Extension growth of willow (Salix viminalis L.) and changes in soil water were measured in lysimeters containing clay and sandy loam soils with different amendment and watering treatments. No water uptake was found below 0.3 m in the nutritionally poor unamended clay; amendment with organic matter to 0.4 m depth resulted in water extraction down to 0.5 m depth whereas in the sandy loam, there was greater extraction from all depths down to 0.6 m. With water stress, wilting of plants occurred when the volumetric soil water content at 0.1 m was about 31% in the clay and 22% in the sandy loam. Compared with shoots on plants in the amended clay, those in the unamended treatment showed reduced extension growth, little increase in stem basal area (SBA) and a small shoot leaf area, resulting from a reduced number of leaves shoot(-1) and a small average area leaf(-1). Water stress also reduced shoot extension growth, SBA gain and the leaf area oil extension growth. Shoot growth rates were significantly correlated with air temperature and base temperatures between 2.0 and 7.6 degrees C were indicated for the different treatments. These studies have helped to explain some of the large treatment effects described previously on biomass production and plant leaf area. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.