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Abstract
In northern Wisconsin, frosts often occur during the early growing season when shoot and leaf development are beginning and trees are most susceptible to freezing temperatures. We measured the intensity and duration of frosts in late May and early June 1994 in a vertical, 10 meter temperature profile in a clearcut, a stand with 50 percent crown cover, and a control. In addition, we monitored shoot development of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L), white ash (Fraxinus americana L.), ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana Walt.), sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), and aspen—both trembling (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and big tooth (Populus grandidentata Michx.) in these stands and in a stand with 75 percent crown cover. We also assessed frost damage on a broader scale as it was related to overstory condition, distance from clearcut edge, and topographic position in two areas with clearcut and partially cut hardwood forests. The frost damage was more severe in the clearcut, less in the 50 percent crown cover, and did not occur in the 75 percent crown cover and control. Northern red oak and white ash shoots were severely affected by frost with death of all new growth in the clearcut; ironwood was slightly damaged; and sugar maple and aspen were apparently unaffected by frost. All trees with frost damage produced new shoots; the location of the buds that flushed depended on the severity of frost damage. In addition to differences among overstory treatments, frost damage differed with topographic positions and with depth-of-edge between areas with different temperature environments. Silvicultural implications of our observations are discussed.
Parent Publication
Citation
Zasada, J. C.; Teclaw, R.M.; Buckley, D.S.; Isebrands, J. C. 1999. Effects of frost on hardwood regeneration in Northern Wisconsin. In: Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Loftis, David L., eds. 1999. Proceedings, 12th central hardwood forest conference; 1999 February 28-March 1-2; Lexington, KY. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-24. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 293 p
