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Abstract
Oaks have been difficult to regenerate for the last 50 years, primarily due to changes in the disturbance regime, herbivore pressure, a wetter climate, and lack of proven management prescriptions. Oak reproduction must be relatively large (e.g., > 3-4 ft) prior to overstory removal to be competitive, and understory light regimes in undisturbed forests are too low for small oaks to recruit into larger size classes. Treatments that target the midstory and understory, such as burning and herbicide, increase light levels that favor oak regeneration and reduce competitors, but planting in these treatments have not been adequately tested.
Parent Publication
Keywords
silviculture,
stand improvement,
artificial and natural regeneration,
forest thinning,
forest management,
restoration,
stand tending reforestation,
artificial regeneration,
midstory removal,
oak silviculture,
prescribed fire
Citation
Clark, Stacy L.; Schlarbaum, Scott E.; Keyser, Tara; Saxton, Arnold M. 2022. Seven-year response of planted northern red oak (Quercus rubra) seedlings to regeneration harvesting, burning, and herbicide treatments in western North Carolina. In: Jain, Theresa B.; Schuler, Thomas M. [comp.]. Foundational concepts in silviculture with emphasis on reforestation and early stand improvement - 2022 National Silviculture Workshop. Proc. RMRS-P-80. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 4 p.
