Six-year field performance of container-grown and bare-root black oak seedlings inoculated with Pisolithustinctorius and outplanted on two Ozark clear-cuts

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The effects of container culture and infection with Pisolithustinctorius (Pers.) Coker and Couch on growth and survival of black oak (Quercusvelutina Lam.) seedlings outplanted on two Missouri Ozark clear-cuts were examined over 6 years. Container-grown 1-0 seedlings exhibited height and diameter growth superior to bare-root stock, and mycorrhizal plants were taller than nonmycorrhizal plants during the first two to three field seasons. Thereafter, container-grown and bare-root, and mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal seedlings grew at comparable rates such that treatment differences in height and diameter had been greatly reduced 6 years after outplanting. Seedling growth and survival differed between sites, a response resulting from differential soil moisture availability and the nature of competing vegetation of the two planting sites. Shading by more abundant herbaceous and low woody vegetation on a comparatively mesic site likely resulted in greater mortality and less stem growth than on a xeric site during years 1 to 3. However, seedlings that grew to heights sufficient to overtop neighboring vegetation on the mesic site exhibited comparatively greater growth rates in years 4 to 6. As a result, after 6 years, the xeric site was occupied by a relatively large number of small seedlings, while the mesic site was characterized by fewer but larger seedlings.