Survival and Growth of Planted and Direct-Seeded Cherrybark Oak in South Carolina

摘要

Five treatments were used to evaluate the survival and growth of planted 2-0cherrybark oak (Quercus pagoda Raf.) seedlings and seedlings grown from direct-seeded acorns of cherrybark oak. The treatments included: (1) deep-planted, top-pruned, (2) deep-planted, not top-pruned, (3) shallow-planted, top-pruned, (4) shallow-planted, not top-pruned, and (5) acorns direct-seeded. Survival was not affected by treatments. Planting depth and pruning did not affect survival of planted seedlings. The root collar of seedlings was placed about 1 ft below the groundline in the deep-planted treatments; however, after 5 yr these seedlings had survived as well as those in the shallow-planting treatments where the root collar was set at or near the groundline. Seedlings from the direct-seeded acorns were significantly smaller after 5 yr than planted seedlings. There were no differences in the size of seedlings in the planting treatments. Seedlings were 1.0 to 1.5 ft shorter when pruned after planting than the unpruned seedlings and grew more in height during the 5 yr period than the unpruned seedlings.