Abstract
Nuttall oak (
Quercus nuttallii Palm.) seedlings raised at state nurseries in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas were morphologically different in height, root collar diameter, fresh mass, number of first-order lateral roots, root volume, and height-to-root collar diameter ratio. When outplanted on afforestation sites in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, nursery source did not significantly affect seedling survival or height and diameter growth 2 years after outplanting. Competing herbaceous vegetation reduced Nuttall oak seedling survival by 8%, height growth by 69%, and root collar diameter growth by 61 % 2 years after outplanting. Nursery source did influence the ability of Nuttall oak seedlings to overcome transplant stress. Greatest durations of planting check were observed on seedlings raised at Nursery B and C, particularly those competing with herbaceous vegetation.
Keywords
Quercus nuttallii,
hardwoods,
seedlings,
afforestation,
transplant stress index
Citation
Gardiner, Emile S.; Salifu, K. Francis; Jacobs, Douglass F.; Hernandez, George; Overton, Ronald P. 2007. Field performance of Nuttall Oak on former agricultural fields: Initial effects of nursery source and competition control. USDA Forest Service Proceedings RMRS-P-50. 2007
