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- Title
Do chestnut, northern red, and white oak germinant seedlings respond similarly to light treatments? Growth and biomass.
- Authors
Rebbeck, Joanne; Gottschalk, Kurt; Scherzer, Amy
- Abstract
Northern red oak ( L.) seedling growth has been extensively studied. White oak ( L.) and chestnut oak ( L.), however, are far less investigated despite their importance among upland oak species in eastern North American forests. We characterized white and chestnut oak seedling response to light and available soil nutrients while using northern red oak as a benchmark. Germinants were grown within one of three shade treatments (25%, 18%, and 6% of full sun) in one of two native forest soil mixes over two growing seasons. Leaf area, shoot mass, and root mass of all three species showed positive growth responses to increasing light. Growth and biomass were higher for all species grown in the more nutrient-rich forest soil, but chestnut oak displayed the greatest positive responses to the higher nutrient levels. White oak seedlings were the slowest growers and demonstrated the most root-centered growth, with root to shoot ratios almost twice that of either chestnut or northern red oak seedlings. The oak species evaluated here responded differently to changes in resource availability. Our study demonstrates the differential response of upland oaks to low light and nutrients. These differences need consideration when developing oak management prescriptions for specific oaks.
- Subjects
NORTH America; CHESTNUT; WHITE oak; SEEDLINGS; BIOMASS; FORESTS &; forestry
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 2011, Vol 41, Issue 11, p2219
- ISSN
0045-5067
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1139/x11-124