Abstract: Four energy willow clones Salix dasyclados, S.‘Mesu Neko’, S.fragilis, S.viminalis and one wild clone S.matsudana were investigated in this study. These clones were grown in Jixian state-owned nursery, Jinnan High-tec Park nursery and Tianjin Agriculture University nursery, respectively. Meanwhile, clones were planted in separated pots at gradient salinity in soil by watering NaCl solutions at different concentrations, making the salinity in soil differed (0%，0.2%，0.4%，0.6%, 0.8%). Both the growth of the clones growing in these three nurseries and in the pots with gradient salinity were observed and surveyed to determine the optimal habitat for the clones in Tianjin. The results indicated that all the energy willow clones could finish the annual life cycle and grow well in three nurseries of different areas, but grew the best in Jixian. Comparing to S.matsudana，all four energy willow clones could grow well in the soil with 0~0.4% salinity. S.matsudana and S.fragilis had greater potential than the other two, as they could grow in the soil with 0.6% salinity. In conclusion, all the four energy willow clones could be grown in the light or moderate salinity areas in Tianjin.

Key words: energy willow clones, soil NaCl concentration, biomass, growth