Comparison of site preparation methods and stock types for artificial regeneration of oaks in bottomlands

Abstract

Regenerating oak in floodplains is problematic and current silvicultural methods are not always reliable. We are evaluating the field performance of a new nursery product, the RPM™ seedling, and the benefit of soil mounding and a cover crop of redtop grass to the survival and growth of pin oak and swamp white oak regeneration on former bottomland cropfields. First-year survival was high for both RPM™ and bareroot seedlings. Basal diameter increment was significantly greater for RPM™ seedlings than bareroot stock. Although height increment was greater for RPM™ than bareroot, differences were insignificant. Neither soil mounding nor cover crop treatments significantly affected oak performance in the first year.

Parent Publication

• 13th Central Hardwoods Forest Conference

Citation

Shaw, Gordon W.; Dey, Daniel C.; Kabrick, John; Grabner, Jennifer; Muzika, Rose-Marie. 2003. Comparison of site preparation methods and stock types for artificial regeneration of oaks in bottomlands. 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: 186-198