Oak Regeneration in the Southern Appalachians: Potential, Problems, and Possible Solutions

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Southern Journal of Applied Forestry

Volume

22

Issue

1

Publisher

Society of American Foresters

Publication Date

2-1-1998

First Page

11

Last Page

18

Abstract

Despite the large volumes written about "oak regeneration problems" on mesic sites, very little has been presented on the extent of regional variation in oak regeneration. In this review article, we examine several important facets of oak regeneration for the Southern Appalachian region. We conclude that: (1) the amount of reproduction (seedlings and/or sprouts) is seldom a limiting factor because these oak forests have an average advance regeneration density of more than 9000/ha; (2) about 75% of all oak stems sprout after harvesting, which: (3) makes stump sprouts a major source of oak regeneration and a more important component than in the Midwest; (4) harvesting usually leads to an increase in the number of oak seedlings on a site (mean density for the first 3 yr equals 15,750/ha); (5) on sites of SI50 = 17-19m, oaks typically make up to 25-40% of the canopy 2-3 decades after a harvest; (6) on sites of SI > 20m, clearcutting leads to very low levels (~10%) of oak representation in the subsequent forest, whereas a shelterwood harvest will result in 25-30% oak abundance; and (7) a harvest of an oak-dominated forest, without any other treatments, will lead to a 50-70% decline in oak. These results suggest that there is ample potential to regenerate current oak forests to oak, but new trials are needed with more species and on a greater range of sites. Increasing the size of the advance regeneration and maximizing stump sprouting are two ways to increase the amount of oak after harvest. However, regeneration cuts by themselves will not assure maintenance of the oak component; several treatments that have shown promise—midstory manipulation, fire, and weeding—are recommended for further study. South. J. Appl. For. 22(1):11-18.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS