Survival and growth for the first-growing season of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedlings underplanted in mixed upland hardwood stands in South Central Iowa

This paper reports the first year survival and growth of red oak seedlings underplanted in two mixed upland hardwood stands in south central Iowa. The underplanted seedlings were undercut and not undercut 1-0 red oak stock. Fifteen blocks were laid out in 1990, with seven of the blocks receiving a foliar application of glyphosate herbicide. In the winter of 1990-1991, all non-oak trees were removed and their stumps treated with Picloram. Treatment areas were established in the spring (1991). The trials encompassed ten seedllings from each of three root classes: 0-4, 5-9, and ten or more permanent, first-order, lateral roots greater than 1 mm. The seedlings were planted in randomly assigned rows. Tree shelters were randomly assigned to the first five or second five seedlings in each row. The first growing season data show that spraying, tree shelters, and the number of lateral roots seem to be important in the establishment of red oak seedlings. Spraying was significant at reducing competition by 42%. Seedlings planted in tree shelters outperformed seedlings without tree shelters in average height growth (128%) and survival (7%). Seedlings with ten or more lateral roots had better average height growth than did seedlings with 0-4 (369%) and 5-9 (70%) lateral roots. The first growing season had 78% survival or better for all seedlings.