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Effect of mechanical site preparation treatments on oak survival in a retired field afforestation effort -- first-year results

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Mechanical site preparation is frequently proposed to alleviate poor soil conditions when afforesting retired agricultural fields. Without management of soil problems, oak seedlings planted in these areas may exhibit poor survival. While mechanical site preparation methods currently employed in hardwood afforestation are proven, there is a substantial void in research comparing subsoiling, bedding, and combination plowing treatments. In this study, 1,440 bare-root Nuttall oak (Quercus texana Buckley) seedlings were planted in February 2008 on three Mississippi sites. All sites had comparable soils and received above-average precipitation throughout the first growing season. Four site preparation treatments were replicated at each site, with 360 seedlings planted in each. Mechanical treatments were implemented using 10-foot row centers, with treatments as follows: control, subsoiling, bedding, and combination plowing. These treatments were applied to evaluate survival. Oak seedlings exhibited excellent survival in all treatments, ranging from 96.7 to 100 percent. No significant difference in overall survival was observed among sites or site preparation treatments. The only observed difference occurred among treatments on one site.

Parent Publication

Citation

Self, Andrew B.; Ezell, Andrew W.; Hollis, Damon B.; Alkire, Derek. 2011. Effect of mechanical site preparation treatments on oak survival in a retired field afforestation effort -- first-year results. In: Fei, Songlin; Lhotka, John M.; Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Miller, Gary W., eds. Proceedings, 17th central hardwood forest conference; 2010 April 5-7; Lexington, KY; Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-78. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 314-322.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/38068