Source: NORTHEASTERN RESEARCH STATION submitted to NRP
SILVICULTURAL TREATMENTS FOR REHABILITATING AND REGENERATING OAK FORESTS.
Sponsoring Institution
Forest Service/USDA
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
USDA INHOUSE
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0197847
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Aug 6, 1997
Project End Date
Aug 6, 2002
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
NORTHEASTERN RESEARCH STATION
11 CAMPUS DRIVE
NEWTOWN SQUARE,PA 19073
Performing Department
FORESTRY SCIENCE LAB - MORGANTOWN, WV
Non Technical Summary
Many oak stands are undergoing succession to mixed stands dominated by red maple. Lack of disturbance is one factor in this process. Our research effort is trying to find disturbance regimes that will allow oak to successfully regenerate. This will allow forest managers and landowners to develop mixed stands with a reasonable oak component in them.
Animal Health Component
70%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
20%
Applied
70%
Developmental
10%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1230620107060%
1232420107010%
2060620106010%
2130620107020%
Knowledge Area
206 - Basic Plant Biology; 213 - Weeds Affecting Plants; 123 - Management and Sustainability of Forest Resources;

Subject Of Investigation
0620 - Broadleaf forests of the North; 2420 - Noncrop plant research;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems); 1070 - Ecology;
Goals / Objectives
To develop biologically- and economically-effective silvicultural treatments for rehabilitating and regenerating oak-dominated forests.
Project Methods
A range of long-term field research studies are used to develop techniques for rehabilitating sites of oak regeneration failures, to develop silvicultural techniques to naturally regenerate oaks and other hardwoods in mixed stands, to develop biologically- and economically-effective treatments for maintaining existing oak regeneration, and to determine seed source adequacy of oak stands.

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

Outputs
Fire exclusion was an important factor in the formation of striped maple understories in mixed oak forests of Pennsylvania. The striped maple understories originated in the 1950s and 1960s when fire was no longer a disturbance. When fire was reintroduced to these stands via prescribed burns, the density of striped maple was reduce by 25 to 50 percent with delayed mortality increasing this rate to more than 90 percent. These data suggest that prescribed fire could be a viable means of controlling striped maple in mixed oak forests. The short-term dynamics of mixed mesophytic forest strata in West Virginia were examined using similarity analysis and linear correlation of shared ordination space. The overstory tree, understory tree, shrub/vine, and herb strata were stable over a six year interval, whereas the tree seedling and sapling strata were unstable. All strata but the shrub/vine and tree seedling strata were correlated with soil pH, elevation, P, K, Fe, Mn, Ca, and Mg, with the latter two variables being the weakest for the overstory tree, understory tree, and sapling strata. The herb stratum was also significantly correlated with the shrub/vine and tree seedling strata. The soil fertility gradient corresponded with a moisture gradient. More xeric plots tended to be less stable than more mesic plots for all strata. Successful forest management may depend on knowledge of the lower tree strata species composition, because such composition will likely vary prior to future disturbance events. Application costs and efficacy were determined for cut-stump treatments applied to American beech to control root and stump sprouts. After 12 months, more than 90% of beech root sprouts ≥1-foot tall to 5.9-in. dbh on treated plots were controlled. Complete control of stump sprouts also was achieved. Average application cost ranged from $39.43 to 62.34 per acre depending on the basal area and number of stems treated. This study demonstrated that herbicide is readily translocated from the surfaces of freshly cut beech stumps via parent root systems to attached live beech stems. The cut-stump method can be applied in areas where beech is the primary species interfering with the establishment and development of desirable regeneration.

Impacts
Sustainable management of Appalachian oak forests requires knowledge on the dynamics of forest vegetation and subsequently how various management treatments like prescribed burning and herbicide application affect those dynamics. Finding ecologically and financially cost effective treatments for sustaining oaks is crucial to maintaining oak on privately-owned forests.

Publications

  • Brose, Patrick H.; Miller, Gary W.; Gottschalk, Kurt W. 2007. Reintroducing Fire to the Oak Forests of Pennsylvania: Response of Striped Maple. In: Powers, Robert F., tech. editor. Restoring Fire-Adapted Ecosystems: Proceedings of the 2005 National Silviculture Workshop; 2005 June 6-10; Tahoe City, CA. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-203. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 67-77.
  • Brose, Patrick H.; Miller, Gary W.; Gottschalk, Kurt W. 2007. Survival of Striped Maple Following Spring Prescribed Fires in Pennsylvania. In: Buckley, David S.; Clatterbuck, Wayne K., eds. Proceedings, 15th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2006 February 27-March 1; Knoxville, TN. e-Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-101. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 225-230. [CD-ROM]
  • Huebner, Cynthia D.; Stephenson, Steven L.; Adams, Harold S.; Miller, Gary W. 2007. Short-Term Dynamics of Second-Growth Mixed Mesophytic Forest Strata in West Virginia. Castanea 72(2):65-81.
  • Kochenderfer, Jeffrey D.; Kochenderfer, James N.; Miller, Gary W. 2006. Controlling Beech Root and Stump Sprouts Using the Cut-Stump Treatment. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry 23(3):155-165.


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

Outputs
Diameter limit cutting is the most widely applied type of harvest on privately-owned forests in the Mid-Atlantic region. Research showed that only 20 to 50 percent of these harvests resulted in stands with desirable, manageable conditions. Stands were more variable or "patchy" both in the residual trees and in the new regeneration which is concentrated in the larger gaps. Red maple and yellow-poplar were the most dominant regeneration species. In experimental diameter limit cuts in oak-dominated stands, the regeneration was dominated by black cherry, red maple, and black birch and saplings under the crowns of residual trees were shorter than those in gaps. In the 1970s, public opposition to clearcut harvesting in hardwood forests led forest managers to consider alternative practices that retain a low-density overstory forest cover. Clearcut-with-reserves harvesting was used to create two-aged stand structures in Appalachian mixed-hardwoods with 15 reserve trees per acre. After 20 years, the reproduction in these stands was evaluated relative to its position beneath or beyond the tree crown. The basal area of reproduction, especially shade-intolerant species, increased with distance from the reserve tree. The diameter and height of reproduction also increased with distance from the reserve tree. Reserve trees influence the growth rate and species composition of reproduction in their immediate vicinity. Basal area of intolerant species more than doubled along the gradient. Basal area of reproduction in the two-aged stands was 30-40% less than that observed in even-aged stands but this reduction was offset by growth of the reserve trees. Managers need to consider the tradeoffs in the long-term impact on reproduction using this management system. Three harvesting systems of chainsaw/cable skidder, feller-buncher/grapple skidder, and harvester/forwarder were simulated in harvesting 30 to 50-year-old Appalachian hardwood stands. Harvesting prescriptions included clearcut, shelterwood cut, selective cut, diameter limit cut, and crop tree release cut. The interactions among stands, harvest prescriptions, and harvesting systems were evaluated in terms of production, cost, and traffic intensity. Results indicated that the feller-buncher/grapple skidder system was the most productive and cost-effective system for harvesting small-diameter Appalachian hardwood stands under the simulated harvesting prescriptions. Compared to harvesting mature stands, harvesting small diameter stands was less productive and more expensive. The vascular flora of the Fernow Experimental Forest included 94 families representing at least 461 species. Nearly 12 percent are species known to have been introduced. Asteraceae is the single largest family and Cyperaceae, Liliaceae, Poaceae, and Rosaceae also are important families in the study area. The 461 species of vascular plants recorded constitute only 17.2 percent of the total species known from the State of West Virginia but account for a large proportion (31.5%) of all species known from Tucker or Randolph County.

Impacts
Understanding the differences in how diameter-limit cutting and two-age management affect the regeneration and productivity of Appalachian mixed hardwood stands is important for the long-term sustainability of these forests and their ecological and economic use. Planned residual trees in two-age systems have less impact than unplanned residual trees in diameter-limit cuts. As more forest area is moved into younger stands or stands with complex structures, the need to efficiently manage and utilize small-diameter materials increases. The simulation work on harvesting this material is of high utility to managers and loggers. Sustaining forests includes sustaining all of the components of those systems. The work on inventorying the vascular plant diversity of Appalachian mixed hardwood stands is critical to providing the baseline information to know if that component is being sustained.

Publications

  • Coxe, Robert B.; Stephenson, Steven L.; Madarish, Darlene M.; Miller, Gary W. 2006. Vascular Flora of the Fernow Experimental Forest and Adjacent Portions of the Otter Creek Wilderness Area. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-344. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 23 p.
  • DeWalle, David R.; Kochenderfer, James N.; Adams, Mary B.; Miller, Gary W.; Gilliam, Frank S.; Wood, Frederica; Odenwald-Clemens, Stephanie S.; Sharpe, William E. 2006. Vegetation and Acidification. In: Adams, Mary Beth; DeWalle, David R.; Hom, John L., eds. The Fernow Watershed Acidification Study: Springer: 137-188
  • Fajvan, Mary Ann. 2005. Research on Diameter-Limit Cutting in Central Appalachian Forests. In: Kenefic, Laura S.; Nyland, Ralph D. eds. Proceedings of the Conference on Diameter-Limit Cutting in Northeastern Forests.; 2005 May 23-24; Amherst, MA. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-342. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 32-38.
  • Kochenderfer, James N.; Adams, Mary Beth; Miller, Gary W.; Wood, Frederica. 2006. Growth and Development of Planted Northern Red Oak on Bulldozed Skidroads after Clearcutting in Appalachian Hardwoods. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-730. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 16 p.
  • Li, Yaoxiang; Wang, Jingxin; Miller, Gary; McNeel, Joe. 2006. Production economics of harvesting small-diameter hardwood stands in central Appalachia. Forest Products Journal. 56:81-86.
  • Li, Yaoxiang; Wang, Jingxin; Miller, Gary; McNeel, Joe. 2004. Production Economics of Harvesting Young Hardwood Stands in Central Appalachia. In: COFE Proceedings 2004 Machines and People, The Interface; 2004 April 17-30; Hot Springs, AR. 5 p.
  • Miller, Gary W.; Kochenderfer, James N.; Fekedulegn, Desta B. 2006. Influence of individual reserve trees on nearby reproduction in two-aged Appalachian hardwood stands. Forest Ecology and Management 224:241-251.


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

Outputs
In April 2001, the Pennsylvania office of the National Audubon Society and the Pennsylvania Habitat Alliance asked a group of professionals to look at deer management from an ecosystem perspective. The resulting Deer Management Forum was asked to describe how deer management might differ from current practices if deer were managed within an ecosystem framework that aims to conserve native biodiversity. Forum members reviewed relevant research, interviewed national experts, visited field sites and in January 2005, prepared a report on its findings and recommendations. The report included four recommendations regarding science and management of forests and wildlife in Pennsylvania and six recommendations regarding policy and administration of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Timber harvesting has been disturbing Central Appalachian hardwood forests since colonial times, but its most profound influence on forest composition has occurred during the last 130 years. Between the end of the Civil War and the Great Depression, the lumber industry went from state to state harvesting relatively large portions of the timber resource. This disturbance and the slash fires that occurred after harvesting frequently resulted in even-aged timber stands and an increase in northern red oak. During the Depression, harvesting decreased and marginal farm lands were abandoned. Mill size declined because of a scarcity of timber, and selective cutting based on diameter and species became common. While shade intolerant and mid-tolerant species regenerated on abandoned farmlands, the implementation of selective cutting after 1929 generally favored the regeneration of shade-tolerant species. In 1973, the adoption of floating exchange rates ushered in an era of international trade. During this period, timber that regenerated during and after the era of heavy cutting grew into commercial size, and consumption by baby boomers resulted in an increase in demand for hardwood products. The markets that resulted further emphasized selective cutting based on timber quality and species. Today, the composition of hardwood forests reflects the history of harvesting disturbances and the changing market structures that promoted them. The Northeastern Research Station's Forest Inventory and Analysis (NE-FIA) unit is conducting the Pennsylvania Regeneration Study to evaluate composition and abundance of tree seedlings and associated vegetation. Sampling methods for the study were tested and developed in a pilot study to determine the appropriate number of 2-m microplots needed to capture variability in seedling abundance. The findings resulted in a decision to use one 2-m fixed-radius microplot per 7.3-m fixed-radius subplot of the NE-FIA design. Preliminary results indicate that one-half to two-thirds of the region's forests would require remedial treatment if preferred species are the management objective.

Impacts
The regeneration of oak-dominated forests is heavily impacted by two major disturbances - heavy browsing by overabundant white-tailed deer and market forces which favor the cutting and removal of oak. These two factors have contributed to a decline in the amount of oak in new forests. The Pennsylvania Regeneration Study has highlighted this trend with less than half of the forests regenerating to oak and other preferred species. New management practices to remedy the effects of these disturbances are the focus of research efforts.

Publications

  • Latham, R.E.; Beyea, J.; Benner, M.; Dunn, C.A.; Fajvan, M.A.; Freed, R.R.; Grund, M.; Horsley, S.B.; Rhoads, A.F.; Shissler, B.P. 2005. Managing white-tailed deer in forest habitat from an ecosystem perspective: Pennsylvania case study. Report by the Deer Management Forum. Harrisburg, PA: Audubon Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Habitat Alliance. 340 p.
  • Luppold, William G.; Miller, Gary W. 2004. Influence of markets on the composition of central Appalachian forests. In: Proceedings of the Southern Forest Economics Workers: competitiveness of southern forest products markets in a global economy: trends and predictions; 2004 March 14-16; St. Augustine, FL. Mississippi State, MS: Mississippi State University: 113-122.
  • McWilliams, William H.; Bowersox, Todd W.; Brose, Patrick H.; Devlin, Daniel A.; Finley, James C.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Horsley, Steve; King, Susan L.; LaPoint, Brian M.; Lister, Tonya W.; McCormick, Larry H.; Miller, Gary W.; Scott, Charles T.; Steele, Harry; Steiner, Kim C.; Stout, Susan L.; Westfall, James A.; White, Robert L. 2005. Measuring tree seedlings and associated understory vegetation in Pennsylvania's forests. In: McRoberts, Ronald E.; Reams, Gregory A.; Van Deusen, Paul C.; McWilliams, William H.; Cieszewski, Chris J., eds. Proceedings of the fourth annual forest inventory and analysis symposium; 2002 November 19-21; New Orleans, LA. Gen. Tech. Rep. NC-252. St Paul, MN: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Experiment Station: 21-26.


Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04

Outputs
We evaluated and quantified the variation in vegetation, plant nutrients, and microclimate across four topographic aspects in an Appalachian watershed. We found that the north and east aspects were 27-50% more productive than the west and southwest aspects. Species groups that showed strong aspect preference include yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), black cherry (Prunus serotina), chestnut oak (Quercus prinus), and white oak (Quercus alba); the former two being dominant on the north and east aspects while the latter two dominate the west and southwest aspects. Red oak (Quercus rubra) and red maple (Acer rubrum) showed mild aspect preference indicating their broad ecological amplitude. There were large differences in microclimate among the four aspects: midday air temperature averaged 5.5 degrees C higher on mesic (west and southwest aspects) versus xeric (north and east aspects) sites; midday relative humidity was about 25% lower on xeric sites; and plant water stress as measured by vapor pressure difference was about 37% higher on xeric than on mesic aspects. Plant nutrients only showed only minor differences. We quantified the effect of microsite light availability and deer on the development of advanced northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) reproduction in mesic Appalachian hardwood stands. Microsite light was manipulated with pre-harvest treatments. Twelve 0.4-acre plots were randomly assigned to each of three microsite light levels and an untreated control for a total of 48 plots. A woven wire fence was erected around 8 plots in each treatment. Approximately 1,500 individual seedlings were tagged for long-term study. An additional 200 seedlings were tagged for annual destructive tests to measure shoot and root development. Three years after treatment, survival averaged 74% in fenced/high-light plots compared to 22 percent in unfenced/untreated plots. Fencing had a much stronger influence on survival than microsite light. Treatments also increased shoot length by 30%, root length by 39%, shoot weight by 145%, root weight by 337% and basal diameter by 26% compared to controls. Crop tree release treatments were applied in 70- to 75-year-old upland oak stands located in eastern Kentucky. Two treatment levels, applied as a complete crown release of 20 and 34 sawtimber-sized crop trees per acre, were compared to unreleased controls. Data were collected on 12 permanent 0.5-acre plots, with 4 plots randomly assigned to each of the two treatment levels and untreated controls. Tree quality and DBH growth were monitored for 17 years on 148 white oak crop trees. Average DBH growth of released trees in both release treatments was 27 percent greater than that observed for unreleased controls. After 17 years, 89 percent of selected crop trees were in grades 1 or 2, compared to 53 percent at the beginning of the study. No significant differences were found between tree grade distributions on the treated and control plots, indicating that a complete crown release did not adversely affect tree grade.

Impacts
Aspect and other site factors play an important role in forest productivity. Quantification of the productivity and composition differences provides forest managers with data to modify their management objectives based on treatments aspect and productivity. Lack of adequate large advanced oak regeneration is a widespread problem. Our results show that preharvest treatments to increase light along with fencing to reduce browsing provide the conditions to create large advanced regeneration and provide options for sustainable forest management. Forest managers need information on the effect of stand density on residual tree growth and quality to prescribe effective thinning treatments in hardwood stands. Our results show the economic and biological benefit of crop tree release treatments.

Publications

  • Brashears, Mark Benjamin; Fajvan, Mary Ann; Schuler, Thomas M. 2004. An assessment of canopy stratification and tree species diversity following clearcutting in Central Appalachian hardwoods. Forest Science. 50(1): 54-64.
  • Kochenderfer, Jeffery D.; Kochenderfer, James N.; Warner, David A.; Miller, Gary W. 2004. Preharvest manual herbicide treatments for controlling American beech in central West Virginia. Northern Journal of Applied Forestry. 21(1): 40-49.
  • Liebhold, Andrew; Sork, Victoria; Peltonen, Mikko; Koenig, Walter; Bjornstad, Ottar N.; Westfall, Robert; Elkinton, Joseph; Knops, Johannes M.H. 2004. Within-population spatial synchrony in mast seeding of North American oaks. Oikos. 104: 156-164.
  • Brown, John; Miller, Gary W.; Gottschalk, Kurt W. 2004. Effects of alternative thinning treatments on tree grades at three upland hardwood sites in Kentucky and Ohio: 30 year results. In: Yaussy, Daniel A.; Hix, David M.; Long, Robert P.; Goebel, P. Charles, eds. Proceedings, 14th central hardwood forest conference; 2004 March 16-19; Wooster, OH. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-316. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 502. Abstract.
  • Fajvan, Mary Ann. 2003-04. Silvicultural news: using prescribed burning in oak management. Allegheny News. 12 (04): 19.
  • Fajvan, Mary Ann. 2004. Silvicultural news: Use of the shelterwood method in oak management. Allegheny News. 13 (03): 26.
  • Fekedulegn, Desta; Colbert, J.J.; Rentch, James S.; Gottschalk, Kurt W. 2004. Aspect induced differences in vegetation, soil, and microclimatic characteristics of an Appalachian watershed. Castanea. 69(2): 92-108.
  • Miller, Gary W.; Kochenderfer, James N.; Fekedulegn, Desta. 2004. Composition and development of reproduction in two-age Appalachian hardwood stands: 20-year results. In: Shepperd, Wayne D.; Eskew, Lane G., comps. 2004. Silviculture in special places: Proceedings of the national silviculture workshop; 2003 September 8-11; Granby, CO. Proc. RMRS-P-34. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 171-181.
  • Miller, Gary W.; Kochenderfer, James N.; Gottschalk, Kurt W. 2004. Effect of pre-harvest shade control and fencing on northern red oak seedling development in the central Appalachians. In: Spetich, Martin A., ed. Proceedings, upland oak ecology symposium: history, current conditions, and sustainability; 2002 October 7-10; Fayetteville, AR. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-73. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station: 182-189.
  • Miller, Gary W.; Graves, Aaron T.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Baumgras, John E. 2004. Accuracy of tree grade predictions for five Appalachian hardwood species. In: Yaussy, Daniel A.; Hix, David M.; Long, Robert P.; Goebel, P. Charles, eds. Proceedings, 14th central hardwood forest conference; 2004 March 16-19; Wooster, OH. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-316. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 530. Abstract. [CD-ROM].
  • McWilliams, William H.; Bowersox, Todd W.; Brose, Patrick H.; Devlin, Daniel A.; Finley, James C.; Horsley, Steve; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Lister, Tonya W.; McCormick, Larry H.; Miller, Gary W.; Steiner, Kim C.; Stout, Susan L.; Westfall, James A.; White, Robert L. 2004. In: Proceedings, Society of American Foresters national convention; 2003 October 25-29; Buffalo, NY. Bethesda, MD: Society of American Foresters: 136-141.
  • Miller, Gary W.; Stringer, Jeffrey W. 2004. Effect of crown release on tree grade and dbh growth of white oak sawtimber in eastern Kentucky. In: Yaussy, Daniel A.; Hix, David M.; Long, Robert P.; Goebel, P. Charles, eds. Proceedings, 14th central hardwood forest conference; 2004 March 16-19; Wooster, OH. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-316. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station: 530. Abstract. [CD-ROM].


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

Outputs
A 3-dimensional (3D) stand generator was developed for central Appalachian hardwood forests. It was designed for a harvesting simulator to examine the interactions of stand, harvest, and machine. The Component Objective Model (COM) was used to design and implement the program. Input to the generator includes species composition, stand density, and spatial pattern. Output is a 3D stand map that lists species, DBH, spatial location, and total height for each individual tree. The stand generator can be used to visualize the structure and composition of hardwood stands and perform dynamic analyses of various management prescriptions. It is well established that silvicultural thinning can increase tree growth and wood volume utilization in hardwood stands, but the effects on tree quality and value are less clear. We measured the effect of silvicultural thinning on tree grades over a period of 12 to 15 years for 803 black cherries (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), 424 northern red oaks (Quercus rubra L.), 180 red maples (Acer rubrum L.), 235 trees in the white oak group (Q. spp.), and 494 yellow-poplars (Liriodendron tulipifera L. ). Grade distributions of trees >9.6 and >12.6 in. diameter at breast height (DBH) for black cherry, northern red oak, and yellow-poplar improved after thinning due to the removal of lower quality trees and the increased growth and the retention of high-quality, large-diameter residual trees. Red maple and the white oaks showed no improvement after thinning due to poor overall initial quality. Trees grouped by species, quality, and growth categories did not exhibit a significant increase or decrease in grade due to thinning. However, black cherry and yellow-poplar appeared to increase in grade due to silvical properties such as early branch pruning and fewer Epicormic branches. Analysis of grade distributions for groups of species did not produce the same results as analyzing individual species. Mixed-species datasets may obscure species-specific effects of thinning, and specie composition may have an appreciable effect on test results.

Impacts
Repeated cutting in many eastern hardwood stands has resulted in a reduction in quality of the residual stems. Our work has shown that using proper silvicultural treatments to mark thinnings can have the opposite effect - quality will either stay the same or improve and only rarely will it decrease. These results can be used to let forest managers and landowners know the long-term benefits of using proper silvicultural treatments.

Publications

  • Miller, Gary W.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Graves, Aaron T.; Baumgras, John E. 2001. The effect of silvicultural thinning on tree grade distributions of five hardwood species in West Virginia. In: Smalley, Bryan, ed. Proceedings, 29th annual hardwood symposium,current topics in the processing and utilization of hardwood lumber. 2001 May 16-19; French Lick, IN. Memphis, TN:National Hardwood Lumber Association: 39-48.
  • Wang, Jingxin; Li, Yaoxiang; Miller, Gary. 2002. A 3-D stand generator for central Appalachian hardwood forests. In: IUFRO, symposium on statistics and information technology in forestry; 2002 September 8-12; Blacksburg, VA: Blacksburg, VA: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: 108-118.


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

Outputs
The use of radial growth averaging was evaluated as a technique of identifying canopy disturbances in a thinned 55-year-old mixed-oak stand in West Virginia. We used analysis of variance to determine the time interval (averaging period) and lag period (time between thinning and growth increase) that best captured the growth increase associated with different levels of crown release of Quercus prinus L. and Quercus rubra L. A lag of 3 years and an interval of 7 years yielded the best fit of percent growth change and percent crown release, respectively, for Q. prinus; for Q. rubra, the radial growth response did not differ significantly when lag and interval were varied from 1 to 3 and 6 to 15 years, respectively. The relationship between percent crown release and percent growth change was linear for both species. This method provides a suitable means of detecting canopy disturbances affecting overstory trees and is potentially applicable to other tree species. When combined with fire histories, these data can provide the basis for reconstructing long-term disturbance regimes. This estimate may also provide a framework for scheduling the rate of stand entry for silvicultural treatments (e.g. thinning) that is consistent with its historic stand development. Oak forests have dominated much of the eastern deciduous forests of the United States for thousands of years, but currently there are serious problems with recruitment of oaks in the understories of these forests. Many understories of oak forests are recruiting shade tolerant and fire intolerant species, which leads to accelerated succession following overstory removal. This study details the first 15 years of stand revegetation in an oak-dominated forest following a devastating tornado. After the tornado, some stands continued to be dominated by various oak species, while the other stands experienced accelerated succession to red maple dominance. The results of this study indicate that the revegetation dynamics were essentially pre-determined by the understory regeneration of the pre-disturbance forest. Accelerated succession occurred on plots that had pre-existing red maples. The red maples on the accelerated succession plots also sprouted and seeded-in following the tornado. The oak recruitment plots had pre-existing oaks in the understories and they established following the tornado. Black cherry and black birch were also major components of the oak plots. These species established in high numbers following the tornado by sprout and seed origin, but they were also present as pre-existing individuals. There were major species differences in height growth patterns. Black cherry, black birch, red oak, and scarlet oak grew faster than white oak, black oak, and red maple. The methods used in this study offer insight into the early revegetation of forests. The results emphasize the importance of multiple successional pathways, chance events, and accelerate succession.

Impacts
The impact of disturbances on tree growth is an important component of stand dynamics. The development of the growth averaging technique to determine when a disturbance has occurred allows scientists to use tree rings to reconstruct past disturbance regimes. The technique can be used to determine when to apply silvicultural treatments, as well. These are both important components for development of ecosystem management regimes that mimic natural disturbance processes. Regeneration in oak stand following natural disturbance from a tornado has confirmed that advanced regeneration present at the time of the disturbance determines the composition and success of the new stand. Accelerated succession to red maple has occurred in most of the oak-dominated stands.

Publications

  • Kauffman, Misty. 2002. Stand dynamics following a tornado in an oak-dominated forest in the Allegheny National Forest, Forest County, Pennsylvania. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University. 105 p. M.S. thesis.
  • Rentch, James S.; Fekedulegn, Desta; Miller, Gary W. 2002. Climate, canopy disturbance, and radial growth averaging in a second-growth mixed-oak forest in West Virginia, U.S.A. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 32: 915-927.


Progress 08/06/97 to 08/06/02

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Oak Silvah training sessions have been held since 2000 and have trained more than 600 foresters in the regeneration and management of oak forests using silvicultural guidelines developed by station scientists in collaboration with users and University scientists. The use of radial growth averaging was evaluated as a technique of identifying canopy disturbances. The relationship between percent crown release and percent growth change was linear for both species. This method provides a suitable means of detecting canopy disturbances affecting overstory trees. We measured the effect of silvicultural thinning on tree grades over a period of 12 to 15 years. Grade distributions of trees >9.6 and >12.6 in. diameter at breast height (DBH) for black cherry, northern red oak, and yellow-poplar improved after thinning due to the removal of lower quality trees and the increased growth and the retention of high-quality, large-diameter residual trees. We quantified the effect of microsite light availability and deer on the development of advanced northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) reproduction in mesic Appalachian hardwood stands. Microsite light was manipulated with pre-harvest treatments. Three years after treatment, survival averaged 74% in fenced/high-light plots compared to 22 percent in unfenced/untreated plots. Fencing had a much stronger influence on survival than microsite light. A guide to crop tree release treatments was developed and disseminated via hard copy publication and electronically via University extension web sites. A review of oak artificial regeneration identified the many problems associated with the technique and developed new criteria for determining success. A team developed a report on deer management from an ecosystem perspective that included four recommendations regarding science and management of forests and wildlife in Pennsylvania and six recommendations regarding policy and administration of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Clearcut-with-reserves harvesting was used to create two-aged stand structures in Appalachian mixed-hardwoods with 15 reserve trees per acre. After 20 years, the reproduction in these stands was evaluated relative to its position beneath or beyond the tree crown. The basal area of reproduction, especially shade-intolerant species, increased with distance from the reserve tree. The diameter and height of reproduction also increased with distance from the reserve tree. Reserve trees influence the growth rate and species composition of reproduction in their immediate vicinity. Managers need to consider the tradeoffs in the long-term impact on reproduction using this management system. Application costs and efficacy were determined for cut-stump treatments applied to American beech to control root and stump sprouts. After 12 months, more than 90% of beech root sprouts ≥1-foot tall to 5.9-inches dbh on treated plots were controlled. The cut-stump method can be applied in areas where beech is the primary species interfering with the establishment and development of desirable regeneration. PARTICIPANTS: Not relevant to this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Over 600 foresters have been trained in oak regeneration and management via silvicultural guidelines summarized by NRS scientists. This publication and training session has dramatically changed the management of oak forests in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. The Pennsylvania DCNR has adopted the guidelines as their standard of management for oak forests. Repeated cutting in many eastern hardwood stands has resulted in a reduction in quality of the residual stems. Our work has shown that using proper silvicultural treatments to mark thinnings can have the opposite effect - quality will either stay the same or improve and only rarely will it decrease. These results are used to let forest managers and landowners know the long-term benefits of using proper silvicultural treatments. Aspect and other site factors play an important role in forest productivity. Quantification of the productivity and composition differences provides forest managers with data to modify their management objectives based on treatments aspect and productivity. Lack of adequate large advanced oak regeneration is a widespread problem. Our results show that preharvest treatments to increase light along with fencing to reduce browsing provide the conditions to create large advanced regeneration and provide options for sustainable forest management. Understanding the differences in how diameter-limit cutting and two-age management affect the regeneration and productivity of Appalachian mixed hardwood stands is important for the long-term sustainability of these forests and their ecological and economic use. Planned residual trees in two-age systems have less impact than unplanned residual trees in diameter-limit cuts. Sustaining forests includes sustaining all of the components of those systems. Our work on inventorying the vascular plant diversity of Appalachian mixed hardwood stands is critical to providing the baseline information to know if that component is being sustained by forest managers. Sustainable management of Appalachian oak forests requires knowledge on the dynamics of forest vegetation and subsequently how various management treatments like prescribed burning and herbicide application affect those dynamics. Finding ecologically and financially cost effective treatments for sustaining oaks is crucial to maintaining oak on privately-owned forests. Synthesizing artificial regeneration treatments will change the success of those treatments on both private and public forests.

Publications

  • Dey, Daniel C.; Miller, Gary W.; Kabrick, John M. 2008. Sustaining northern red oak forests: managing oak from regeneration to canopy dominance in mature stands. In: Deal, R. L., ed. Integrated restoration of forested ecosystems to achieve multiresource benefits: proceedings of the meeting; 2007 May 7-10; Ketchikan, AK. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-733. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 91-105.
  • Dey, Daniel D.; Jacobs, Douglass; McNabb, Ken; Miller, Gary; Baldwin, V., Foster, G. 2008. Artificial regeneration of major oak (Quercus) species in the Eastern United States - A review of the literature. Forest Science 54: 77-106.
  • Brose, Patrick H.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Horsley, Stephen B.; Knopp, Peter D.; Kochenderfer, James N.; McGuinness, Barbara J.; Miller, Gary R.; Ristau, Todd E.; Stoleson, Scott H.; Stout, Susan L. 2008. Prescribing regeneration treatments for mixed-oak forests in the Mid-Atlantic region. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-33. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 100 p.
  • Kochenderfer, James N.; Adams, Mary Beth; Miller, Gary W.; Helvey, J. David. 2007. Factors affecting large peakflows on Appalachian watersheds: lessons from the Fernow Experimental Forest. Research Paper NRS-3. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. 24 pp.
  • LeDoux, Chris B., Miller, Gary W. 2008. Exploring the optimal economic timing for crop tree release treatments in hardwoods: Results from simulation. In: Jacobs, Douglass F.; Michler, Charles H., eds. 16th Central Hardwood Forest Conference: proceedings of the meeting; 2008 April 8-9; West Lafayette, IN. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-24. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 265-274.
  • Miller, Gary W.; Stringer, Jeffrey W.; Mercker, David C. 2008. Technical guide to crop tree release in hardwood forests. Professional Hardwood Notes, University of Tennessee Extension Bulletin PB1774 (I'll have to check on this citation).
  • Miller, Gary W.; Graves, Aaron T.; Gottschalk, Kurt W.; Baumgras, John E. 2008. Accuracy of tree grade projections for five Appalachian hardwood species. Northern Journal of Applied forestry 25: 45-51
  • Schweitzer, Callie Jo; Clark, Stacy; Gaines, Glen; Finke, Paul; Gottschalk, Kurt; Loftis, David. 2008. Integrating land and resource management plans and applied large-scale research on two national forests. In: Deal, R. L., ed. Integrated restoration of forested ecosystems to achieve multiresource benefits: proceedings of the meeting; 2007 May 7-10; Ketchikan, AK. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-733. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 127-134.
  • Sharma, Benktesh D.; Wang, Jingxin; Miller, Gary. 2008. A GIS-based approach to stand visualization and spatial pattern analysis in a mixed hardwood forest in West Virginia. In: Jacobs, Douglass F.; Michler, Charles H., eds. 16th Central Hardwood Forest Conference: proceedings of the meeting; 2008 April 8-9; West Lafayette, IN. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-24. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 356-365.
  • Stephenson, S.L.; Adams, H.S.; Huebner, C.D. 2007. Upland forest vegetation of the Ozark Mountains in northwestern Arkansas. Rhodora 109: 197-221.
  • Stout, Susan L.; Brose, Pat; Gottschalk, Kurt; Miller, Gary; Knopp, Pete; Rutherford, Gary; Deibler, Mark; Frank, Gary; Gilmore, Gary. 2007. SILVAH-OAK: Ensuring adoption by engaging users in the full cycle of forest research. In: Miner, Cynthia; Jacobs, Ruth; Dykstra, Dennis; Bittner, Becky, eds. International Conference on Transfer of Forest Science Knowledge and Technology; proceedings of the meeting; 2005 May 10-13; Troutdale, OR. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-726. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 229-238.