TY - JOUR
T1 - Soil scarification effects on oak reproduction in two mixed-oak bottomland stands of southern Illinois
AU - Lhotka, John M.
AU - Zaczek, James J.
PY - 2003/8
Y1 - 2003/8
N2 - This study investigated whether soil scarification during the presence of oak mast could increase oak seedling establishment and decrease poison ivy cover in two mixed-oak bottomland stands that lacked adequate advanced oak reproduction. Study sites were located along the Saline River in southern Illinois and designated as Cherrybark Bottoms, with an overstory dominated by cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda Raf.), and Post Oak Flat, which contained an even mixture of post oak (Q. stellata Wang.) and cherrybark oak. Scarification was completed in November of 1999 using a small farm tractor with a pull-behind field disk to incorporate acorns into the soil. One growing season after scarification, Cherrybark Bottoms had significantly more oak seedlings in the scarified plots (7,243 ha-1) than in controls (453 ha-1). Likewise, Post Oak Flat had a significantly greater density of oak seedlings in scarified plots (8,715 ha-1) when compared to control plots (679 ha-1). In addition, scarification decreased poison ivy [Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze] cover in both stands. Results suggest that, in the presence of abundant acorns, scarification may increase the establishment of new oak seedlings in mixed-oak bottomland forests.
AB - This study investigated whether soil scarification during the presence of oak mast could increase oak seedling establishment and decrease poison ivy cover in two mixed-oak bottomland stands that lacked adequate advanced oak reproduction. Study sites were located along the Saline River in southern Illinois and designated as Cherrybark Bottoms, with an overstory dominated by cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda Raf.), and Post Oak Flat, which contained an even mixture of post oak (Q. stellata Wang.) and cherrybark oak. Scarification was completed in November of 1999 using a small farm tractor with a pull-behind field disk to incorporate acorns into the soil. One growing season after scarification, Cherrybark Bottoms had significantly more oak seedlings in the scarified plots (7,243 ha-1) than in controls (453 ha-1). Likewise, Post Oak Flat had a significantly greater density of oak seedlings in scarified plots (8,715 ha-1) when compared to control plots (679 ha-1). In addition, scarification decreased poison ivy [Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze] cover in both stands. Results suggest that, in the presence of abundant acorns, scarification may increase the establishment of new oak seedlings in mixed-oak bottomland forests.
KW - Cherrybark oak
KW - Oak regeneration
KW - Soil scarification
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U2 - 10.1093/sjaf/27.3.164
DO - 10.1093/sjaf/27.3.164
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0041877574
SN - 0148-4419
VL - 27
SP - 164
EP - 171
JO - Southern Journal of Applied Forestry
JF - Southern Journal of Applied Forestry
IS - 3
ER -