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Planted and natural tree seedling survival and density in three floodplain restorations on abandoned agricultural fields

Informally Refereed

Abstract

In three floodplain forest restorations, established in abandoned agricultural fields in Illinois, permanent plots were sampled for 3 years to determine survivorship and density of planted tree seedlings, and species composition and density of natural regeneration. Planted tree survivorship decreased over time at all sites and after 3 years ranged from 32 to 61 percent. Planted density ranged from 780 to 1,330 individuals/ha and did not differ between species. Sapling/shrub stage natural regeneration ranged from 133 to 7,017 individuals/ha. Natural regeneration equaled or surpassed planted seedling density at two of the three sites. The site with greatest natural regeneration also had highest survival and density of planted trees.

Parent Publication

Citation

Plocher, Allen E. 2003. Planted and natural tree seedling survival and density in three floodplain restorations on abandoned agricultural fields. In: Van Sambeek, J. W.; Dawson, Jeffery O.; Ponder Jr., Felix; Loewenstein, Edward F.; Fralish, James S., eds. Proceedings of the 13th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-234. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Research Station: 431-437
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/15789