Propagation Container and Timing of Propagation Affects Growth of Oak Seedlings

Two experiments were conducted to determine the container effect and the timeline of seed propagation on germination and subsequent shoot and root development for container-grown oaks. Quercus nigra and Q. texana had equal or better growth and better root ratings when acorns were sown in Anderson tree bands compared to five other traditional propagation containers that had at least half the root volume. Germination percentage of Q. bicolor, Q. phellos and Q. shumardii was similar at 10 weeks after sowing whether acorns were sown in March, April, May or June. Q. bicolor and Q. phellos acorns sown in March had similar height and trunk diameter during the 30 week growing period in year 1 compared to acorns sown in April, May, or June that had a 25, 20, or 15 week growing period, respectively. Q. shumardii seedlings had greater shoot growth when acorns were sown in April or May compared to March or June. However, there was no difference in trunk diameter. By the end of the second year, Q. shumardii repotted into #3 nursery containers had similar growth among all sowing dates. Though some statistical differences occurred with shoot and root growth during the second year for Q. bicolor and Q. phellos, these differences did not appear to be the result of propagation time but probably a result of genetic variability.

Exploratory Pollen Analysis of Hargrove Lake, Davy Crockett National Forest Houston County, Texas

The objectives of this exploratory pollen analysis of selected samples from a sediment core taken at Hargrove Lake, Davy Crockett National Forest, Houston County, Texas, are to ascertain the quality of pollen preservation in the lake bottom matrix and to evaluate the potential of the pollen spectra deposited in the lake for providing information about former environmental conditions on Davy Crockett National Forest. Hargrove Lake is a natural lake in the floodplain of the Neches River in Houston County, Texas. The Hargrove Lake site (41H0150) lies a short distance to the west. The lake is presently is surrounded by a 10m wide stand of buttonbush (Cephalanthus). These plants are three m tall and have two to ten em diameter trunks. A woodland dominated by water oaks (Quercus nigra) and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) lies beyond the button bush. These trees are 30 to 40 m tall, and the woodland canopy is 90 to 98 percent closed. The lake is normally about 50 m wide by 200 m long, giving it a normal surface area of approximately 2.5 hectares. The mean depth of the lake at high water is about 90 em. Bedrock marl underlies the area, and the lake retains water during even the most severe droughts. It should provide a continuous pollen deposition record.

Growth response of loblolly pine, sweetgum, and water oak in a pine-hardwood density study

A study was established with loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) planted at 1683 trees/ha competing with sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.), water oak (Quercus nigra L.), or loblolly pine at densities of 0, 1794, 2692, and 5382 trees/ha. The study is a split-split plot with three blocks. Main plots are the three competitor species; subplots are with or without 2 years of herbaceous vegetation control (HVC); and sub-subplots are competitor densities. The study was measured at 6 years after establishment. Pines in pure plots responded to HVC with a mean basal area gain of 1.8 m2/ha (13%). With HVC, basal area increased 2.7 m2/ha (70%) for sweetgum and 2.3 m2/ha (58%) for water oak. Pines in mixed plots did not respond, or responded negatively, to HVC. Pine height, basal area, volume index, and canopy projection were only slightly affected by sweetgum density above zero. Pine characteristics decreased as water oak density increased. Adding sweetgum or water oak to pine reduced total (pine + hardwood) volume index and basal area.