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Auger planting of oak seedlings in northern Arkansas

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Planting oak seedlings to regenerate upland oak forests is a promising but untested silvicultural practice in the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas. The stony (cherty) soils of the region make it difficult to dig deep planting holes using conventional hand planting tools. In 2001, we planted 1-0 northern red oak and white oak seedlings in 0.5 to 1 acre group selection openings in a northern Arkansas oak stand. Holes were dug with a one-person auger powered by a 4.7 cubic inch chainsaw engine. At the time of planting, average height of red oak and white oak was 3.4 feet and 1.9 feet. After one growing season, red oak and white oak survival was 87 percent and 96 percent. Mean annual height increment for both species was about 9 inches. We recommend using power augers when planting large oak seedlings on stony soils.

Parent Publication

Citation

Heitzman, Eric; Grell, Adrian. 2003. Auger planting of oak seedlings in northern Arkansas. 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: 438-442
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/15790