Hypotheses for Common Persimmon Stand Development in Mixed-species Bottomland Hardwood Forests

نویسنده

  • Brian Roy Lockhart
چکیده

Common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana L.) is a shade-tolerant tree species found in southern bottomland hardwood forests. It is a desired species due primarily to its large fruit used by many wildlife species. While it has been observed as a component in natural reproduction, persimmon is rarely found as an overstory species in maturing bottomland hardwood stands. Unfortunately, little information exists regarding persimmon ecology and silviculture to develop silvicultural prescriptions to increase its stand density and development. Results from an archived dataset of stem analysis from a variety of bottomland hardwood species, personal observations of persimmon, and a conceptual model of tree species to plant with red oaks (Quercus rubra L.) in bottomland hardwood afforestation were used to develop hypotheses for future persimmon stand development research. These hypotheses are based on development in even-aged stands. INTRODUCTION Common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana L.) (hereafter referred to as persimmon) is a dioecious, shade-tolerant tree that occurs on a variety of sites throughout the Southeastern United States (Halls 1990, Skallerup 1953). Its best growth occurs on the rich, moist alluvial soils of river flood plains, where it can reach 70 to 80 feet tall and 20 to 25 inches d.b.h. (Halls 1990, Nix 2008). In the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (LMAV), persimmon is most often found on clay or loamy flats (Putnam and Bull 1932). Persimmon produces a true berry, also called a persimmon, that is highly desired by wildlife species (Perry and others 1999). Persimmon fruits are also edible for human consumption following ripening in the fall. They were a staple in the diets of Native Americans (Ohio Public Library Information Network 2001). Currently, the fruits are used in jellies, pudding, and pies (Anonymous 2008, Fletcher 1942). Persimmon also has a dense, hard, smooth wood suitable for golf club heads and shuttles for textile weaving (Das and others 2001, Maisenhelder 1971), but the loss of the golf club head market has reduced persimmon timber demand. Persimmon was also used for making flat-sliced veneer as face material in furniture (Maisenhelder 1971). Interest in managing persimmon is increasing. It is commonly mentioned in forest management plans (Wilson and others 2007). In natural stand management, persimmon is considered a “hands off” species, or one usually left for wildlife habitat.2 It is also a common, but minor, component of afforestation and reforestation efforts to meet wildlife habitat objectives (Aikman and Boyd 1941, Schweitzer and others 1999, Twedt 2004). Persimmon, while sometimes establishing abundant natural reproduction, is rarely found as a component of the overstory canopy in a mature bottomland hardwood forest (Hepting 1935, Lentz 1929, Putnam and Bull 1932, Skallerup 1953). Early reports indicate that presettlement forests contained pure stands of persimmon, but this is no longer the case (see Skallerup 1953). A review of the literature reveals little information on persimmon ecology (especially stand development) and silviculture for developing silvicultural prescriptions to ensure development of this species to overstory prominence in bottomland hardwood forests. The objective of this study is to determine persimmon development patterns using an archived dataset that included stem analysis data from a variety of bottomland hardwood species. These results and personal observations will be used to develop hypotheses for future research in persimmon stand development. METHODS A hardwood growth-and-yield dataset developed between 1975 and 1977 is archived at the Southern Hardwoods Laboratory in Stoneville, MS. Dr. Bryce Schlaegel published a series of individual tree species volume and weight tables from this data (Schlaegel 1981, 1984a, 1984b, 1984c, 1984d; Schlaegel and Wilson 1983). Twenty-five stands were located in the LMAV and the adjacent Brown Loam Bluffs in westcentral Mississippi. A circular 0.2-acre plot was located in each stand. Four additional 0.2-acre plots were randomly located within a 5-acre circular area of the center of the first plot such that each plot fell within one of four quadrants of the first plot without overlapping any of the other plots. All trees >4.5 inches d.b.h. (diameter at breast height 4.5 feet above the ground) were tallied for species; d.b.h. (inches); crown class (dominant, codominant, intermediate, and suppressed); and distance and azimuth from plot center. Trees for destructive sampling were selected after trees on all five plots in a given stand were measured. About 15 trees per stand were selected for sampling with no fewer than 13 trees 1 Research Forester, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Center for Bottomland Hardwoods Research, Stoneville, MS. 2 Personal communication. 2008. James Kellum, Forester, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, White River National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 205, St. Charles, AR 72140; 2009. Tim Bitely, Block Manager, Anderson-Tully Company, P.O. Box 761, Lake Village, AR 71653.

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تاریخ انتشار 2013