Thirty-year assessment of released, overtopped white oaks

Abstract

White oak (Quercus alba L.) is a slow-growing species that is often overtopped in the mixed upland hardwood forests of the Cumberland Plateau. Forest managers have concerns about the potential economic value of releasing overtopped white oaks to become valuable crop trees. This study follows the growth and development of 104 overtopped white oaks after a diameter-limit cut in a forest stand on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. A 30-year assessment is presented following initial and 15-year reports on diameter, height, volume growth, and stem quality of released and unreleased individuals. Released trees experienced more diameter growth when compared to unreleased trees. However, released trees developed a multitude of epicormic branches along the central bole. Over time, many of these persistent epicormics became larger, degrading log quality. Therefore, long-term results indicate that overtopped white oaks are not suitable as future crop trees. Data after 30 years are consistent with previous studies suggesting the release of overtopped white oaks perpetuates a low-quality stand that does not achieve the potential productivity of the site.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings, 17th Central Hardwood Forest Conference

Citation

Miller, C.; Grayson, S.; Houser, A.; Clatterbuck, W.; Kuers, K. 2011. Thirty-year assessment of released, overtopped white oaks. 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: 514-520.