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Mechanical Damage Incurred by Underplanted Northern Red Oak Following Six Overstory Treatments: First-Year Results

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Regenerating oak, on recently harvested sites, continues to be a silvicultural challenge in the Central Hardwood Region. Enrichment planting can increase oak regeneration potential and success during the early stages of cohort develop-ment. In April of 2002, a replicated oak silviculture study using artificial regeneration was established near Oak Ridge, TN. Nursery-grown, 1-0, bareroot northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedlings were underplanted prior to timber harvesting. Six overstory treatments, no cut (control), silvicultural clearcut, commercial clearcut, and 50, 25, and 12.5 percent basal area (BA) retentions, were implemented after planting, with each being replicated 3 times for a total of 18 overstory treatment units. Seedlings were assigned to harvest damage classes in order to assess the effect of operational damage on their growth and competitiveness. There were no significant differences in mortality between the cutting treatments, but mortality as high as 83 percent (12.5 percent BA retention) suggested substantial losses due to harvesting. Twig damage differed significantly between cutting treatments ( P < 0.05). Pre-harvest underplanting in mature stands similar to those treated in this study resulted in high seedling mortality and varying levels of damage, depending on harvest intensity.

Parent Publication

Citation

Olson, Matthew G.; Clatterbuck, Wayne K.; Schlarbaum, Scott E. 2004. Mechanical Damage Incurred by Underplanted Northern Red Oak Following Six Overstory Treatments: First-Year Results. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–71. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp. 551-554
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/6699