Abstract
Forest restoration activity in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley has generated a demand for alternative afforestation practices that can accommodate diverse landowner objectives. An alternative afforestation practice now being studied involves rapid establishment of a forest canopy of eastern cottonwood (
Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh.), followed by interplanting with seedlings of slower-growing bottomland hardwood species. An experiment conducted in Mississippi shows that Nuttall oak (
Quercus nuttallii Palm.) seedlings can develop into vigorous sapling-sized reproduction when interplanted in the understory of eastern cottonwood, and that the cottonwood overstory can be harvested without adversely affecting the interplanted reproduction. Harvesting damage was minimal, and excellent survival, vigorous sprouting, and adequate growth of Nuttall oak reproduction interplanted beneath eastern cottonwood indicate that Nuttall oak reproduction can be established under and released from an eastern cottonwood overstory.
Parent Publication
Citation
Gardiner, Emile S. 2006. Early response of interplanted nuttall oak to release from an eastern cottonwood overstory. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-92. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp. 611-614