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Catalog
of Long Term Research Conducted by the Northeastern Research Station
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Catalog #6
| Title: |
Black Walnut Seed Orchard/Progeny
Test for National Forests in the Eastern Region
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| Objective: |
1) To evaluate growth and survival of black walnut collection
from 34 families.
2) To produce genetically-improved walnut seed suited to growing
in conditions on the Shawnee, Hoosier, Wayne, and Monongalia
National Forests. |
| Year Established: |
1976 |
| Year Completed: |
expected to continue |
| Site Description: |
4 blocks above Hickman flat and 2 blocks in old growing stock
level study area south of McGowan Mountain Road in the Fernow
Experimental Forest.
Both areas were previously forested with 65- to 70-year old
stands of mixed Appalachian hardwoods including a high proportion
of black cherry, yellow-poplar, red oak, sugar maple, and white
oak.
Latitude, longitude, state and county are listed for each parent
tree. Soils on Hickman flat are mapped as Belmont silt loam,
a limestone soil derived from the Greenbrier limestone formation.
Soil on McGowan Mtn. site is mapped as Meckesville silt loam
which has some limestone influence since soil is found below
Belmont. Oak site index os 80 to 85.
Hickman: elevation 2560', N39deg 02min 02sec, W79deg 41min
08sec.
McGowan: elevation 2720', N39deg 03min 30 sec, W79deg 39min
17sec.
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| Statistical Design: |
Random Block Design. 6 blocks, 5-tree plots, 34 tree families. |
| Likelihood of Locating Study Areas: |
100% |
| Experimental Treatments: |
Sawtimber and pulpwood were harvested and all remaining stems
were felled. The brush and small stems were pulled from the
area by winching with a tractor from the perimeter of the area.
Tree seedlings were gathered from 34 black walnut families and
planted in a spacing of 6' apart in rows 12-feet apart (rows
with long dimension of the plot): 1976.
Cut vegetation overtopping seedlings: 1976.
Herbaceous vegetation treated with Simazine: 1977.
Woody vegetation cut with a Hoffco brushcutter: 1977-1978, 1979,
1980, 1982.
Herbaceous vegetation and hardwood sprouts were treated with
Roundup herbicide: 1983.
Competing woody vegetation and grapevine were cut: 1987, 1989. |
| Sampling Methods: |
Auger was used to drill holes to plant seedlings. Seedling
height measured to the nearest 0.05' and stem diameter at ground
level was measured to the nearest 0.05 cm. |
| Variables and Sampling Frequency: |
Independent: growth height and diameter, survival.
Dependent: Black walnut families.
5th year remeasurement 1981.
15 year remeasurement 1991.
Survival and total seedling heights tallied 1976.
Height 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980.
Height, stem diameter at root collar, d.b.h. 1982.
Height, d.b.h., quality remarks 1989, 1991.
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| QA/QC Practices: |
Data are visually compared to previously collected data. Accuracy
assessments are completed after each data-collection period.
Permanent employee continually supervises temporary employees. |
| Data Storage: |
Raw: stand structure and grade, species, d.b.h., and number
of stems available on DG. Species, d.b.h., and number of stems
are in hardcopy. Data are downloaded to PCs for analyses. |
| Global Change Research Applications: |
Studies of Ecosystem Processes |
| Data Availability: |
1994 |
| Publications and Reports: |
Establishment report: May 1976.
Progress report: December 1977, December 1979.
Final (Progress) report: G. Wendel. February 1982.
Progress report: T.Schuler. September 1992.
The above are office reports of U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, Parsons,
WV.
Schuler, T.M. 1993. Survival, growth and target canker infection
of Black Walnut families 15 years after establishment in West
Virginia. Res. Pap. NE-674. Radnor, PA.: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment
Station. 8 p.
Wendel, G.W. and D.E. Dorn. 1985. Survival and growth of
Black Walnut families after 7 years in West Virginia.NE-569.
Broomall, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 6 p.
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| Contact: |
Tom Schuler, USDA Forest Service, P.O.
Box 404, Parsons WV 26287. (304) 478-2000. |
| Cooperation: |
USDA Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station |
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