Oak Regeneration: Four Years After Three Harvesting Treatments in a North Alabama Upland Hardwood Stand

Abstract-Fourth year regeneration of upland oaks (Quercus spp.) was compared within three harvesting treatments in the mountains of northern Alabama. Six four-acre experimen-tal blocks were established on north facing slopes. Each of the three harvesting treatments (deferment cutting, strip clearcutting, and block clearcutting) was randomly assigned to two treatment blocks. Major oaks present were white oak (0. a/b & northern red oak (Q. rubra), and chestnut oak (Q. p&us). Densities and stocking levels of non-sprout origin non-overtopped oak reproduction were related to treatment, topographic position, and pre-harvest competition cover. The overall contribution of the non-sprout oak regeneration was low. Post harvest germination and advance reproduction contributed equally to the success-ful fourth year reproduction.