VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Salix lutea | Yellow Willow 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Willows in general are a preferred food of moose and beaver, and yellow
willow occurs in riparian habitats which these animals frequent [5,43].
Moose and elk browse yellow willow during both summer and winter
[15,19,42].  In Montana, stands found on alluvial terraces generally have
greater herbage production than stands found on coarse-textured soils
along stream banks [19].  


PALATABILITY : 
In the West, willows (Salix spp.) as a group, are considered to be more
palatable to sheep, although cattle may make greater use of willow as
they tend to frequent riparian areas [39].  Van Dersal [42] reports that
yellow willow is universally browsed by livestock.  The degree of use
shown by livestock and wildlife species for Salix rigida (S. rigida is
closely related to Salix lutea and has been considered conspecific with
S. lutea) in the following western states is rated as follows [9]:

                  ND    WY
Cattle            fair  ----
Sheep             good  ----
Horses            good  ----
Pronghorn         ----  poor
Bighorn           ----  ----
Elk               ----  good
Mt.Goat           ----  ----
Mule deer         ----  good
White-tailed      poor  good
 deer
Small Mammals     ----  good
Small nongame     ----  good
 birds
Upland game birds ----  good
Waterfowl         ----  poor


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
The energy value of Salix rigida (which is taxonomically similar to
yellow willow) is rated as fair and the protein value as poor [9].


COVER VALUE : 
Dense stands of yellow willow provide excellent thermal and hiding cover
for many wildlife species.  Songbirds frequently use trees for nesting
[19].  The degree to which Salix rigida provides environmental
protection during one or more seasons for wildlife species is as follows
[9]:

                   ND    WY
Pronghorn         ----  poor
Bighorn           ----  ----
Elk               ----  ----
Mt. goat          ----  ----
Mule deer         ----  good
White-tailed      good  good
 deer
Small mammals     ----  good
Small nongame     ----  good
 birds
Upland game birds ----  good
Waterfowl         ----  good


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Yellow willow can be used to revegetate disturbed riparian areas by
planting cuttings.  Cuttings quickly stabilize disturbed alluvium,
allowing other plants to become established.  Unrooted willow stem
cuttings (slips) should be planted on sites that provide sufficient
moisture to start and maintain growth throughout the growing season
[43].  Since willows are sensitive to both competition and shading,
dense tall grasses will reduce transplant survival [33].  Therefore
grasses may need to be removed by cutting or by herbicide application
[30].  Rooted stock, although harder to plant, has higher survival
rates, and is therefore recommended for use [33,43].  Prerooting can be
accomplished by growing cuttings under greenhouse conditions, allowing
roots to grow .8-1.2 inches (2-3 cm) in length.  Slips should be
obtained from local native stands.  They should be 12-20 inches (30-50
cm) long, taken in the spring, from dormant 2-4 year old wood greater
than .4 inches (1 cm) in diameter.  A 20 inch (50 cm) cutting should be
planted to a depth of 12 inches (30 cm), with 8 inches (20 cm) left
aboveground [33].  This deep planting allows for more rooting surface to
extract soil moisture, and higher amounts of carbohydrates as stored
food reserves [33,43].  Yellow willow cuttings root along the entire
stem section, but roots are most abundant along the lower one third of
the cutting.  Roots and stems form about 10 days after planting [33].
If serious streambank erosion has occurred, causing a nearly vertical
cut bank, slope reshaping may be needed to enhance success of
transplants.  Reshaping of the slope need not occur if existing
vegetation is able to stabilize the site through protective measures
[33,43].  Under any method of revegetation, sites should be fenced to
protect them from grazing and trampling.


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
All willows produce salicin, which chemically, is closely related to
acetylsalicylic acid commonly known as aspirin.  This is probably why
Native Americans used various preparations from willows to treat
toothache, stomach ache, diarrhea, dysentery, and dandruff [31].  Native
Americans also used the stems for basketry and bow making, and the bark
for tea and fabric making [29].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Because of its soil binding proterties and its close proximity to water,
yellow willow holds together and helps stabilize streambanks, protecting
the bank from erosion.  Stands should therefore be maintained.  

Related categories for Species: Salix lutea | Yellow Willow