Survival and growth performance of two oak species and three planting stocks on lands disturbed by Hurricane Katrina
This article is part of a larger document. View the larger document here.Abstract
Regeneration of oaks is a priority for most landowners in the south given their inherent wildlife benefits, economic return, ascetics, and providing habitat for endangered species. In the case of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina artificial regeneration of these stands may be the only viable option to reestablish an overall oak component in a future stands overstory. This study evaluated growth of two oak species, water oak (Quercus nigra) and swamp chestnut oak (Quercus michauxii), and three planting stocks: 1-0 bareroot, conventional containerized, and EKOgrownTM seedlings were compared for two growing seasons. Conventional containerized planting stock exhibited greater groundline diameter (GLD) growth for both species at the end of the first growing season compared to bareroot and EKOTM planting stock. Bareroot seedlings had similar GLD growth to EKOTM seedlings for both years. Conventional containerized seedlings height differed in water oak but did not differ in swamp chestnut oak at the end of year two compared to bareroot seedlings. EKOTM seedlings exhibited severe dieback at the end of both growing seasons and the least amount of height growth.