Oak Regeneration following Three Cutting Treatments on Mountain Slopes in Northern Alabama’

Early regeneration success of upland oaks (Quercus spp. L.) was compared for three regeneration cutting treatments in the Sandstone Mountain Region of northern Alabama. Two 4-acre replications each of block dearcutting. strip cutting, and deferment cutting were established on north-facing slopes. The three harvesting treatments were applied in midsummer. Regeneration subplots were reinventoried in both the first and second autumns following harvest. Major oaks present were chestnut oak (Q. prinus L.), white oak (Q. L.). and northern red oak (0. rubra L.). Milacre plot stocking of oak reproduction after the second season was related to advance reproduction stocking, topographic position, cutting treatment, harvesting damage, and cover of logging slash. Both small advance reproduction (less than 1 ft tall) and post-harvest germination contributed substantially to the post-harvest stocking of oaks. I N T R O D U C T I O N Oak-hickory forests cover 35 percent (7.7 million acres) of Alabama’s timberland and is the principal forest type in the mountain regions in the northern part of the state (McWilliams 1992). As a group. oaks are highly desirable for landowners of this region, both as timber and for wildlife food production. However, dependable regeneration of oaks is often a problem (Smith 1993). The objective of this study was to identify important factors that influence early regeneration success of oaks in mountain-slope mixed hardwood stands in northern Alabama. More specifically, we compared regeneration results from block clearcutting, narrow strip clearcutting, and “deferment cutting” (a form of irregular sheltemood). METHOOS Study Site The study site is located on a forest industry tract in Lawrence County, AL, at 35 degrees 25 minutes north latitude. It is in the Sandstone Moun!ain Forest Habitat Region (Hodgkins and others, ‘!979). The treatments and measurement plots were placed in an upland mixed hardwood stand located on north-facing ridge shoulders and slopes of a large ridge complex oriented roughly east-towest. Elevation within treatment areas range from about 650 to 800 ft above mean sea level. Soils are primarily residual from sandstone on the ridge shoulders and some mixture of residuum and colluvium from sandstone or a sandstoneshale mixture on the slopes. Common soil series include Apison, Albertville, Bankhead, Gorgas. Sipsey, and Townley. Slope steepness ranges from less than 5 percent on the shoulders to more than 60 percent on some middle and lower slopes. Narrow benches and short rocky drop offs (less than 10 ft drop) occur on some slopes.