Seeds in the Organic Layers and Soil of Four Beech-Birch-Maple Stands

Abstract

Forest floor samples were collected in northern hardwood stands 5, 38, 95, and 200+ years old. The seeds contained in these samples were germinated in a greenhouse. Thirty-five species of herbs, shrubs, and trees were identified. The largest number of species, 23, were from the 5-year-old stand. The oldest stand had the fewest species, 17. Rubus and pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica L.f.) were the most numerous of the buried seeds. Their total numbers were highest in the 5- and 38-year-old stands and much lower in the older stands. The current practice of timber harvesting at rotations of 100 years or more results in moderate densities of these plants. If short rotations are used, the increased densities of these species may require intensive silviculture practices to ensure adequate stocking of the high-value timber species.

Citation

Graber, Raymond E.; Thompson, Donald F. 1978. Seeds in the Organic Layers and Soil of Four Beech-Birch-Maple Stands. Res. Pap. NE-401. Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 8p.