Source: PURDUE UNIVERSITY submitted to
IMPROVING PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS AND PRODUCTIVITY IN THE CENTRAL HARDWOOD REGION
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0192263
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
IND011535H
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2012
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2017
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Jacobs, DO.
Recipient Organization
PURDUE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
WEST LAFAYETTE,IN 47907
Performing Department
Forestry & Natural Resources
Non Technical Summary
As population growth increases and the supply of high quality timber in natural forests declines, the nation will increasingly turn toward plantations in the Central Hardwood Region to supply wood product needs. Establishment of tree plantations using artificial reforestation offers a means to control species composition, incorporate genetically improved stock, and apply intensive culture that may lead to substantially more productive tree growth and wood quality compared to natural forests. Additionally, tree plantations may aid in restoration of degraded areas (e.g., mine reclamation sites) and be used for reintroduction of threatened native species. While extensive plantation research has been conducted with production-oriented coniferous forests in the western and southeastern United States, regeneration issues in hardwood forests in the Central Hardwood Region have received relatively little attention (Wilson and Jacobs 2006). Establishment success of hardwood tree species in the Central Hardwood Region is highly variable and factors such as herbivory, drought stress, and vegetative competition result in numerous examples of failed plantations. In Indiana, for example, survival of operationally planted hardwoods was estimated at 66%, with less than half of surviving seedlings deemed free-to-grow after five years (Jacobs et al. 2004). This contrasts greatly with seedling survival of operational plantations in the western and southeastern United States that are frequently above 90% (Jacobs et al. 2004), and emphasizes the potential for dramatic gains in plantation establishment success in this region. A recent burst of research during the past 5-10 years in the Central Hardwood Region associated with the development of the Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (www.htirc.org) has demonstrated that specific silvicultural treatments such as improving the quality of nursery seedlings, using appropriate planting techniques, and applying after-planting care to juvenile trees may significantly improve seedling establishment success and early productivity of hardwood plantations (Jacobs 2011). However, ever-increasing threats of invasive pests and pathogens, a changing climate, and an increased emphasis on restoration of degraded sites implicates the constantly shifting and evolving nature of challenges that must be overcome to ensure continued forest productivity in the Central Hardwood Region. Simultaneously, the potential negative impacts of management activities on the environment must be fully understood and minimized. Thus, the basic function of this research project is to improve the regeneration productivity of forests in the Central Hardwood Region by identifying factors that limit successful forest regeneration and formulating new technologies to help overcome those limitations. The outcomes of this endeavor promise to be of substantial economic and ecological benefit to the residents and environment in this region.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
12306201060100%
Knowledge Area
123 - Management and Sustainability of Forest Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
0620 - Broadleaf forests of the North;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);
Goals / Objectives
The primary objective of this project is to enhance forest regeneration productivity in the Central Hardwood Region by improving understanding of site-specific limiting environmental factors to plantation establishment and investigating silvicultural practices that promote early hardwood plantation growth. The specific project objectives are to: 1. Evaluate juvenile development and responses to environmental stresses for threatened native forest tree species in the Central Hardwood Region including American chestnut (Castanea dentata) and butternut (Juglans cinerea). 2. Determine the influence of varying topsoil replacement methods for early development of planted hardwood seedlings on mine reclamation sites. 3. Assess herbicide phytotoxicity associated with vegetative competition control for establishment of planted hardwoods on mine reclamation sites. 4. Examine growth responses of hardwood seedlings to varying types and application rates of nitrogen fertilizers applied at time of planting; and quantify fertilizer use efficiency of the different fertilizers types.
Project Methods
1. We will examine responses of threatened species to limiting environmental factors such as drought, flood, and canopy shading to assess their morphological and physiological responses in order to aid species restoration. This will be accomplished through a series of experiments using controlled environments where water availability or light intensity can be precisely altered (e.g., Jacobs et al. 2009; Sloan and Jacobs 2012) and a field trial in southern Indiana where these species will be planted under different levels of residual forest canopy that create varying light gradients (e.g., Morrissey et al. 2011). We will measure growth responses in all experiments but also carefully evaluate physiological development in the controlled trials by measuring leaf water potential, gas exchange, and nutrient uptake; these results should help to provide important insight into the mechanisms controlling growth responses under the varying environmental conditions. 2. On a Peabody Energy mine reclamation site in southwestern Indiana, we will examine effects of loose grading during soil preparation (Sweigard et al. 2007) on American chestnut and oak (Quercus spp.) seedling survival and growth, physiology, shoot/root biomass allocation, and soil characteristics. The experiment will use a randomized complete block design with two soil replacement treatments (standard graded and loose dumped). We will examine selected soil chemical (e.g., nutrient availability, pH) and physical (e.g., bulk density) properties, while also evaluating seedling aboveground growth, survival, and root proliferation (e.g., biomass and root area as determined with scanning software). 3. We will examine different herbicide (i.e., metsulfuron methyl) application rates and timings and their interactions on survival, growth, and phytotoxicity of American chestnut and oaks (Quercus spp.) on a reclaimed mine site in southwestern Indiana using similar methods to Selig et al. (2005). The application rate treatment levels will consist of a control, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 oz. of active ingredient per acre; application timings will include a site preparation treatment or a release treatment following planting (each applied in late summer). The experimental design will be a randomized complete block design with a 5 x 2 factorial treatment structure examining four separate species. In addition to examining effects on planted tree seedlings, we will study the efficacy of treatments on competing vegetation. 4. We will establish an experiment using the rare stable isotope N-15 to assess relative efficiency of N uptake following fertilization (i.e., Salifu et al. 2008, 2009b). We will examine four conventional and enhanced efficiency N fertilizers in black walnut (Juglans nigra) across multiple stands. The experiments will be established as randomized complete block designs at each of eight different sites in northwestern Indiana to allow for broad extrapolation in this region. Fertilizer will be applied at 200 lbs N/acre for each of the fertilizer treatments. We will sample plant material throughout a 2-year period to examine the relative rates of N uptake among different fertilizer materials.

Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience: Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two MS and two PhD students, two post-doctoral scientists, and three undergraduates received training under the umbrella of this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Through oral presentations at the IUFRO Symposium on Forest Landscape Restoration Under Global Change in San Juan, Puerto Rico; IUFRO Symposium on Forest Regeneration in Corvallis, Oregon; The NSF Center for Advanced Forestry Systems (NSF I/UCRC) Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon; and the American Chestnut Foundation's Annual Meeting in Portland, Maine. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Results of work described in objective one helped to guide the chestnut tree restoration program of the American Chestnut Foundation and have served as evidence of the feasibility for using hybrid trees to restore butternut. Mining companies and mine reclamation agencies in the Appalachian Region have begun using the vegetation control and soil preparation methods described in objectives two and three in practice. Two forest industry companies in the eastern U.S are using results from work described in objective four, leading to reduced fertilizer inputs in black walnut plantations. We have also extended these technologies to forest landowners in the Midwest through technology transfer programs (website, publications, workshops) of the Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center at Purdue University. The following describes outputs for the project period in relation to the stated project objectives: 1) We published several manuscripts describing results of studies investigating restoration systems for butternut and American chestnut. For butternut, we evaluated traits that distinguish butternut or hybrids from progenitors (Crystal et al. 2016). We have a new Ph.D. student studying restoration of butternut. We published a paper from an experiment modeling spread of American chestnut regeneration 200 years into the future (Gustafson et al. 2017). A M.S. student finished her program studying conversion of 40-year-old exotic conifer plantations to native hardwoods, which includes northern red oak and American chestnut. We published the paper of a past M.S. student who studied influences of deer browse and invasive vegetation on northern red oak and American chestnut regeneration (Owings et al. 2017). We also published a paper examining physiological responses of northern red oak to transplanting (Sloan and Jacobs 2016). Finally, we published a manuscript describing importance of gene conservation to species restoration (Potter et al. 2017); 2) We published a manuscript describing results of a study that examined site preparation (fertilization) with four species on a mine reclamation site and found that the most important tool to improve plantation success was selecting appropriate species (Burney and Jacobs 2018). 3) We reported to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on results of an experiment to examine different herbicide (i.e., metsulfuron methyl) application rates and timings and their interactions on survival, growth, and phytotoxicity of American chestnut and oaks (Quercus spp.) on a reclaimed mine site in southwestern Indiana. A manuscript describing results of this study is pending. We mentored a PhD student who is studying the effects of different site preparation intensities (via herbicide) and interactions with other silvicultural treatments (nursery stock and animal browse protection) on hardwood seedling performance on two mine reclamation sites. 4) We presented our data on relative efficiency of N uptake after fertilization with enhanced efficiency N fertilizers in black walnut plantations at the IUFRO Symposium on Forest Regeneration in Corvallis, Oregon. A manuscript describing results of this study is pending. We also continued a suite of experiments to examine effects of different fertilizer systems on black walnut growth and physiology in controlled greenhouse experiments; results were presented at the NSF Center for Advanced Forestry Systems (NSF I/UCRC) Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Crystal, P.A., Lichti, N.I., Woeste, K.E., Jacobs, D.F. 2016. Discriminant analyses on vegetative versus adaptive traits predict different outcomes for restoration using hybrids. Frontiers in Plant Science 7:1741.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Sloan, J.L. and Jacobs, D.F. 2016. Ontogeny influences developmental physiology of post-transplant Quercus rubra seedlings more than genotype. Annals of Forest Science 73:987-993.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Gustafson, E.J., de Bruijn, A., Lichti, N.I., Jacobs, D.F. Sturtevant, B.R., Foster, J.R., Miranda, B.R., and Dalgleish, H.J. 2017. The implications of American chestnut re-introduction on landscape dynamics and carbon storage. Ecosphere 8:e01773.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Owings, C.F., Jacobs, D.F., Shields, J.M., Saunders, M.R., and Jenkins, M.A. 2017. Individual and interactive effects of white-tailed deer and an exotic shrub on artificial and natural regeneration in mixed hardwood forests. AoB Plants 9: plx024.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Potter, K.M., Jetton, R.M., Bower, A., Jacobs, D.F., Man, G., Hipkins, V.D. 2017. Banking on the future: Progress, challenges and opportunities for the genetic conservation of forest trees. New Forests 48:153-180.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Burney, O.T. and Jacobs, D.F. Species selection  a fundamental silvicultural tool to promote forest regeneration under high animal browsing pressure. 2018. Forest Ecology and Management 408:67-74.


Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Nursery managers; Forestry professionals; Natural resource land managers Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two MS and two PhD students, two post-doctoral scientists, and three undergraduates received training under the umbrella of this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through oral presentations at 2016 conferences includingNahelehele Dryland Forestry Symposium in Kona, Hawaii and The Center for Advanced Forestry Systems (NSF I/UCRC) Annual Meeting in Pensacola Beach, FL. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Complete M.S. thesis work and initiate Ph.D. dissertation research described in objective 1. Complete publication of manuscripts described in objectives 2, 3, and 4 above. Continue to disseminate results through presentations and workshops at scientific and technical venues.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The following describes outputs for the project period in relation to the stated project objectives: 1) We published two manuscripts describing results of studies examining regeneration of butternut and American chestnut. For butternut, we evaluated morphological and physiological traits that distinguish butternut or hybrids from progenitors, which is knowledge needed to help guide restoration efforts. We published new data on existing American chestnut populations in eastern U.S. forests, which will refine our ability to target regions for restoration and also enhance knowledge of existing germplasm that may be used in restoration. In addition, we published a paper examining physiological responses of northern red oak to flooding stress. We also recruited a new Ph.D. student, who will study restoration of butternut. A M.S. student continues her program to study conversion of 40-year-old exotic conifer plantations to native hardwoods, which includes northern red oak and American chestnut. Her research examines responses of planted seedlings to varying light availability (control, partial-thinning, and clearcut), weed control, and fertilization. The results of this research will be useful toward developing silvicultural prescriptions to convert exotic conifer plantations to high-value hardwood stands, while also facilitating restoration of threatened tree species. 2) In 2015, we published a review paper that included results of a past study to examine varying topsoil replacement options for planting high-value hardwoods onto mine reclamation sites in Indiana. A manuscript describing detailed results of this study conducted by a M.S. student will be submitted in the next reporting year. 3) We completed data analysis on an experiment funded by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to examine different herbicide (i.e., metsulfuron methyl) application rates and timings and their interactions on survival, growth, and phytotoxicity of American chestnut and oaks (Quercus spp.) on a reclaimed mine site in southwestern Indiana. A manuscript describing results of this study will be submitted in the next reporting year. We also recruited a new PhD student, who established a new experiment funded by the Indiana DNR to examine the effects of different site preparation intensities (via herbicide) and interactions with other silvicultural treatments (nursery stock and animal browse protection) on hardwood seedling performance on two mine reclamation site. 4) We refined our analysis for a data set from a large-scale field trial using the rare stable isotope nitrogen (N)-15 to assess relative efficiency of N uptake following fertilization with conventional and enhanced efficiency N fertilizers in black walnut forest plantations. A manuscript describing results of this study will be submitted in the next reporting year. We published a complementary manuscript to this study (using the same N-15 fertilizers) detailing N uptake in seedlings, soil, and competing vegetation on a boreal mine reclamation site. We published another manuscript examining responses of a tropical hardwood species to a range of fertilizer product types and application rates.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2016 Citation: Crystal, P.A., Lichti, N.I., Woeste, K.E., Jacobs, D.F. 2016. Discriminant analyses on vegetative versus adaptive traits predict different outcomes for restoration using hybrids. Frontiers in Plant Science doi:10.3389/fpls.2016.01741
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Dalgleish, H.J., Nelson, C.D., Scrivani, J.A., and Jacobs, D.F. 2016. Consequences of shifts in abundance and distribution of American chestnut for reintroduction of a foundation forest tree. Forests 7, 4.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Earnshaw, K.M., Barribault, T.W., and Jacobs, D.F. 2016. Alternative field fertilization techniques to promote restoration of leguminous Acacia koa on contrasting tropical sites. Forest Ecology and Management 376:126-134.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Sloan, J.L., Islam, M.A., and Jacobs, D.F. 2016. Reduced translocation of current photosynthate precedes changes in gas exchange for Quercus rubra seedlings under flooding stress. Tree Physiology 36:54-62.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Sloan, J.L., Uscola, M., and Jacobs, D.F. 2016. Nitrogen recovery in planted seedlings, competing vegetation, and soil in response to fertilization on a boreal mine reclamation site. Forest Ecology and Management 360:60-68.


Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience: Foresters Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Three MS students, two post-doctoral scientists, and three undergraduates received training under the umbrella of this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through oral presentations at conferences includingInternational Union of Forest Research Organizations SecondRestoring Forests Congressand The Center for Advanced Forestry Systems (NSF I/UCRC) Annual Meeting. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Complete M.S. thesis work described in objective 1. Complete publication of manuscripts described in objectives 2, 3, and 4 above. Continue to disseminate results through presentations and workshops at scientific and technical venues.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The following describes outputs for the project period in relation to the stated project objectives: 1) We published three manuscripts during 2014 describing results of controlled-environment and field studies examining responses of butternut and American chestnut to environmental stresses including drought or flooding. Additionally, a new M.S. student began her program to study processes related to conversion of exotic conifer plantations to native hardwoods, which includes American chestnut. Her research examines responses of planted seedlings to three levels of light availability (control, partial-thinning, and clearcut) and drought (created via understory weeding vs. no weeding). We are particularly interested in the impact of these 40-year-old conifer stands on soil chemical and physical parameters, and potential impacts on nutrient dynamics of planted seedlings. The results of this research should be useful toward developing silvicultural prescriptions to convert exotic conifer plantations to high-value hardwood stands, while also facilitating restoration of threatened tree species. 2) In October 2014, we presented results of a study to examine varying topsoil replacement options for planting high-value hardwoods onto mine reclamation sites at the International Union of Forest Research Organizations 2nd Restoring Forests Congress. These results were described in a review paper published in New Forests (MacDonald et al. 2015). A manuscript describing detailed results of this study conducted by a M.S. student is under final preparation and will be submitted in early 2016. 3) We recently completed data collection on an experiment funded by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to examine different herbicide (i.e., metsulfuron methyl) application rates and timings and their interactions on survival, growth, and phytotoxicity of American chestnut and oaks (Quercus spp.) on a reclaimed mine site in southwestern Indiana. The data were analyzed by a post-doctoral scientist and presented at an extension meeting in April 2015, which was hosted by the Indiana DNR. We expect to publish our results in 2016. 4) We analyzed the complete data set for a large-scale field trial using the rare stable isotope nitrogen (N)-15 to assess relative efficiency of N uptake following fertilization in black walnut (Juglans nigra) forest plantations. This study used four conventional and enhanced efficiency N fertilizers (urea, coated urea, urea+NBPT, controlled-release N) applied at 200 lbs. N/acre at eight different sites in north-central Indiana. Preliminary results of this experiment were presented at the NSF Center for Advanced Forestry Systems Annual Meeting in Idaho during 2014. We expect to publish these results in 2016. A post-doctoral scientist published a manuscript reporting results of a trial to examine responses of the Mediterranean oak, Quercus ilex, to a wide range of fertilization rates applied during juvenile development (Uscola et a. 2015). Additionally, we collaborated with a visiting scientist to publish a manuscript describing variation among functional groups of forest trees in patterns of nitrogen and carbon remobilization (Villar-Salvador et al. 2015).

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Brown, C.E., Mickelbart, M.V., Jacobs, D.F., 2014. Leaf physiology and biomass allocation of backcross hybrid American chestnut (Castanea dentata) seedlings in response to light and water availability. Tree Physiol 34, 1362-1375.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Macdonald, E. Landh�usser, S.M., Skousen, J. Franklin, J. Frouz, J., Hall, S., Jacobs, D.F., Quideau, S. 2015. Forest restoration following surface mining disturbance: challenges and solutions. New Forests 46:703-732.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Uscola, M., Salifu, K.F., Oliet, J.A., Jacobs D.F. 2015. An exponential fertilization dose response model to promote restoration of the Mediterranean oak Quercus ilex. New Forests 46:795-812.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Villar-Salvador et al., Uscola, M., Jacobs D.F. 2015. The role of carbohydrate and nitrogen remobilization in the growth and stress tolerance of planted forest trees. New Forests 46:813-839.


Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: Nursery managers; Forestry professionals; Natural resource land managers Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Four MS students, two post-doctoral scientists, and three undergraduates received training under the umbrella of this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Through oral presentations at conferences includingInternational Union of Forest Research Organizations SecondRestoring Forests Congressand The Center for Advanced Forestry Systems (NSF I/UCRC) Annual Meeting. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Complete publications of manuscripts described in objectives 2, 3, and 4 above. Continue to disseminate results through presentations and workshops at scientific and technical venues.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The following describes outputs for the project period in relation to the stated project objectives: 1) A MS student published two manuscripts from his research examining responses of American chestnut to drought and shade conditions. The first described results of an experiment examining the relative influence of overstory and herbaceous root competition (accomplished via trenching or weeding) on growth and survival of planted seedlings on a forest site in northern Indiana. We found that overstory root competition was much more important than herbaceous competition in determining initial development of American chestnut seedlings. The second manuscript reported on a controlled trial examining the effects of shading on subsequent drought responses. We found that partial shade may promote drought tolerance of American chestnut. Another MS student published his research examining drought and flood tolerance of butternut and naturally occurring hybrids with Japanese walnut. We found that hybrids were particularly susceptible to both drought and flood conditions, suggesting that they may have limited capacity to completely fill the niche formally occupied by butternut. 2) We presented results of a study to examine varying topsoil replacement options for planting high-value hardwoods onto mine reclamation sites at the International Union of Forest Research Organizations 2nd Restoring Forests Congress. A manuscript describing results of this study conducted by a MS student is under preparation and will be submitted in 2015. 3) We completed final data collection on our experiment to examine different herbicide (i.e., metsulfuron methyl) application rates and timings and their interactions on survival, growth, and phytotoxicity of American chestnut and oaks (Quercus spp.) on a reclaimed mine site in southwestern Indiana. We detected significant treatment differences associated with the varying vegetation control methods and we expect to publish our results in 2015. 4) We completed final field sampling of foliage, soil, and competing vegetation on our large-scale field trial using the rare stable isotope Nitrogen (N)-15 to assess relative efficiency of N uptake following fertilization in black walnut (Juglans nigra) forest plantations. We examined four conventional and enhanced efficiency N fertilizers (urea, coated urea, urea+NBPT, controlled-release N) applied at 200 lbs. N/acre at eight different sites in north-central Indiana. Final processing of these samples for N-15 in collaboration is ongoing with cooperators at Virginia Tech University. We presented results of this experiment examining foliar responses to fertilization at the NSF Center for Advanced Forestry Systems Annual Meeting in Idaho during 2014. We found significant differences among fertilizer products in uptake foliar N uptake efficiency. We will develop an N budget to estimate relative uptake by crop trees, competing vegetation, and loss to the environment. A MS student also published two manuscripts examining black walnut response to varying nitrogen fertilization rates during the first season after planting on a site in western Spain. She provided a physiological basis for recommended medium to low fertilizer application rates. Finally, a post-doctoral scientist published a manuscript reporting results of a trial to examine nitrogen form (ammonium vs. nitrate) on early development of the Mediterranean oak, Quercus ilex, finding low responsiveness to either N form as linked to the species’ ecology.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2014 Citation: Brown, C.E., Mickelbart, M.V., and Jacobs, D.F. 2014. Leaf physiology and biomass allocation of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) seedlings in response to light and water availability. Tree Physiology doi:10.1093/treephys/tpu094
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Brown, C.E., Bailey, B.G., Saunders, M.R., and Jacobs, D.F. 2014. Effects of root competition on development of oak and chestnut regeneration following midstory removal. Forestry 87:562-570.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Crystal, P.A. and Jacobs, D.F. 2014. Drought and flood stress tolerance of butternut (Juglans cinerea) and naturally occurring hybrids: Implications for restoration. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 44:1206-1216.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Goodman, R.C., Pardillo, G., Oliet, J.A., and Jacobs, D.F. 2013. Nitrogen fertilization of black walnut (Juglans nigra) during plantation establishment. Morphology and production efficiency. Forest Science 59:453-463.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Goodman, R.C., Oliet, J.A., and Sloan, J.L., and Jacobs, D.F. 2014. Nitrogen fertilization of black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) during plantation establishment. Physiology of production. European Journal of Forest Research 133:153-164.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Uscola, M., Oliet, J.A., Villar-Salvador, P., D�az-Pin�s, E., and Jacobs, D.F. 2014. Nitrogen form and concentration interact to affect the performance of two ecologically distinct Mediterranean forest trees. European Journal of Forest Research 133:235-246.


Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Nursery managers; Forestry professionals; Natural resource land managers Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Through oral presentations at conferences including The American Chestnut Foundation Annual Meeting and The Center for Advanced Forestry Systems (NSF I/UCRC) Annual Meeting. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Results of work described in objective two have prompted mining companies and mine reclamation agencies in the Appalachian Region to begin advocating use of this approach in practice to help improve survival and early growth of planted trees. We are currently working to transfer the benefits of this technology to mine reclamation programs in the Midwest Region. Preliminary results of work described in objective four have caused some forestry companies in the southern U.S. to adapt their fertilization programs to incorporate new fertilizer types with improved fertilizer use efficiency. We intend to continue working to transfer these technologies to forest landowners in the Midwest. The following describes outputs for the project period in relation to the stated project objectives: 1) We published a manuscript describing inter- and intra-specific plantation competitiveness of American chestnut (Gauthier et al. 2013). Chestnut was planted at three densities and in varying species mixtures with two co-occurring species. Chestnut showed better drought tolerance than the other species; a spacing of about 1.5 m x 1.5 may optimize development. A MS student completed his research examining responses of American chestnut to drought and shade in December 2012 and another completed his thesis examining ecophysiological responses of butternut and associated hybrids in January 2013. Publication of manuscripts from these research initiatives is underway. 2) We have developed a manuscript describing results of varying topsoil replacement options for planting high-value hardwoods onto mine reclamation sites, which will be submitted in 2014. We also published a manuscript in 2012 describing mechanical site preparation for forest restoration (Löf et al. 2012). This paper includes a picture and description of the aforementioned study site. 3) We maintained our experiment to examine different herbicide (i.e., metsulfuron methyl) application rates and timings and their interactions on survival, growth, and phytotoxicity of American chestnut and oaks (Quercus spp.) on a reclaimed mine site in southwestern Indiana. We detected significant treatment differences associated with the varying vegetation control methods and we expect to publish our results in 2014. 4) We continued to maintain our large-scale field trial using the rare stable isotope Nitrogen (N)-15 to assess relative efficiency of N uptake following fertilization to examine fate of applied N fertilizer in black walnut (Juglans nigra) forest plantation management. We examined four conventional and enhanced efficiency N fertilizers (urea, coated urea, urea+NBPT, controlled-release N) applied at 200 lbs. N/acre at eight different sites in north-central Indiana. We completed the field sampling of foliage, soil, and competing vegetation. Samples are now being processed and will be analyzed for N-15 in collaboration with cooperators at Virginia Tech University. We will develop an N budget to estimate relative uptake by crop trees, competing vegetation, and loss to the environment.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Gauthier, M.M., Zellers, K.E., L�f, M., and Jacobs, D.F. 2013. Inter- and intra-specific competitiveness of plantation-grown American chestnut (Castanea dentata). Forest Ecology and Management 291:289-299.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Jacobs, D.F., Dalgleish, H.J., and Nelson, C.D. 2013. A conceptual framework for restoration of threatened plants: the effective model of American chestnut (Castanea dentata) reintroduction. New Phytologist 197:378-393 (Tansley Review)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2013 Citation: Haase, D.L. and Jacobs, D.F. 2013. Nutrient dynamics of planted forests. New Forests 44:629-633.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: L�f, M., Dey, D.C., Navarro, R.M., and Jacobs, D.F. 2012. Mechanical site preparation for forest restoration. New Forests 43:825-848.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2012 Citation: Oliet, J.A. and Jacobs, D.F. 2012. Restoring forests: advances in techniques and theory. New Forests 408:535-541.


Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The following describes outputs for the project period in relation to the stated project objectives: 1) We submitted a manuscript, which has been accepted by the journal Forest Ecology and Management, describing inter- and intra-specific plantation competitiveness of American chestnut. Chestnut was planted at three densities and in varying species mixtures with two co-occurring species. Chestnut showed better drought tolerance than the other species and we suggested that a spacing of about 1.5 m x 1.5 m may optimize development. A MS student is completing his research examining responses of American chestnut to drought and shade in December 2012. Another MS student will complete his research examining ecophysiological responses of butternut and associated hybrids in January 2013. 2) A MS student completed her research on varying topsoil replacement options for planting high-value hardwoods onto mine reclamation sites in 2012. We are currently working to publish her research results. 3) We installed an experiment to examine different herbicide (i.e., metsulfuron methyl) application rates and timings and their interactions on survival, growth, and phytotoxicity of American chestnut and oaks (Quercus spp.) on a reclaimed mine site in southwestern Indiana. We have been evaluating growth and survival as well as efficacy of the varying herbicide treatments in controlling competing vegetation. Due to severe drought in southern Indiana during the summer of 2012, mortality was high (> 80%) yet we expect that there may still be treatment differences in crop tree performance. 4) We installed a large-scale field trial using the rare stable isotope Nitrogen (N)-15 to assess relative efficiency of N uptake following fertilization to examine fate of applied N fertilizer in in black walnut (Juglans nigra) forest plantation management. We are examining four conventional and enhanced efficiency N fertilizers (urea, coated urea, urea+NBPT, controlled-release N) applied at 200 lbs. N/acre at eight different sites in north-central Indiana. We are collecting frequent samples of foliage, soil, and competing vegetation to develop an N budget that allows us to estimate relative uptake by crop trees, competing vegetation, and loss to the environment. PARTICIPANTS: Joshua Sloan, Post-doctoral scientist; Philip Crystal, M.S. student; Caleb Brown, M.S. student; Jessica Johnston, MS Student; Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Funding Agency; USDA Forest Service, Funding Agency; National Science Foundation, Funding Agency; USDI Office of Surface Mining, Funding Agency TARGET AUDIENCES: Nursery managers; Forestry professionals; Natural resource land managers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Results of work described in objective two have helped to prompt some mining companies and mine reclamation agencies to begin advocating use of this approach in practice to help improve survival and early growth of planted trees. This is particularly the case in the Appalachian Mountain region, but we expect to continue transferring the benefits of this technology to mine reclamation programs in the Midwest Region.

Publications

  • Franklin, J.A., Zipper, C., Burger, J., Skousen, J., and Jacobs. D.F. 2012. Influence of herbaceous ground cover on forest restoration of eastern US coal surface mines. New Forests 43:905-924.


Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: We maintained demonstration trials planted in 5 locations in Indiana that examined the relative influence of field fertilization, use of genetically improved planting stock, and fencing for reforestation success of hardwood species. Results indicated that benefits of fertilization and use of genetically improved stock were only realized with presence of fencing to eliminate deer browse. We also maintained several demonstration trials showing the benefits of subirrigation for propagation of hardwood seedlings. Subirrigated seedlings exhibited equal or better performance in the field to overhead watered seedlings yet helped to conserve water and fertilizer use. We published several papers on hardwood nursery stock quality and planting performance in relation to nursery cultural techniques and initial seedling morphological attributes. We also published a paper by a M.S. student that examined physiological responses of northern red oak seedlings to deer browsing. PARTICIPANTS: Francis Salifu, Post-doctoral scientist Justin Schmal, M.S. student Philip Woolery, M.S. student Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Funding Agency USDA Forest Service, Funding Agency USDA National Resource Conservation Service, Funding Agency TARGET AUDIENCES: Nursery managers Forestry professionals Natural resource land managers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Results of work described in objective one have prompted managers of three native plant nurseries to shift to subirrigation vs. overhead irrigation, thereby minimizing water and fertilizer use as well as improving overall plant quality. Several nurseries in Indiana have altered fertilization protocols toward use of exponential nutrient loading, thereby improving fertilizer use efficiency.

Publications

  • Dumroese, R.K., Davis, A.S., and Jacobs, D.F. 2011. Nursery response of Acacia koa seedlings to container size, irrigation method, and fertilization rate. Journal of Plant Nutrition 34:877-887.
  • Davis A.S., Pinto J.R., Jacobs D.F. 2011. Early field performance of Acacia koa seedlings grown under subirrigation and overhead irrigation. Native Plants Journal 12:94-99.
  • Maltoni, A., Mariotti, B., Tani, A., and Jacobs, D.F. 2010. Relation of Fraxinus excelsior seedling morphological attributes to growth and root proliferation during field establishment. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 25:60-67.
  • Morrissey, R.C., Jacobs. D.F., Davis, A.S., and Rathfon, R.A. 2010. Survival and competitiveness of Quercus rubra regeneration associated with planting stocktype and harvest opening intensity. New Forests 40:273-287.
  • Schmal, J.L., Dumroese, R.K., Davis, A.S., Pinto, J.R., and Jacobs. D.F. 2011. Subirrigation for production of native plants in nurseries: concepts, current knowledge, and implementation. Native Plants Journal 12:81-93.
  • Schmal, J.L., Jacobs, D.F., OReilly, C. 2011. Nitrogen budgeting and quality of exponentially fertilized Quercus robur seedlings in Ireland. European Journal of Forest Research 130:557-567.
  • Woeste. K.E., Jacobs, D.F., and McKenna, J.R. 2011. Half-sib seed source and nursery sowing density affect black walnut (Juglans nigra) growth after five years. New Forests 41:235-245.
  • Woolery, P.O. and Jacobs, D.F. 2011. Photosynthetic assimilation and carbohydrate allocation of Quercus rubra seedlings in response to simulated herbivory. Annals of Forest Science 68:617-624.


Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: A M.S. student completed his degree involving a project to examine performance of container vs. bareroot seedlings of northern red oak. Seedlings were planted in 3 recently harvested forest openings and subjected to simulated deer browse treatments. He also completed a greenhouse project on same topic. Summer browsing was more detrimental than winter browsing; container seedlings generally showed less transplant stress. We completed data collection on an experiment to examine browsing response of fertilized vs. non-fertilized seedlings on a field site in southern Indiana. Seedlings of four species were either fertilized vs. not and planted in an enclosure vs. not. Seedling growth and survival were monitored for two years. Trees planted outside the enclosure were heavily browsed; fertilization had little effect on browse susceptibility. We published several more papers on field response of nursery nutrient loaded hardwood seedlings and/or retranslocation responses of nitrogen fertilized seedlings. We also published papers regarding nitrogen source effects on black walnut physiology. PARTICIPANTS: Michael Nicodemus, Ph.D. student Francis Salifu, Post-doctoral scientist Indiana Department of Natural Resources Funding Agency USDA Forest Service, Funding Agency TARGET AUDIENCES: Nursery managers Forestry professionals Natural resource land managers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Results of work described in objective four have helped to compare conventional fertilizer practices to other potentially more efficient fertilizer protocols, which are being used to refine seedling fertilization practices in forest tree nurseries. We introduced a new fertilization practice whereby nutrient inputs are exponentially increased as plant demand rises, thereby saving costs and reducing fertilizer nutrient leaching. As a direct result of the transfer of this technology, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has employed this new fertilizer method for their annual production of over 5 million forest tree seedlings since summer 2006. Another private industrial forestry operation in Indiana, American Forest Technologies, has also begun implementing this fertilization technique. We are currently transferring this technology to a nursery in Ireland.

Publications

  • Islam, M.A., Apostol, K.G., Jacobs, D.F., and Dumroese, R.K. 2009. Fall fertilization of Pinus resinosa seedlings: nutrient uptake, cold hardiness, and morphological development. Annals of Forest Science 66:704.
  • Nicodemus, M.A., Salifu, K.F., and Jacobs, D.F. 2009. Influence of lanthanum level and interactions with nitrogen source on early development of Juglans nigra. Journal of Rare Earths 27:270-279.
  • Oliet, J.A., Planelles, R., Artero, F., Valverde, R., Jacobs, D.F., and Segura, M.L. 2009. Relative influence of seedling morphology and mineral nutrition on long-term field performance of Pinus halepensis in Mediterranean semiarid conditions. New Forests 37:313-331.
  • Oliet, J.A., Tejada, M., Salifu, K.F., Collazos, A., and Jacobs, D.F. 2009. Growth and nutrient allocation in Quercus ilex seedlings in relation to nursery nutrient loading and post trans-plant fertility. European Journal of Forest Research. 128:253-263.
  • Salifu, K.F., Islam, M.A, and Jacobs, D.F. 2009. Retranslocation, plant and soil recovery of nitrogen-15 applied to bareroot Juglans nigra seedlings. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 40:1408-1417.
  • Salifu, K.F., Jacobs, D.F., and Birge, Z.K.D. 2009. Nursery nitrogen loading improves field performance of bareroot oak seedlings planted on abandoned mine land. Restoration Ecology 17:339-349.
  • Dey, D.C., Gardiner, E.S., Kabrick, J.M., Stanturf, J.A., and Jacobs, D.F. 2010. Innovations in afforestation of agricultural bottomlands to restore native forests in the eastern United States. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 25:31-42.


Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: We published a paper on subirrigation resulting from a MS student's research and another paper is pending. A M.S. student completed the second year of an experiment examining performance of container vs. bareroot seedlings of northern red oak. Seedlings were planted in 3 recently harvested forest openings and subjected to simulated deer browse treatments. He also completed a greenhouse project on same topic. We maintained an experiment to examine browsing response of fertilized vs. non-fertilized seedlings on a field site in southern Indiana. Seedlings of four species were either fertilized vs. not and planted in an enclosure vs. not. Seedling growth and survival have been monitored for two years. We published several papers on field response of nursery nutrient loaded hardwood seedlings and/or retranslocation responses of nitrogen fertilized seedlings. We also published papers regarding nitrogen source effects on black walnut physiology. PARTICIPANTS: Mindy Bumgarner, M.S. student Michael Nicodemus, Ph.D. student Francis Salifu, Post-doctoral scientist Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Funding Agency USDA Forest Service, Funding Agency TARGET AUDIENCES: Nursery managers Forestry professionals Natural resource land managers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Results of work described in objective four have helped to compare conventional fertilizer practices to other potentially more efficient fertilizer protocols, which may be used to refine seedling fertilization practices in forest tree nurseries. We introduced a new fertilization practice whereby nutrient inputs are exponentially increased as plant demand rises, thereby saving costs and reducing fertilizer nutrient leaching. As a direct result of the transfer of this technology, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has employed this new fertilizer method for their annual production of over 5 million forest tree seedlings since summer 2006. Another private industrial forestry operation in Indiana, American Forest Technologies, has also begun implementing this fertilization technique. We are also working with a nursery in Ireland to incorporate this method.

Publications

  • Jacobs, D.F., Salifu, K.F., and Oliet, J. 2009. Exponential nutrient loading to optimize nursery fertilization of Quercus ilex seedlings. In Proceedings of the 5th Spanish Forestry Congress. Spanish Society of Forestry Sciences: In press (in Spanish).
  • Oliet, J.A., Tejada, M., Salifu, K.F., Collazos, A., and Jacobs, D.F. 2009. Growth and nutrient allocation in Quercus ilex seedlings in relation to nursery nutrient loading and post trans-plant fertility. European Journal of Forest Research. 128:253-263.


Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: We published a paper on subirrigation resulting from a MS student's research. Another paper is pending. A M.S. student completed the first year of an experiment examining performance of container vs. bareroot seedlings of northern red oak. Seedlings were planted in 3 recently harvested forest openings and subjected to simulated deer browse treatments. First year performance among stocktypes was similar. We initiated an experiment to examine browsing response of fertilized vs. non-fertilized seedlings on a field site in southern Indiana. Seedlings of four species were either fertilized vs. not and planted in an enclosure vs. not. Seedling growth and survival will be monitored for two years. We published a paper examining field response of nutrient loaded hardwood seedlings on a mine reclamation site. Two other papers were published examining retranslocation responses of nitrogen fertilized northern red oak and black walnut seedlings. A Ph.D. student completed his degree examining effects of nitrogen source on black walnut seedling physiology, resulting in several papers. PARTICIPANTS: Mindy Bumgarner, M.S. student Michael Nicodemus, Ph.D. student Francis Salifu, Post-doctoral scientist Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Funding Agency USDA Forest Service, Funding Agency TARGET AUDIENCES: Nursery managers Forestry professionals Natural resource land managers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Results of work described in objective three have helped to compare conventional fertilizer practices to other potentially more efficient fertilizer protocols, which may be used to refine seedling fertilization practices in forest tree nurseries. We introduced a new fertilization practice whereby nutrient inputs are exponentially increased as plant demand rises, thereby saving costs and reducing fertilizer nutrient leaching. As a direct result of the transfer of this technology, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has employed this new fertilizer method for their annual production of over 5 million forest tree seedlings since summer 2006. Another private industrial forestry operation in Indiana, American Forest Technologies, has also begun implementing this fertilization technique. We are also working with a nursery in Ireland to incorporate this method.

Publications

  • Salifu, K.F., Apostol K.G., Jacobs D.F., and Islam M.A. 2008. Growth, physiology, and nutrient retranslocation in nitrogen-15 fertilized Quercus rubra seedlings. Annals of Forest Science 65:101.
  • Davis, A.S., Jacobs, D.F., Overton, R.P., and Dumroese, R.K. 2008. Influence of irrigation method and container type on Quercus rubra seedling growth and media electrical conductivity. Native Plants Journal 9:4-13.
  • Nicodemus, M.A., Salifu, K.F., and Jacobs, D.F. 2008. Nitrate reductase activity and nitrogen compounds in xylem exudate of Juglans nigra: relation to nitrogen source and supply. Trees-Structure and Function 22:685-695.
  • Nicodemus, M.A., Salifu, K.F., and Jacobs, D.F. 2008. Growth, nutrition, and photosynthetic response of Juglans nigra to varying nitrogen source and rate. Journal of Plant Nutrition 31:1917-1936.
  • Salifu, K.F., Jacobs, D.F., and Birge, Z.K.D. 2008. Nursery nitrogen loading improves field performance of bareroot oak seedlings planted on abandoned mine land. Restoration Ecology.
  • Bumgarner, M.L., Salifu, K.F., and Jacobs, D.F. 2008. Subirrigation of Quercus rubra seedlings: nursery stock quality, media chemistry, and early field performance. HortScience.
  • Salifu, K.F., Islam, M.A, and Jacobs, D.F. 2008. Retranslocation, plant and soil recovery of nitrogen-15 applied to bareroot Juglans nigra seedlings. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis.
  • Nicodemus, M.A., Salifu, K.F., and Jacobs, D.F. 2008. Influence of lanthanum level and interactions with nitrogen source on early development of Juglans nigra. Journal of Rare Earths.


Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The following reports progress on the four objectives. Subirrigation experiments were established to examine seedling quality of northern red oak and a M.S. student successfully defended her thesis on this topic. Subirrigation improved seedling quality, though interactions were found with fertilizer rate. Two. A new M.S. student began an experiment to examine performance of container vs. bareroot seedlings of northern red oak and black walnut. Seed from an equivalent seed source was grown in a bareroot nursery or propagated in three different container sizes. Seedlings will be planted in 4 recently harvested forest openings and subjected to three simulated deer browse treatments. We will examine survival and growth over two growing seasons. Three. A new grant was obtained from Indiana DNR Reclamation to examine browsing response of fertilized vs. non-fertilized seedlings. A site was prepared in southern Indiana and seedlings of four species will either be fertilized vs. not and planted in an enclosure vs. not. Seedling growth and survival will be monitored for two years. Four. A plantation experiment was established to examine effects of nursery nitrogen applications on subsequent field performance of northern red oak and white oak. Survival and growth have been monitored over time. Another controlled experiment examined retranslocation responses of nitrogen fertilized northern red oak seedlings. A Ph.D. student has been examining effects of nitrogen source on black walnut seedling physiology under a series of controlled experiments. PARTICIPANTS: Mindy Bumgarner, M.S. student Michael Nicodemus, Ph.D. student Francis Salifu, Post-doctoral scientist Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Funding Agency USDA Forest Service, Funding Agency TARGET AUDIENCES: Nursery managers Forestry professionals Natural resource land managers

Impacts
Results of work described in objective three have helped to compare conventional fertilizer practices to other potentially more efficient fertilizer protocols, which may be used to refine seedling fertilization practices in forest tree nurseries. We helped to introduce a new fertilization practice whereby nutrient inputs are exponentially increased as plant demand rises, thereby saving costs and reducing fertilizer nutrient leaching. As a direct result of the transfer of this technology, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has employed this new fertilizer method for their annual production of over 5 million forest tree seedlings since summer of 2006. Another private industrial forestry operation in Indiana, American Forest Technologies, has also begun implementing this fertilization technique.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06

Outputs
Single and multiple linear regression techniques were used to explain the capacity of initial seedling root volume (Rv) and first-order lateral roots (FOLR) relative to shoot height, diameter, and fresh mass to predict first and second-year field height and diameter in southern Indiana. Initial diameter, height, and Rv were the most important morphological characteristics that predicted first-year field response for absolute height (R2 = 0.91-0.92) and diameter (R2 = 0.77-0.83). Initial seedling Rv was a better predictor of field response than FOLR for both oak species, though not for cherry. Multiple-variable models accounted for a greater proportion of the total variation in seedling field height and diameter than did single-variable equations. The high R2 (up to 0.95) of regression models suggests field performance of these species can be reliably predicted and confirms the importance of initial seedling morphology in dictating early plantation performance. We collected seed from three half-sib families (A, B, C) of black walnut in Indiana, which were sown as sprouted seeds into bareroot nursery beds at three sowing densities (11.2 m-2; 24.2 m-2; 29.4 m-2). The magnitude of the difference in response was greater for family selection compared to nursery sowing density, suggesting that identification of superior genetic sources may be relatively more important than sowing density in nursery propagation of high quality black walnut seedlings. We also conducted two additional studies to examine the potential use of exponential nutrient loading during nursery culture, whereby fertilizer inputs are matched to plant demand, to reduce fertilizer use and enhance internal nutrient storage of red and white oak seedlings in container and bareroot nurseries. Optimum fertilization levels were identified, and exponential fertilization was deemed more efficient than conventional fertilization. We tested growth and nutritional response of three hardwood tree species to 6 rates (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 g) of polymer-coated controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) applied to the root zone at outplanting in southern Indiana. Compared to non-fertilized seedlings, the 60 g rate accelerated mean height and root-collar diameter growth by 52 and 33% in year-1 and 17 and 21% in year-2, suggesting that CRF has potential to improve early establishment success of hardwood afforestation plantings. Four different northern red oak stocktypes (standard or low nursery density bareroot seedlings and 11.4 or 18.9 L container seedlings) were outplanted into 0.400, 0.024, and 0.100 ha gap openings and closed-canopy control plots in southern Indiana. Two-year survival, height, and diameter were each lower in small gaps and control plots. Both initial and final height and diameter were greater for container than bareroot stock. These results illustrate the potential suitability of certain gap opening sizes and stocktypes to promote oak regeneration after harvesting.

Impacts
Forestry is among the most economically important agricultural sectors in the Midwest. Results from this project are providing tangible prescriptions for foresters and nursery managers to improve hardwood seedling quality and outplanting success, thereby improving the sustainability and profitability of Midwest forestry. For instance, we demonstrated 52% greater first-year height growth of seedlings fertilized using optimal rates of controlled-release fertilizer at planting. Additionally, our exponential nutrient loading models have identified optimal fertilization rates for nursery-grown hardwood seedlings that optimize nutrient storage in seedlings and minimize potential for nutrient leaching, thereby improving fertilizer cost effectiveness and minimizing environmental damage through leaching. Fertilization methods identified in this project are currently being employed operationally by nurseries and foresters in Indiana. Results from our stocktype study of seedlings planted into harvested stands are also being transferred directly to operation. For example, an approximately 300% increase in harvesting on Indiana Department of Natural Resources State Forest Lands has led to the need to ensure oak regeneration success in the subsequent stands. Foresters are using the results of our research and are now incorporating large container seedling plantings into their reforestation efforts on these sites.

Publications

  • Jacobs, D.F., Salifu, K.F., and Seifert, J.R. 2005. Relative contribution of initial root and shoot morphology in predicting field performance of hardwood seedlings. New Forests 30:295-311.
  • Jacobs, D.F., Salifu, K.F., and Seifert, J.R. 2005. Growth and nutritional response of hardwood seedlings to controlled-release fertilization at outplanting. Forest Ecology and Management 214: 28-39.
  • Jacobs, D.F., Woeste, K.E., Wilson, B.C., and McKenna, J.R. 2006. Stock quality of black walnut (Juglans nigra) seedlings as affected by half-sib seed source and nursery sowing density. Acta Horticulturae 705:375-381.
  • Jacobs, D.F., Rathfon, R., Davis, A.S., and Carlson D. 2006. Stocktype and harvest gap size affect northern red oak regeneration success. In Proceedings of the 13th Biennial Southern Silviculture Research Conference. USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-92:247-250.
  • Birge, Z.K.D, Salifu, K.F., and Jacobs, D.F. 2006. Modified exponential nitrogen loading to promote morphological quality and nutrient storage of bareroot-cultured Quercus rubra and Quercus alba seedlings. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 21:306-316
  • Salifu, K.F. and Jacobs, D.F. 2006. Characterizing fertility targets and multi-element interactions for exponential nutrient loading of Quercus rubra seedlings. Annals of Forest Science 63:231-237.
  • Wilson, B.C. and Jacobs, D.F. 2006. Quality assessment of temperate zone deciduous hardwood seedlings. New Forests 31:417-433.
  • Salifu, K.F., Pardillo, G., Schott, M., and Jacobs, D.F. 2006. Response of grafted Juglans nigra to increasing nutrient availability: growth, nutrition and nutrient retention in root plugs. HortScience 41:1477-1480.
  • Salifu, K.F., Nicodemus, M.A., Jacobs, D.F., and Davis, A.S. 2006. Evaluating chemical indices of growing media for nursery production of Quercus rubra seedlings. HortScience 41:1342-1346.


Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05

Outputs
Single and multiple linear regression techniques were used to explain the capacity of initial seedling root volume (Rv) and first-order lateral roots (FOLR) relative to shoot height, diameter, and fresh mass to predict first and second-year field height and diameter in southern Indiana. Initial diameter, height, and Rv were the most important morphological characteristics that predicted first-year field response for absolute height (R2 = 0.91-0.92) and diameter (R2 = 0.77-0.83). Initial seedling Rv was a better predictor of field response than FOLR for both oak species, though not for cherry. Multiple-variable models accounted for a greater proportion of the total variation in seedling field height and diameter than did single-variable equations. The high R2 (up to 0.95) of regression models suggests field performance of these species can be reliably predicted and confirms the importance of initial seedling morphology in dictating early plantation performance. We collected seed from three half-sib families (A, B, C) of black walnut in Indiana, USA, which were sown as sprouted seeds into bareroot nursery beds at three sowing densities (11.2/m2; 24.2/m2; 29.4/m2). The magnitude of the difference in response was greater for family selection compared to nursery sowing density, suggesting that identification of superior genetic sources may be relatively more important than sowing density in nursery propagation of high quality black walnut seedlings. We tested growth and nutritional response of three hardwood tree species to 6 rates (0, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 g) of polymer-coated controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) applied to the root zone at outplanting in southern Indiana. Compared to non-fertilized seedlings, the 60 g rate accelerated mean height and root-collar diameter growth by 52 and 33% in year-1 and 17 and 21% in year-2, suggesting that CRF has potential to improve early establishment success of hardwood afforestation plantings. Four different northern red oak stocktypes (standard or low nursery density bareroot seedlings and 11.4 or 18.9 L container seedlings) were outplanted into 0.400, 0.024, and 0.100 ha gap openings and closed-canopy control plots in southern Indiana. Two-year survival, height, and diameter were each lower in small gaps and control plots. Both initial and final height and diameter were greater for container than bareroot stock. These results illustrate the potential suitability of certain gap opening sizes and stocktypes to promote oak regeneration after harvesting.

Impacts
Forestry is among the most economically important agricultural sectors in the Midwest. Identifying methods to improve hardwood seedling quality and silvicultural techniques at outplanting will help to improve reforestation success and forest productivity. These experiments will provide tangible prescriptions for foresters and nursery managers to improve the sustainability and profitability of Midwest forestry.

Publications

  • Jacobs, D.F., Salifu, K.F., and Seifert, J.R. 2005. Relative contribution of initial root and shoot morphology in predicting field performance of hardwood seedlings. New Forests 30:295-311.
  • Jacobs, D.F., Salifu, K.F., and Seifert, J.R. 2005. Growth and nutritional response of hardwood seedlings to controlled-release fertilization at outplanting. Forest Ecology and Management 214:28-39.


Progress 10/01/03 to 09/29/04

Outputs
We measured second-year seedling field performance on the southern Indiana study installed in 2002 which was designed to identify morphological characteristics which best predict plantation establishment success. Results were species-dependent. For oak species, number of first-order lateral roots was among the least useful variables for predicting field performance, despite its emphasis in previous literature. Diameter and height proved to be the best predictive variables for these species. For black cherry, the ratio of height to diameter tended to be the most useful initial variable and was negatively correlated with field performance, suggesting possible shoot to root imbalance. We also recorded first-year seedling growth measurements on a similar study installed in 2003 in the Mississippi Delta region and found significant nursery and weed control effects on seedling performance. Larger seedlings tended to have reduced survival and grow less during the first season, likely associated with shoot to root imbalances acting to increase transplant stress on these sites. We lifted from nursery beds and measured black walnut seedlings which were used in the study to examine how genetics and nursery cultural treatments interact to affect seedling morphological quality. Interestingly, we found that family differences were more pronounced than density treatments in producing seedlings with large height and root volume. This suggests that nursery managers may be able to select germplasm which will result in greater seedling morphological quality, a practice currently not used in black walnut seedling culture. To examine the effect of new controlled-release fertilizer technology applied at planting on hardwood seedling plantation establishment success, an experiment was installed in southern Indiana in April 2002 and growth evaluated in 2003 and 2004. We applied Osmocote Exact 15-9-10 (N-P-K) to the planting hole at 6 rates (including a non-fertilized control) for three hardwood species. Fertilization at 60 g/seedling increased first-year height (52% greater) and diameter (37% greater) growth compared to controls, and larger growth was maintained the second year. This technology should provide an easily transferable method to improve hardwood plantation establishment success. Seedlings were planted into treatment gap openings in southern Indiana in April 2003. First-year seedling survival was relatively poor in the unharvested control gaps, illustrating the importance of adequate light for seedling survival. Seedlings grown in containers were significantly larger than bareroot stock after one growing season and were above the height of surrounding vegetation and large enough to avoid browsing by deer.

Impacts
Improving the quality of planted hardwood seedlings and identifying treatments at planting that improve early growth of seedlings will act to minmize the time needed to establish a stand of trees. This will enhance agricultural productivty in the region, as more planted seedlings will become large trees and the expected rotation ages prior to harvest should be reduced.

Publications

  • Jacobs, D.F. and Seifert, J.R. 2004. Facilitating nutrient acquisition of black walnut and other hardwoods at plantation establishment. In Proceedings of the Sixth Black Walnut Symposium. West Lafayette, IN, 25-28 July 2004. US Department of Agriculture Forest Service North Central Research Station Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-243:66-70.
  • Jacobs, D.F. and Seifert, J.R. 2004. Re-evaluating the significance of the first-order lateral root grading criterion for hardwood seedlings. In Proceedings of the Fourteenth Central Hardwood Forest Conference. Wooster, OH, 16-19 March 2004. US Department of Agriculture Forest Service North Central Experiment Station Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-316:382-388.


Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03

Outputs
The following reports progress made on the four objectives listed in the Hatch Project submitted on 24 April 2002. One. We measured first-year seedling field performance on the study in southern Indiana designed to identify morphological attributes which best predict plantation establishment success. For each of three species, initial height and diameter tended to be the best predictors of field height and stem diameter at the end of the first growing season. Regression correlations were relatively low for field height and diameter growth (R2 < 0.36), but the ratio of initial height to diameter tended to be the best predictor for these variables. We installed a much larger experiment in Mississippi where seedlings from five species were attained from three nurseries and measured for the same morphological variables. These seedlings were then outplanted with or without weed control, and this data will be useful for federal cost-share program administrators to mandate acceptable nursery seedling specifications. Two. To better understand how genetics and nursery cultural treatments interact to affect seedling morphological quality, we installed a study with black walnut seed collected from 10 families (half-sib) at 3 nursery sowing densities into experimental plots at Vallonia State Nursery in southern Indiana. Seeds were pre-germinated in greenhouses prior to sowing at the nursery to minimize variation associated with variable germination rates. Germinated seeds were sown into experimental plots and grown under operational conditions at the nursery. Seedlings will be lifted in spring 2004 and measured for height, diameter, first-order lateral roots, fresh weight, and root volume to allow us to examine the effect of sowing density, as well as the significance of family variation, on seedling performance. If substantial variation is detected in seedling quality based on genetics, nursery managers will be able to select for greater seedling morphological quality. The seedlings will then be outplanted onto a field site to further evaluate how these nursery treatments affect plantation performance. Three. To examine the effect of new controlled-release fertilizer technology applied at planting on hardwood seedling plantation establishment success, an experiment was installed in southern Indiana in April 2002. We applied Osmocote Exact 15-9-10 (N-P-K) to the planting hole at 6 rates (including a non-fertilized control) for three hardwood species. Fertilization at 60 g/seedling increased height (52% greater) and diameter (37% greater) compared to controls. This technology should provide an easily transferable method to improve hardwood plantation establishment success. Four. Seedlings were planted into treatment gap openings in southern Indiana in April 2003. Seedling survival was relatively poor in the unharvested control gaps, illustrating the importance of high light for seedling survival. The containerized stock were significantly larger than the bareroot trees following planting and most trees were above the height of surrounding vegetation and large enough to avoid browsing by deer.

Impacts
Improving the quality of planted hardwood seedlings and identifying treatments at planting that improve early growth of seedlings will act to minmize the time needed to establish a stand of trees. This will enhance agricultural productivty in the region, as more planted seedlings will become large trees and the expected rotation ages prior to harvest should be reduced.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02

Outputs
The following is a report on progress made on each of the four specific objectives that were listed for the Hatch project submitted on 24 April 2002. One. In April, 2002, we installed an outplanting study with three hardwood species. Prior to planting, each seedling was characterized for number of first-order lateral roots (FOLR), root volume, fresh weight, height, and diameter. The objective is to determine which of these characteristics best predicts field performance. We found that root volume better correlates with other morphological parameters than the number of FOLR and this data may be used to replace FOLR with root volume in seedling nursery grading systems. We also secured funding through a USFS-Purdue Joint Venture agreement ($85,000 for 2 years) to research seedling quality. We hired a post-doctoral scientist (Dr. Kevyn Wightman) who is currently installing a series of trials. This data will help to inform nursery managers and field foresters of variation in seedling quality and provide recommendations toward improving quality standards. Dr. Wightman is also preparing a review of literature on hardwood seedling quality for publication. Two. To begin to meet this objective, we collected 1000+ nuts from each of 10 families of black walnut seedlings. Pre-germinated nuts will be sown into a replicated experiment in spring 2003. The nuts will be sown at different density treatments. We will then assess modifications in seedling root architectural development and whole-plant growth. These results will help us to determine the extent to which root development in the nursery is under genetic control. If it is possible to improve root architecture through genetic selection, then we may be able to incorporate this procedure into nursery operations. Three. A replicated experiment was established in April 2002 using three species of one-year old hardwood seedlings. Osmocote Exact 15-9-10 controlled-release fertilizer was applied at 6 treatment rates to the bottom of the planting hole of each tree. We installed temperature probes and fertilizer samples for excavation to determine the approximate rates of nutrient release from the fertilizer. The seedlings were measured immediately following planting and are currently completing the first field growing season. We will assess growth from the first season to determine the ideal rate of fertilizer application for each species. We expect that if a positive growth response is detected with the fertilizer, this technique will rapidly be incorporated into operational hardwood reforestation projects. Four. Gap openings of four sizes were created in four forest stands at the Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center. Seedlings were thinned in nursery beds at Vallonia Nursery to create two sizes of bareroot stock and two sizes of containerized stock were purchased from Berg-Warner Nursery. These will be planted into the gap openings in Spring 2003 and growth response will be evaluated over the next several growing seasons.

Impacts
Identifying methods to improve hardwood seedling quality and silvicultural techniques at planting will help to improve reforestation success and forest productivity in the Central Hardwood Region. The specific experiments that were established to help meet the objectives of this project will provide methods to improve the sustainability and profitability of forest management in the Region.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period