Lack of viable seeds in the forest floor after clearcutting

Abstract

The viability of seeds o[ northern conifers apparently does not persist in the forest floor for more than one year. A set of forest-floor samples collected two years alter a heavy seed crop and one year alter a seedcrop failure did not produce any conifer germinants, regardless of whether or not the surfaces of the samples were disturbed. A second set of forest-floor samples collected the spring alter a good conifer seed crop yielded many conifer germinants. Forest managers should not rely on seed in the forest floor for natural regeneration of northern conifers.

Citation

Frank, Robert M.; Safford, Lawrence O. 1970. Lack of viable seeds in the forest floor after clearcutting. Journal of Forestry. 68(12): 776-778.