Acorn Yield During 1988 and 1989 on California's Central Coast

Abstract

In 1988, a study was began to evaluate acorn yield of valley oak (Quercus lobata), coast live oak (Q. agrifolia), and blue oak (Q. douglasii) in three of California's central coast counties: Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and San Benito. The purpose of the study was to examine the degree and variability of acorn production and factors, such as geographic location, individual tree differences, and land-use history, which may contribute to these differences. Data collected during autumn 1988 and 1989 indicate that acorn production was low on the three oak species surveyed; nearly 90 percent of the 266 surveyed trees produced no acorns. Low acorn production in each of the three counties which was surveyed suggests that production may have been quite widespread.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the symposium on oak woodlands and hardwood rangeland management; October 31 - November 2, 1990; Davis, California

Citation

Garcia, Sergio L.; Jensen, Wayne A.; Weitkamp, William H.; Tietje, William D. 1991. Acorn Yield During 1988 and 1989 on California''s Central Coast. In: Standiford, Richard B., tech. coord. 1991. Proceedings of the symposium on oak woodlands and hardwood rangeland management; October 31 - November 2, 1990; Davis, California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-126. Berkeley, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 161-164