[Nathan_Deboer]

Dear Tyler,

I work with gm/ccs and have done quite a lot of different experiments with species like gliricidia. I hope the photo will upload. We planted this cutting at about 30cm depth in a very hard clay soil. We made the hole using a heavy bar that we pounded in before the rainy season. As you can see, the roots formed at the top and worked their way down. When we took it out some of the roots broke off.

The roots will form at the bottom if the planting station is soft and the soil is not too moist and the cuttings has been handled with care and planted short after cuttings. The key is to plant before the rains, after the tree has seeded and at a minimum depth of 30cm in soft planting stations. We plant 1.5m cuttings that are at about 5cm in diameter.

Hope this helps.