• WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE
• IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE
• PALATABILITY
• NUTRITIONAL VALUE
• COVER VALUE
• VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES
• OTHER USES AND VALUES
• MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE:

IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE:

The bark and leaves of eastern cottonwood seedlings and saplings are eaten by field mice, rabbits, deer, and domestic livestock [9,28,122,145]. Wesley and others [226] observed the use of eastern cottonwood plantations in Arkansas and Mississippi by wild turkeys for courtship, prenesting, nesting, and poultry rearing. Eastern cottonwood plantations were used by white-tailed does, rabbits, and northern bobwhite more than surrounding natural stands.

Plains cottonwood stands provide habitat for 82% of all bird species breeding in northeastern Colorado [181]. These forests provide roosting and nesting sites [21,80,91,107,153,167], feeding sites [63,107,116,205], and nest material for several bird species [80]. Beavers use the wood of plains cottonwood for food and for buildings dams and lodges [92]. The plains cottonwood/red-osier dogwood community provides thermal cover, debris recruitment, and streamside stability for fishes [92,173]. Plains cottonwood is eaten by prairie porcupines [98] and is the most important browse species for mule deer in the fall [148].

PALATABILITY:

In Colorado, the palatability of Rio Grande cottonwood has been rated poor for cattle, domestic sheep, and horses [49]:

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:

COVER VALUE:

The only natural habitat for fox squirrels is plains cottonwood bottomlands.  Plains cottonwood stands in Colorado are used by fox squirrels for nesting and feeding [232]. Plains cottonwood forests provide nesting sites for eagles, hawks, and other birds [17,69,167]. The cover value of plains cottonwood for some wildlife species has been rated as follows [49]:

	CO	MT	ND	WY
Elk	----	Fair	----	Good
Mule deer	----	Fair	Fair	Good
White-tailed deer	Fair	Good	Good	Good
Pronghorn	----	----	Poor	Poor
Upland game birds	Poor	Fair	Poor	Good
Waterfowl	----	----	----	Poor
Small non-game birds	Good	Fair	Good	Good
Small mammals	Good	Poor	----	Good

The cover value of Rio Grande cottonwood in Colorado has been rated as follows [49]:

White-tailed deer	Fair
Upland game birds	Poor
Small non-game birds	Good
Small mammals	Good

VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES:

Eastern cottonwood may establish on suitable sites through natural seedfall [138,177,216], or it may be established by cuttings [47,68,133]. The average length of cuttings in the Pacific Northwest and the southern United States is about 20 inches (50 cm), while 8- to 12-inch (20-30 cm) cuttings are typical in the northern United States and Canada. However, cuttings of 8 feet (2.4 m) or more planted in 3-foot (1 m) deep holes have advantages over standard 20-inch (50 cm) cuttings. These advantages include less intensive site preparation requirements, a reduced need for browsing protection, and less intensive weed control [133]. In general, cuttings should be longer where upper soil moisture is limiting [47]. In Ohio, eastern cottonwood had better growth and survival when planted on loamy and clayey soils of previously coal strip-mined lands [140].

The growth of young cottonwood seedlings on favorable sites is rapid, but the plants must be kept free of competing vegetation to survive [34,132]. Browsing and trampling by wildlife and domestic animals must also be controlled for successful growth [47]. Whether revegetating by seeding or cuttings, native stock should be selected if available, since significant geographic variation exists in growth rate, drought resistance, wood characteristics, and sprouting ability [41,169].

Plains cottonwood was planted on surface-mined lands in Indiana 1928-1975 [27]. Rio Grande cottonwood is recommended for planting in the western Great Plains and desert southwest. Plains cottonwood is recommended for the northern Great Plains and western United States [33].

OTHER USES AND VALUES:

Plains cottonwood, the "Pioneer Tree of the Plains," is often the only tree found in the western United States. It is a sure sign of water and welcome shade [31,47,173]. During severe winters saplings were used as horse and cattle feed by Native Americans and early settlers [9,47,81]. Native Americans used the roots to start fires [31] and used smaller trees for lodge poles and travois. The teepee pattern is supposedly patterned after the deltoid leaf shape [173]. The Teton Dakota ate the inner bark and the Omaha used it to make the Sacred Pole. Nebraska tribe children made toys with the leaves and made gum and play jewelry from the fruits [81].

Plains cottonwood grows into an effective windbreak in 15 to 20 years, reaching 40 to 50 feet (12.2-15.2 m). It is recommended for planting in shelterbelts only if irrigated, on wetter sites, or in rows near the center of the shelterbelt [78,79].

The wood of Rio Grande cottonwood was used by the Navajo for firewood, fence posts, cradles, tinderboxes, wooden tubes of bellows, dolls, and images for ceremonies. Chewing gum was made from the sap or the catkins mixed with animal fat [60].

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS:

Strips or buffer zones of eastern cottonwood stands immediately adjacent to streams and rivers are effective for erosion control [96].

In the Great Plains region, recruitment and survival of plains cottonwood has been adversely affected by the construction of dams and reservoirs. Changes in magnitude and frequency of floods, rates of sedimentation, and rates of meander migration contribute to the reduction of suitable recruitment sites [23,124]. Periodic large releases of reservoir water to simulate natural flooding are recommended to ensure vigorous recruitment and growth of cottonwood forests on prairie river floodplains [23]. Flooding also decreases litter accumulation and can reduce the threat of fire [59]. In Colorado, moderately high flows that occur every 5 years are required to create the new point bars where plains cottonwood establishes [72]. Seedlings will establish close to the edges of river channels, but will probably not survive future ice jams and high discharges. The long-term survival of seedlings established during flood-free periods is greater the higher above stream channel they are established [179]. See "Other Management Considerations" within the "Management Considerations, Value and Use" section of black cottonwood for further information on the effects of watercourse damming and stream diversion on plains and other cottonwoods.

Disease and insect pests that affect eastern cottonwood have been described by several authors [28,44,156,173,195].

Russian-olive and saltcedar have invaded many riparian woodlands across the Great Plains and southwestern United States dominated by cottonwoods (Populus spp.) and willows. The invaders have displaced the native vegetation, taken up water, and increased fire frequency [137,185,197]. Russian-olive and saltcedar provide habitat for some wildlife species [137,185]. However, the loss of larger trees, especially eastern cottonwoods, has led to a decrease in habitat for cavity-nesting birds [185].

Related categories for SPECIES: Populus deltoides | Eastern Cottonwood