Tenth Workshop on Seedling 

Physiology and Growth 

Problems in Oak Plantings 

United States

Department of

Agriculture

Forest Service

Northern 

Research Station

General Technical

Report NRS-P-32 
SUBMISSIONS

The findings and conclusions of each abstract in this report are those of the individual author(s) and do 

not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. All articles were 

received in digital format and were edited for uniform type and style; each author is responsible for the 

accuracy and content of his or her own paper.

REVIEW PROCEDURE

Each abstract in this report was critically reviewed by at least two editors. Revised abstracts were 

reviewed by each author and then submitted to the U.S. Forest Service Northern Research Station for 

publication. Individual authors are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of their papers.

DISCLAIMERS

 The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this publication is for the information 

 and convenience of the reader. Such use does not constitute an official endorsement 

 or approval by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Forest Service of any 

 product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable. 

Remarks about pesticides appear in some technical papers contained in these proceedings. Publication 

of these statements does not constitute endorsement or recommendation of them by the conference 

sponsors, nor does it imply that uses discussed have been registered. Use of most pesticides is regulated 

by State and Federal Law. Applicable regulations must be obtained from the appropriate regulatory 

agencies.

CAUTION: Pesticides can be injurious to humans, domestic animals, desirable plants, and fish and other 

wildlife–if they are not handled and applied properly. Use all pesticides selectively and carefully. Follow 

recommended practices given on the label for use and disposal of pesticides and pesticide containers.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of Lynne Breland, U.S. Forest Service, who helped 

plan the workshop and organize registration; and Roanne Davenport, The Delta Council, for handling 

registration receipts. Thank you to Glynn Brown, Anderson-Tully Company, Bo Slone, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, and Ralph Pierce, U.S. Forest Service, who helped arrange the field tour. We also thank 

Bryce Burk, Brian LaBarre, David Murphy, John Nelson, and Charles Walker, all at the U.S. Forest Service 

Southern Research Station’s Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, for their help during the 

conduct of the workshop and field tour. We also thank the U.S. Forest Service’s Southern Research Station 

and Northern Research Station.

We also acknowledge the invited speakers, Stacy Clark, Philip O’Connor, Daniel Dey, and Martin Spetich, 

for providing informative presentations to lead each session.

Cover Photos

Figures on the front cover represent four critical phases in the artificial establishment of an oak 

(Quercus spp.) stand – acorn production, nursery practices, planting operations, and stand development. 

Clockwise from upper left: (a) An 8-year-old Shumard oak (Q. shumardii Buckl.) with maturing mast in 

Chicot County, AR; (b) Cherrybark oak (Q. pagoda Raf.) seedling nursery bed at the Delta-View Nursery, 

Washington County, MS; (c) A supplemental oak planting operation following a shelterwood harvest on 

the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area, Concordia Parish, LA; and (d) A 20-year-old water oak (Q. 

nigra L.) plantation on the Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge, Washington County, MS. All photos are by 

Brian Roy Lockhart, U.S. Forest Service.

Published by: For additional copies:

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 Visit our homepage at: http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us
TENTH WORKSHOP ON SEEDLING PHYSIOLOGY 

AND GROWTH PROBLEMS IN OAK PLANTINGS

OCTOBER 16-17, 2007

Edited by

Brian Roy Lockhart and Emile S. Gardiner

U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station

Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research

Stoneville, MS

and

Daniel C. Dey

U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station

Ecology and Management of Central Hardwood Ecosystems

Columbia, MO

Sponsored by

U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station

U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station

Held at

Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum

Jackson, Mississippi

Published by

Northern Research Station

USDA Forest Service

Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings 5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Session: Acorn Production

Oak Research and Technology Transfer Activities of the University of Tennessee’s 

Tree Improvement Program.....................................................................................................................1

Scott E. Schlarbaum, Jason S. Maxedon and Stacy L. Clark (presenter)

Two-Year Survival of Planted Seedlings as Influenced by Planting Stock, Planting Method,

Fertilization or Competition Control.......................................................................................................2

Andrew W. Ezell and Joshua L. Moree

Results from a 20-Year-Old Bottomland Oak Species Comparison Trial in Western Kentucky...........3

Randall J. Rousseau

Enhancing Natural Blue Oak Regeneration in California......................................................................4

Douglas D. McCreary

Session: Oak Seedling Nursery Practices

Doing More With Less: Efficiencies at Vallonia State Nursery...............................................................5

Philip A. O’Connor

A Conceptual Model for Developing Mixed-Species Plantations in the Lower 

Mississippi Alluvial Valley.........................................................................................................................6

Brian Roy Lockhart, Emile S. Gardiner, Theodor D. Leininger and John A. Stanturf

Integrating a Wood Quality Component with the SYLVAN Stand Structure Model

for Comparing Cherrybark Oak Plantation Management Scenarios.....................................................7

Christopher M. Oswalt and David R. Larsen

The Use of Relative Growth Rates to Assess Flood Tolerance in Oak Seedlings..................................8

Mark V. Coggeshall and J. W. Van Sambeek

Session: Oak Seedling Outplanting Performance - Bottomlands

Afforesting Oaks in Bottomlands............................................................................................................9

Daniel C. Dey, J. W. Van Sambeek, Felix Ponder, Jr. and John M. Kabrick

Enhancing Oak Growth and Development on Louisiana Wetlands Reserve 

Program Easements................................................................................................................................10

Terry R. Clason

Evaluation of Root ForceTM Container Seedlings of Four Oak Species for Bottomland 

Forest Restoration in Southern Indiana: 5-Year Results......................................................................11

Dale R. Weigel, Daniel C. Dey and John M. Kabrick

Session: Oak Seedling Outplanting Performance - Uplands

Oak Seedling Outplanting Performance...............................................................................................12

Martin A. Spetich and Daniel C. Dey
6 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings

First-Year Evaluation of Two Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra L.) Plantings During 

a Drought Year.........................................................................................................................................13

Stacy L. Clark, Scott E. Schlarbaum and Callie J. Schweitzer

Performance of Four Hardwoods on a Good Preharvested Site, Without Weed Control, Treated 

With Fire Before Planting and With and Without Tree Shelter............................................................14

Felix Ponder, Jr.

Poster Session

Control of Acorn Weevils in a Bur Oak Seed Orchard..........................................................................15

Philip A. O’Connor

FIELD TOUR SYNOPSIS............................................................................................................................16

INDEX TO OAK SPECIES..........................................................................................................................17

PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS.........................................................................................................................18
 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings 1

OAK RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE’S TREE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

Scott E. Schlarbaum

University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry, Wildlife

and Fisheries, 278 Ellington Hall, Knoxville, TN 37996

 Jason S. Maxedon

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, P.O. Box 40747

Nashville, TN 37204

Stacy L. Clark

Ecology and Management of Southern Appalachian Hardwood Forests

USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station

P.O. Box 1568, Normal, AL 35762

The University of Tennessee’s Tree Improvement Program is in its 49th year of conducting research 

and technology transfer activities with a special emphasis on hardwood species, particularly 

oak (Quercus spp.). Programs have included seed orchard construction and development, nursery 

studies, silviculture tests with genetic backgrounds, agroforestry, afforestation studies, and 

precision forestry. Cooperative research is being conducted in molecular genetics with scientists 

seeking pedigreed materials and pedigreed field studies. Afforestation and reforestation activities 

with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency are being conducted to restore bottomland losses 

to agricultural sites. The program’s work with seed orchard development and nursery practices 

is geared to provide locally adapted high quality seedlings to achieve land management goals. 

The program currently has plantings from New York state to Nebraska in various stages of 

development. 
2 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings

 TWO-YEAR SURVIVAL OF PLANTED SEEDLINGS AS INFLUENCED

BY PLANTING STOCK, PLANTING METHOD, FERTILIZATION

OR COMPETITION CONTROL

Andrew W. Ezell and Joshua L. Moree

Mississippi State University, College of Forest Resources, Thompson Hall

Box 9681, Mississippi State, MS 39769

Oaks (Quercus spp.) are valued in the South both for timber production and wildlife habitat. 

Survival and rapid early growth of planted oak seedlings has long been a concern of forest 

managers in the South. More than 500,000 acres (200,000 ha) have been planted across the region, 

and survival in many of these plantings has been unacceptably low. U.S. Forest Service scientists 

developed a nursery protocol for production of “enhanced” oak seedlings which have demonstrated 

excellent survival, rapid early growth, and early acorn production when planted and managed under 

an intensive regime. The objective of this project was to evaluate the influence of planting stock, 

planting method, fertilization, and competition control on survival and early growth of Nuttall 

(Q. nuttallii Palm.) and white (Q. alba L.) oak seedlings.

In February 2005, a total of 6,560 1-0 bare-root seedlings were planted at two former agriculture 

fields (one bottomland and one terrace) in Mississippi. This total included 1,640 of both the 

“enhanced” and “nursery-run” seedlings of both species at each location. Survival was evaluated 

at the end of the first and second growing seasons. Survival did not differ by planting stock within 

a species. Neither planting method nor fertilization had a significant effect on survival. Survival did 

vary by site for white oak and varied by competition control.
 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings 3

RESULTS FROM A 20-YEAR-OLD BOTTOMLAND OAK SPECIES

COMPARISON TRIAL IN WESTERN KENTUCKY

Randall J. Rousseau

Mississippi State University, College of Forest Resources, Thompson Hall

Box 9681, Mississippi State, MS 39769

Greater financial returns from hardwoods are primarily based on two factors: species and 

quality. Species such as red and white oak (Quercus spp.), black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), black 

cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) traditionally bring the 

highest revenue. However, the key is the quality that individuals within these species exhibit.

The test site for this study is located along Mayfield Creek 8 km (5 mi) east of the Mississippi River in 

Ballard County, Kentucky. Open-pollinated seed from seven mother trees were collected during the 

fall of 1985 from each of five species of red oaks, which included cherrybark oak (Q. pagoda Raf.), 

Nuttall oak (Q. nuttallii Palm.), pin oak (Q. palustris Muenchh.), water oak (Q. nigra L.), and willow 

oak (Q. phellos L.). The test was planted March 27, 1987. Herbaceous and vine competition was 

controlled during the first and second year by disking.

At age 20, differences in survival and growth among species were limited but form characteristics 

differed greatly among the five species. For all species mortality was highest between ages 1 and 

3 during plantation establishment until tree-to-tree competition began increasing between the 

ages of 10 and 20 years. At age 20, willow oak had the highest survival, water oak the overall best 

growth and cherrybark oak the best form. Although suppressed trees quickly fell out of the stand 

there has been little regeneration in grasses and forbs due to the thick leaf litter and insufficient 

sunlight reaching the forest floor. 

The general trend in height and diameter growth indicates a rather slow establishment period 

between ages 1 and 3. Height growth, on a yearly basis, peaked for all species between the ages 

of 5 and 10 years with water oak averaging 1.2 m (4 ft) of height growth per year. Correlations 

between age-1 height and age-20 height for all oak species were poor, with Nuttall oak exhibiting 

a negative correlation. As expected, correlations strengthened as age increased toward age 20. 

Currently, age-10 height exhibits fairly strong correlations with age-20 height, making crop tree 

selection effective at age 10.

The early self-pruning ability of cherrybark oak provided a cleaner bole than the other oak species. 

In addition, water oak was found to have more than eight times the number of form type defects 

as cherrybark oak at age 20. This striking difference in form quality between these two species 

indicates that if the site is suitable for cherrybark oak it would be advantageous to plant this 

species rather than water oak.
4 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings

 ENHANCING NATURAL BLUE OAK REGENERATION IN CALIFORNIA

Douglas D. McCreary

University of California Cooperative Extension

8279 Scott Forbes Road, Browns Valley, CA 95918

For almost a century there has been concern that blue oak (Quercus douglasii Hook. & Arn.), a 

California endemic, is not regenerating adequately in portions of its range. For the last 20 years, 

there have been concerted efforts to develop successful procedures for artificially regenerating this 

species so that it can be planted in areas where natural regeneration is unsuccessful, or in areas 

where it once grew but has been lost. These efforts have been successful in identifying procedures 

that will work, but unfortunately, such procedures often require intensive management and are 

costly. Since 80 percent of the oak woodlands in California are privately owned and the principal 

activity is livestock grazing, many large woodland owners and managers have marginal incomes 

and are reluctant to spend much money to regenerate oak trees.

An alternative, but untested, approach is to use naturally regenerating oak seedlings and take 

measures to promote their advancement to the sapling stage. This could be critical since research 

has demonstrated that the bottleneck for successful regeneration is often getting seedlings to grow 

into saplings. If successful, using natural seedlings could result in considerable savings because no 

effort or cost would be expended to collect acorns, or to grow and plant seedlings. An additional 

advantage would be that only genetically adapted plant material would be used, alleviating 

concerns about using “offsite” planting stock. Because of these economic, ecologic, and low input 

(i.e., less work) advantages, the development of techniques to advance natural regeneration holds 

great promise for being adopted and implemented by landowners. 

To test this strategy, a study was recently initiated at six sites in the range of blue oak throughout 

the state. At each site, 144 naturally occurring blue oak seedlings were identified. Half of these 

were under the canopy of onsite trees and half were in the open. In addition, treatments included 

protecting seedlings with tree shelters and controlling weeds. When the plots were established the 

height of each seedling was recorded. Yearly assessments of survival, height and diameter will be 

made to evaluate the efficacy of the treatments.

It is hoped that results from this study will yield meaningful information relating to approaches that 

can be used to enhance the natural regeneration of blue oak in California. If successful techniques 

are identified, they could help promote increased blue oak regeneration and thereby enhance the 

conservation of this critical species throughout the state. 
 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings 5

 DOING MORE WITH LESS: EFFICIENCIES AT VALLONIA STATE NURSERY

 Philip A. O’Connor

 Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry

Vallonia State Nursery, P.O. Box 218

Vallonia, IN 47281

I

n today’s economic environment, it takes some innovation and ingenuity to continue to 

produce seedlings of the high quality that has become our standard, with costs of production 

rising and budgets shrinking. 

Our standard operating procedures include use of fallow field cover crops specifically chosen 

for compatibility with our programs to suppress weeds and pathogens. We fall sow our tree/

shrub crop seeds with an overseeding of rye or wheat to hold the seedbeds in place against 

erosion caused by wind and rain. We mulch all our large seeded species [oaks (Quercus spp.), 

hickories and pecans (Carya spp.), walnuts (Juglans spp.)] with a 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) layer of 

straw to protect them from seed predation and deep temperature injury during germination. We 

follow integrated pest management procedures in nursery beds and seed orchards. We scarify, 

stratify and treat our own seed as necessary. We follow a carefully tailored nutrient-loading 

regime based on research conducted by Purdue University at our site. We test every lot of seed 

bought or collected by the nursery to determine the total volume of “pure live seed”. We use 

this information to calibrate our shop-fabricated specialty planters in order to strictly control our 

seedbed density.

When we have problems or issues that need to be addressed we make use of any available 

expertise. We can rely on the National Tree Seed Lab, and our local Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab, 

as well as a commercial soil and plant fertility testing lab. Often, however, there is no source of 

expertise available on the issues we have. In such cases we conduct our own studies. We have 

developed a spray protocol for herbicide control of broadleaf weeds in our seedbeds. We have 

developed a fungicide rotation protocol to decrease the build-up of resistance in the pathogens. 

We have developed seed treatment protocols to increase the level of germination in dry-stored 

seed. Finally, we have combined several methods to develop a successful program to reduce bird 

predation of seeds, and have evaluated several chemicals for reducing weevil infestation in our 

seed orchards. 

The Vallonia State Nursery strives to increase its level of efficiency. If we can produce a higher 

percentage of viable seed, get a higher percentage of the seed to germinate, and raise a higher 

percentage of the germinated seed to a saleable size, within our budget, then we can reach that 

goal.
6 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings

 A CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR DEVELOPING MIXED-SPECIES 

 PLANTATIONS IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI ALLUVIAL VALLEY

 Brian Roy Lockhart, Emile S. Gardiner and Theodor D. Leininger

 U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Center for Bottomland

 Hardwoods Research, P.O. Box 227, Stoneville, MS 38776

John A. Stanturf

U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 

Disturbance and the Management of Southern Pine Ecosytems

320 Green Street, Athens, GA 30602

Oak (Quercus spp.) afforestation in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley has involved 

planting 1-year-old bareroot seedlings on a relatively wide spacing in single species 

stands or planting light-seeded species with oaks to form mixed-species stands. In the 

former case, the developing single-species stands have limited future management 

options because they do not provide structures that favor quality wildlife habitat or 

quality sawtimber production. In the latter case, species mixtures are being planted with 

little knowledge of subsequent stand development, leading to an inability to predict 

future stand composition for management purposes. We present a conceptual model 

to determine bottomland tree planting mixtures that will create single-cohort, mixedspecies stands with a component of high quality bottomland oak. Using individual species’ 

ecological life-history characteristics, such as early height growth patterns, relative twig 

diameter and durability, and developmental patterns in natural stands, bottomland 

species are rated for their ability to provide beneficial training effects that will lead to 

the development of quality oak boles. Incorporating such a system to determine species 

value in mixtures should provide an increased number of future options to meet explicit 

management objectives and promote improved bottomland hardwood restoration.
 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings 7

INTEGRATING A WOOD QUALITY COMPONENT WITH THE SYLVAN

STAND STRUCTURE MODEL FOR COMPARING CHERRYBARK

OAK PLANTATION MANAGEMENT SCENARIOS

Christopher M. Oswalt 

U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Forest Inventory and Analysis

4700 Old Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919

David R. Larsen

University of Missouri-Columbia, Department of Forestry

203 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building

Columbia, MO 65211

Plantations will occupy an increasing proportion of the landscape in the future. This is 

particularly true for temperate hardwood plantations in the southern United States as 

reflected by the recent increases in afforestation activities in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. 

Hardwood plantation management has been constrained by limited information. The result has 

been the reliance on a paradigm derived from and dominated by pine plantation science and 

generally limited to monocultures. Anecdotal and empirical evidence suggests this approach may 

not be optimal for hardwood plantations where wood quality is a significant determinant of stand 

and stem value. One alternative to monospecific hardwood plantation management is a mixedspecies approach. Although mixed species plantations have a long history and some convincing 

research exists, little operational or commercial adoption has been realized. An argument with 

significant economic implications will be necessary to increase the utilization of mixed species 

hardwood plantations. 

A simulation system was developed by integrating a wood quality module within the Sylvan Stand 

Structure Model. The simulation system, CherrybarkSQ, was developed to investigate the impact of 

plantation design on the development of clear wood within cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda Raf.) 

stems. Of particular interest was the difference, if any, between pure and mixed species designs 

of similar density. After simulations of approximately 50 years, the mixed species design resulted 

in trees with a higher proportion of clear wood than the pure design of the same initial planting 

density. In addition, a widely spaced pure cherrybark oak plantation produced more clear wood 

per tree than pure plantations at a denser spacing.

CherrybarkSQ simulations of mixed species hardwood plantations resulted in higher quality 

cherrybark oak stems than monocultures of the same planting density. The increase in stem 

quality improves stand-level value. The knowledge that a mixed-species approach to cherrybark 

oak plantation management may improve stand-level value and therefore increase investment 

opportunities and returns, should play a role in increasing research and commercial establishment 

of mixed species hardwood plantations.
8 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings

THE USE OF RELATIVE GROWTH RATES TO ASSESS FLOOD 

TOLERANCE IN OAK SEEDLINGS

Mark V. Coggeshall

University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry

203 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building

Columbia, MO 65211

J. W. Van Sambeek

U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station

202 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building

Columbia, MO 65211

Planting oak seedlings in bottomland restoration plantings has received increased attention in 

recent years. While specific species have been favored, little or no attention has been focused 

on the potential genetic variation in flood tolerance that may exist within different oak (Quercus 

spp.) species. Knowledge of intraspecific variation, if it exists, would be an important factor to 

consider insuring the long-term survival and growth of newly planted trees on flood-prone sites. 

The objective of this study was to characterize the variation in relative growth rates of seedlings 

from multiple families of two native oak species within three topographic positions in response to 

flooding.

A total of 357, 1-0 bare-root seedlings of bur oak (Q. macrocarpa L.) and swamp white oak (Q. 

bicolor Willd.) grown from seed collected on wet, mesic, and dry topographic positions were 

established in pots. Half of the seedlings were flooded for 5 weeks in six large water tanks starting 

65 days after potting. Six tubs served as a nonflooded control. Timing of the flood coincided with 

the completion of the first growth flush in late May. About one half of the trees were harvested 

immediately following flooding (100 day post-potting) while the remaining trees were retained in 

pots within the tubs until the end of the growing season (200 day post-potting). Data for leaf area 

and dry weight and for seedling dry weight (root, shoot, and leaves) were recorded for each tree. 

In addition, a subset of 90 bare-root seedlings of each species was used to develop a simple linear 

regression equation to determine initial seedling dry weights as a function of root collar diameters 

(RCD). Initial seedling dry weights were calculated using the formula: y = 4.047x - 18.784 (R2

 = 0.68), 

where y = initial seedling dry weight (g), and x = root collar diameter (mm). Relative growth rate 

(RGR) was calculated as the weight gain divided by number of days and final seedling dry weight.

In general, there was a trend for RGRs to decrease with increasing RCD for both species. The 

smaller seedlings of bur oak tended to exhibit a decrease in their RGR values when flooded while 

larger seedlings exhibited similar growth patterns regardless of flooding treatment or seed origins. 

These trends should be viewed with caution since there were only 142 bur oak seedlings and 

few seedlings flushed following flooding. Nonflooded seedlings of swamp white oak from wet 

and dry, but not mesic, topographic positions increased in dry weight. When flooded, the larger 

swamp white oak seedlings from mesic and wet, but not dry, topographic positions increased in 

post-flood dry weight. Because of the differential RGR responses observed, initial seedling size and 

acorn origin will play an important role in defining the flood tolerance of oak seedlings used in 

bottomland restoration plantings.
 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings 9

AFFORESTING OAKS IN BOTTOMLANDS

Daniel C. Dey, J. W. Van Sambeek, Felix Ponder, Jr., and John M. Kabrick

U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station,

202 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building

Columbia, MO 65211

Several factors are critical when regenerating oak in agricultural bottomlands: species selection, 

 site ydrology, soil characteristics, nursery stock types, competing vegetation, and animal 

damage. First, species selected must be adapted to site environment, and in particular, hydrology 

and soil. Flood regime (frequency, duration, season, depth, flow) in combination with soil character

and topography determine the influence of water on trees. The flood tolerance of a species and 

other silvical characteristics are valuable for determining the suitability of a species. Flood lab 

studies help to better quantify the flood tolerance of seedlings and cuttings for given flood 

regimes; and to determine the genetic variability in flood tolerance for a species. 

Disking, ripping, and bedding are used to improve structure, drainage and increase the rooting 

zone on clayey and silty soils, and soils with traffic pans. Soil bedding did not improve oak 

(Quercus spp.) survival and growth on well drained silt loam soils that flooded for up to a month 

in May-June. Decades of crop production can deplete nitrogen and organic matter that limits 

tree physiological function. Tree nutrition is further limited by high soil pH (e.g., 7.8 to 8.0). Bur 

oak (Q. macrocarpa Michx.) and Shumard oak (Q. shumardii Buckl.) can tolerate high soil pH; 

Nuttall oak (Q. nuttallii Palm.), cherrybark oak (Q. pagoda Raf.), pin oak (Q. palustris Muenchh.), 

and water oak (Q. nigra L.) are very sensitive to alkaline soils. Fertilizing with ammonium nitrate 

or urea slow release fertilizer has not been sufficient to overcome low foliar nitrogen and 

chlorosis in pin oak and swamp white oak (Q. bicolor Willd.) on high pH soils. Studies are under 

way to evaluate the usefulness of ammonium sulfate to acidify soils, improving nitrogen, and 

micronutrient uptake in oak. 

High quality, large oak seedlings grown as bareroot or container seedlings have performed well 

in bottomland plantings. Seedlings that are greater than 1.5 m (5 ft) tall at planting are less 

susceptible to browsing by large mammals and are more likely to maintain their live crowns 

above growing season floods. These seedlings have a substantially larger root structure and 

mass than traditional bareroot. They are also capable of early acorn production. Regardless of 

stock type, competing vegetation must be controlled. Disking, herbicides and cover crops have 

improved oak regeneration success. Managing competing vegetation also provides indirect 

benefits to planted trees by reducing the habitat of small mammals, and their herbivory on 

planted trees. Plantations can be fenced or individual trees can be protected from herbivores. 

We have sufficient knowledge and guidance to successfully afforest bottomlands. Research 

continues to work on the unknown and discover more effective and efficient methods for 

establishing oaks in floodplains.
10 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings

 ENHANCING OAK GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT ON LOUISIANA

 WETLANDS RESERVE PROGRAM EASEMENTS

Terry R. Clason

U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service

3737 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) provides the technical and financial assistance to restore 

agricultural land to a functional wetland state. The restoration process addresses soil, water, 

wildlife and other related natural resource concerns in an environmentally beneficial and costeffective manner. Current tree establishment practices in Louisiana fail to provide the vertical 

structure and hard mast production in a “near-immediate time frame” necessary for sustaining 

avian and deer populations. Field trials in Georgia and Arkansas have shown that planting large 

1-year-old potted seedlings enhances oak performance. The purpose of this conservation field trial 

was to evaluate the potential of potted and containerized seedlings for special applications on WRP 

restoration projects and determine the impact of comprehensive site preparation on bare-root, 

potted and containerized seedling survival and growth. 

The trial was established in 2003 on a WRP easement north of Natchitoches, LA, which included 

three soil texture components: Severn sandy soil, Gallion loamy soil, and Moreland clayey soil. 

Nuttall oak (Quercus nuttallii Palm.) was chosen as the potted and containerized seedling species 

and the bare-root seedling species included Nuttall, water (Q. nigra L.) and willow oak (Q. phellos 

L.); and sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) and green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.). Pre-plant 

site preparation practices included mowing, herbicide treatment and a deep-rip plus herbicide 

treatment. In addition, half of each pre-plant treatment received a post-plant herbicide treatment. 

The pre-plant herbicide was applied at 75.7 l ha-1 (20 g ac-1) as a tank mix of glyphosate and 

sulfmeturon methyl (9.4 l ha-1 and 220 ml ha-1, or 4 qt ac-1 and 3 oz ac-1, respectively). Post-plant 

herbicide application was a banded spray of sulfmeturon methyl at 146 ml ha-1 (2 oz ac-1).

Containerized Nuttall oak seedlings were susceptible to animal predation. By the fall of 2004, 

container survival on all soil texture components was less than 10 percent. Pre-plant herbicide 

treatment increased bare-root seedling survival rates by 15 percent, while post-plant treatment 

had no apparent impact. Deep-ripping had no impact on potted Nuttall oak or bare root green ash 

survival but did improve bare-root oak and sycamore survival by 20 percent.
 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings 11

 EVALUATION OF ROOT FORCETM CONTAINER SEEDLINGS OF FOUR 

 OAK SPECIES FOR BOTTOMLAND FOREST RESTORATION 

 IN SOUTHERN INDIANA: 5-YEAR RESULTS

 Dale R. Weigel

U.S. Forest Service, Hoosier National Forest

811 Constitution Avenue, Bedford, IN 47421

 Daniel C. Dey and John M. Kabrick

 U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station

 202 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building

 Columbia, MO 65211

Bottomland forest restoration has become an area of interest in the last 10 to 15 years due to 

large scale bottomland flooding. Seed sources for heavy seeded species, such as the various 

native bottomland oaks (Quercus spp.), are nonexistent, thus planting seedlings is needed to increase 

the proportion of heavy seeded trees to diversify bottomland forests. Nursery-grown bareroot 

seedlings are not usually competitive and do not survive well in areas with heavy vegetation and 

grass, especially where herbicides cannot be used for competition control. Larger container-grown 

seedlings may be more competitive than bareroot seedlings in afforesting productive bottomlands.

We tested the field performance of 1-year-old, large-rooted Root ForceTM seedlings grown in 3.8 liter 

(1 g) and 11.4 liter (3 g) containers and compared them with 1-0 bareroot seedlings at a bottomland 

restoration project along Otter Creek on the Hoosier National Forest in southern Indiana. Four 

bottomland oak species were used: bur (Q. macrocarpa Michx.), pin (Q. palustris Muenchh.), Shumard 

(Q. shumardii Buckl.), and swamp white (Q. bicolor Willd.). Seedlings were planted in a fescuedominated bottomland pasture. Half of the seedlings had a weed control treatment that consisted 

of placing a 1.2 m by 1.2 m (3.9 ft by 3.9 ft) weed barrier mat around each seedling. The remaining 

seedlings grew in direct competition with fescue grass and other vegetation.

Survival for all species and stock types was similar after the first year, 99 to 100 percent, respectively. 

By the fifth year, survival ranged from 46 to 88 percent for all species and stock types, respectively. 

Although the 3.8 liter container-grown seedlings [shoot height, 30.9 cm (12 in), and diameter, 5.6 

mm (0.22 in)] were the smallest at planting, their survival after 5 years was highest. Survival for the 

11.4 liter container-grown seedlings was lowest even though their initial shoot diameter was larger 

than the 3.8 liter container-grown seedlings. Shumard oak had the lowest survival rate. Weed control 

had no influence on survival.

All stock types showed positive height growth the fifth year. After 5 years, the container-grown 

seedlings remained the shortest in total height [77.6 and 77.4 cm (30.6 in and 30.5 in)] for the small 

and large containers, respectively) while the bareroot seedlings were tallest (84.9 cm or 33.4 in). For 

all four species, bareroot seedlings had the lowest net height growth after 5 years. In the 5 years, the 

3.8 l (1 g) container-grown seedlings grew 47.8 cm (18.8 in); the 11.4 liter container-grown seedlings 

grew 29.8 cm (11.7 in), and the bareroot seedlings grew 24.7 cm (9.7 in) in height. The height growth 

for all seedlings was influenced by deer browsing; thus there appeared to be no preference for any 

stock type. Five-year field performance provides no clear superior stock type.
12 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings

 OAK SEEDLING OUTPLANTING PERFORMANCE

 Martin A. Spetich

 U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station

 Managing Upland Forest Ecosystems in the Midsouth

 P.O. Box 1270, Hot Springs, AR 71902

 Daniel C. Dey

 U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station

 202 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building

 Columbia, MO 65211

Outplanting performance is often examined through direct growth and survival measures. 

Additionally, a seedling’s success relative to its competitors, its competitive capacity, can 

be quantitatively expressed as the probability that a planted tree will attain dominance among 

competitors after a specified period. These dominance probabilities encompass traditional growth 

and survival measures while further integrating the planted tree’s initial characteristics, and 

characteristics of competitors together with the planted tree’s growing environment. The growing 

environment includes site quality and environmental changes resulting from silvicultural practices 

such as weeding and thinning before and after planting. We define competitive capacity as “a 

tree’s ability to survive and grow at a rate sufficient to attain and maintain dominance among its 

competitors.” This talk examined the concept and application of competitive capacity as applied to 

outplanted 2-0 northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedlings. Oak planting by methods similar to 

those described in these examples may provide viable silvicultural alternatives for maintaining oaks 

on sites where oaks are threatened through species displacement or where they are now absent.

Additional information on these methods can be found at:

1. Science Paper: www.srs.fs.fed.us/pubs/4719 

2. A Technical Transfer “How To” Article: www.srs.fs.fed.us/pubs/6543

3. Interactive OAKUS Program: www.ncrs.fs.fed.us/OAKUS/
 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings 13

 FIRST-YEAR EVALUATION OF TWO NORTHERN RED OAK 

 (QUERCUS RUBRA L.) PLANTINGS DURING A DROUGHT YEAR

Stacy L. Clark

Ecology and Management of Southern Appalachian Hardwood Forests

U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station

P.O. Box 1568, Normal, AL 35762

Scott E. Schlarbaum

The University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and

Fisheries, 278 Ellington Hall, Knoxville, TN 37996

Callie J. Schweitzer

Ecology and Management of Southern Appalachian Hardwood Forests

U.S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station

P.O. Box 1568, Normal, AL 35762

Oak (Quercus spp.) reproduction can be introduced artificially through seedling planting on sites 

where natural reproduction is absent or when large oak reproduction is desired within a short 

time span. Specific parameters affecting early seedling performance are not well understood. The 

objectives of this study were 1) to determine if nursery seedling grade and characteristics can be 

used to predict first-year survival and dieback of outplanted seedlings; 2) to determine differences 

between seedling grade in first-year height and ground diameter growth; and 3) to characterize the 

relationship between competition, light and outplanting performance.

Nursery seedlings were lifted from one large family seed lot at the Georgia State Nursery in February 

2007, and two seedling grades, premium and nursery-run, were visually distinguished. Seedlings 

from each grade were planted at two study sites located on the Royal Blue Wildlife Management 

Area, TN. The first site was treated with a midstory herbicide injection the first growing season 

after planting and the second site was a 1-year-old shelterwood harvest. Seedling performance was 

evaluated after one growing season. 

Premium grade seedlings were significantly taller, larger in basal diameter and had more roots 

than Nursery-run seedlings at time of planting. Extreme drought during the growing season likely 

resulted in delayed leaf-out and increased mortality of the midstory treatment (31 percent) and 

the shelterwood stand (25 percent). Occurrence of dieback for both plantings was 25 percent and 

was negatively related to planting height. Taller seedlings at planting may have had increased stem 

dehydration during a particularly dry growing season resulting in mortality and contributing to the 

occurrence of stem dieback. However, other nursery variables used in selection of premium seedling 

grade, particularly number of roots, positively impacted first-year survival. Seedling grade did not 

significantly impact height or diameter growth in the midstory treatment, but nursery-run seedlings 

did have more height growth than premium seedlings in the shelterwood stand. Although the 

amount of light did not significantly differ between free-to-grow and suppressed seedlings in the 

shelterwood stand, free-to-grow seedlings had significantly more diameter growth. This research 

will provide important information for prediction of seedling performance given easily measured 

nursery and field characteristics, and will provide probability estimates for expected seedling success 

for a range of seedling sizes and competition control measures.
14 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings

 PERFORMANCE OF FOUR HARDWOODS ON A GOOD PREHARVESTED 

 SITE, WITHOUT WEED CONTROL, TREATED WITH FIRE BEFORE 

 PLANTING AND WITH AND WITHOUT TREE SHELTER

Felix Ponder, Jr.

 U.S. Forest Service, Northern Research Station

 202 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building

 Columbia, MO 65211

The performance of four hardwoods, black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), northern red oak (Quercus 

rubra L.), white oak (Q. alba L.), and cherrybark oak (Q. pagoda Raf.), is being studied on an 

upland landform in southern Illlinois. The soil is a deep (solum thickness > 160 cm or 63 in), well 

drained Alford silt loam (fine-silty, mixed mesic Typic Hapludalfs) occupying slopes ranging from 6 

to 18 percent. Merchantable trees were harvested, and all remaining trees, shrubs, and grapevines 

(Vitis spp.) were removed manually. No other site preparation was done until 2 years later when it 

was estimated that forest floor vegetation was sufficient to support a sustained fire to kill most of 

the regeneration. The area covered by the burn was inconsistent and will not be discussed further.

Seedlings were planted in rows spaced at 2.43 m (8 ft) apart and 1.8 m (6 ft) apart within rows. The 

six treatments included 1) control; 2) tree shelters (clear and amber in color); 3) tree mats (1.2 by 

1.2 m or 4 ft by 4 ft) alone, and in combination with each other; 4) tree shelter x tree mat, and with 

slow-release fertilizer (16N-6P-8K) packet (Right StartTM); 5) tree shelter x slow-release fertilizer; and 

6) tree mat x slow release fertilizer. Treatments were randomized within rows. No weed control was 

provided nor was any precaution taken against deer browsing. The experiment was analyzed as an 

incomplete factorial design analysis of variance.

Nine years after planting, survival of all four tree species was better with tree shelters than without 

them. Except for black walnut, survival was better for trees enclosed in clear shelters than for trees 

enclosed in amber color shelters. One 10 g (0.4 oz) packet of fertilizer improved survival for all 

species. Tree mats decreased survival for all species.

Tree shelters did not affect height growth the same for all species. Ninth-year height of black 

walnut was not affected, but it was for red oak, white oak, and cherrybark oak. Both northern red 

oak and cherrybark oak were taller in clear shelters than in amber shelters. The height of black 

walnut, white oak, and cherrybark oak was greater with fertilizer at planting than without it. The 

height of northern red oak was less with fertilizer than without fertilizer. Trees with tree mats were 

shorter than trees without them. 
 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings 15

 POSTER PRESENTATION

 CONTROL OF ACORN WEEVILS IN A BUR OAK SEED ORCHARD

 Philip A. O’Connor

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry

Vallonia State Nursery, P.O. Box 218

Vallonia, IN 47281

Acorn weevils in the genus Curculio present a ubiquitous problem. In seed orchards that are 

 managed to promote increased cropping and reduced alternate bearing, populations of these 

insects are seldom in decline. The weevils overwinter and pupate in the soil. In mid-summer adults 

begin to emerge and crawl or fly to the trees where they chew through the acorn’s seed coat and 

deposit one to several eggs. Developing larvae feed on the cotyledonary tissue and often render the 

acorns unviable.

No chemical controls are currently registered for use in controlling acorn weevils. This study 

evaluated the efficacy of a single application of each of four chemicals: 

• Safari® (Dinotefuran) at two rates applied basally with a penetrant

• Merit® (Imidacloprid) applied as a soil drench

• Orthene® (Acephate) applied both basally with a penetrant and as a foliar spray

• Dursban® (Chlorpyrifos) applied as a foliar spray

A mid-summer application of the first three insecticides was made in an 8-year-old grafted bur oak 

(Quercus macrocarpa Michx.) seed orchard. The orchard was supporting a bumper crop of acorns. 

Simultaneously, conical wire-screen weevil traps were set out in areas of the orchard that had 

produced seed the prior year. Weevil emergence was monitored semiweekly with the traps. At peak 

emergence a foliar application of Dursban was made.

At maturity, the acorns from each treatment were collected, dissected, and evaluated for weevil 

infestation. All treatments were statistically better than the control. All the systemic treatments 

(Safari, Orthene, Merit) performed better than the contact and surface residual treatment (Dursban).

This study is also ongoing in a northern red oak (Q. rubra L.) planting, however, later seed 

maturation in that species has precluded those results from being reported here.
16 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings

FIELD TOUR SYNOPSIS

Participants of the 10th Workshop on Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak 

Plantings toured selected sites in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV) and Bluff Hills 

on October 17, 2007. The first stop was on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Carter Tract, where 

the group examined operational afforestation of bottomland oaks on former agricultural land 

with discussion on site preparation, seedling quality, competition control, stocking, and species 

mixture issues. The second stop was on the Sharkey Restoration Research and Demonstration 

Area. The group examined an alternative afforestation system involving eastern cottonwood 

(Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh.) and Nuttall oak (Quercus nuttallii Palm.) for restoring 

bottomland hardwood forests. The group also toured the Flooding Research Facility, which is 

used to study the ecophysiology of bottomland species in response to hydroperiod and light 

availability.

In the afternoon, the group examined a 30-year-old direct seeded Nuttall oak plantation on the 

Delta National Forest. Discussion centered on use of direct seeding in LMAV afforestation and the 

influence of natural reproduction in plantation development. The final stop was at AndersonTully Company’s “Big Holloman Place” tract at the base of the Bluff Hills. The group examined 

an 18- to 20-year-old cherrybark oak (Q. pagoda Raf.) plantation mixed with natural sweetgum 

(Liquidambar styraciflua L.). Discussion centered on the development of single-species plantations 

versus mixed-species stands.
 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings 17

 INDEX TO OAK (QUERCUS) SPECIES INCLUDED IN ONE OR MORE ABSTRACTS

Sub-genus and species1 Common Name Pages 

RED OR BLACK OAK GROUP (SECTION LOBATAE)

 Q. nigra L. water oak 3, 9, 10

 Q. nuttallii Palmer Nuttall oak 2, 3, 9,10

 Q. pagoda Raf. cherrybark oak 3, 7, 9,14

 Q. palustris Muenchh. pin oak 3, 9, 11

 Q. phellos L. willow oak 3, 10

 Q. rubra L. northern red oak 12, 14, 15

 Q. shumardii Buckl. Shumard oak 9, 11

WHITE OAK GROUP (SECTION QUERCUS)

 Q. alba L. white oak 2, 14

 Q. bicolor Willd. swamp white oak 8, 9, 11

 Q. douglasii Hook. & Arn. blue oak 4

 Q. macrocarpa Michx. bur oak 8, 9, 11, 15 

1

Duncan, W. B.; Duncan, M.B. 2000. Trees of the southeastern United States. Athens, GA: University

of Georgia Press. 336 p.
18 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings

PAST WORKSHOPS ON SEEDLING PHYSIOLOGY 

 AND GROWTH PROBLEMS IN OAK PLANTINGS

No. Location Date Proceedings

1st Columbia, MO November 6-7, 1979 http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nc062.pdf

2nd Mississippi State, MS February 8-9, 1983 http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nc099.pdf

3rd Carbondale, IL February 12-13, 1986 http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nc121.pdf

4th Columbus, OH March 1-2, 1989 http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nc139.pdf

5th Ames, IA March 4-5, 1992 http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nc158.pdf

6th Rhinelander, WI September 18-20, 1995 http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nc182.pdf

7th Lake Tahoe, CA September 27-29, 1998 http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nc206.pdf

8th Hiawassee, GA September 9-12, 2001 http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nc224.pdf

9th West Lafayette, IN October 18-20, 2004 http://ncrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nc262.pdf

10th Jackson, MS October 16-18, 2007 http://nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_nrs-p-32
 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings 19

 Lockhart, Brian Roy; Gardiner, Emile S.; Dey, Daniel C., eds. 

 2008. Tenth workshop on seedling physiology and growth 

 problems in oak plantings; 2007 October 16-17; 

 Jackson, MS. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-32. Newtown Square, 

 PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, 

 Northern Research Station. 18 p. 

 Research results and ongoing research activities in 

 field performance of oak plantings, seedling propagation, 

 genetics, acorn germination, and natural regeneration of 

 oaks are described in 15 abstracts. 

 Keywords: Plantations, propagation, regeneration. 

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20 Proceedings, Seedling Physiology and Growth Problems in Oak Plantings

Capitalizing on the strengths of existing science

capacity in the Northeast and Midwest to attain a more

integrated, cohesive, landscape-scale research program

www.nrs.fs.fed.us

Capitalizing on the strengths of existing science 

capacity in the Northeast and Midwest to attain a more 

integrated, cohesive, landscape-scale research program