Development of cherrybark oak and sweet gum in mixed, even-aged bottomland stands in central Mississippi, U.S.A.

Abstract

Development of even-aged mixed cherrybark oak (Quercusfalcata var. pagodifolia Ell.) and sweet gum (Liquidambarstyraciflua L.) stands was examined over a range of stand densities and ages in minor river bottoms of central Mississippi, U.S.A. Two stand development patterns were documented based on average spacing between dominant and codominant trees during the pole stage of development: a "restricted" pattern and an "unrestricted" pattern. The restricted pattern occurred at average spacings of less than 5.5 m. Here cherrybark oak was initially shorter than sweet gum but was able to outgrow and stratify above sweet gum when the stand was 20 to 25 years of age. Dominant and codominant cherrybark oaks averaged 61 cm in diameter, 34 m in height, and had 15 m of merchantable height at 58 years. The unrestricted pattern was found where cherrybark oak was either a few years older than sweet gum or was essentially open grown, with dominant and codominant trees of either species being more than 5.5 m apart. The unrestricted pattern resulted in cherrybark oak attaining less than 8 m of clear merchantable length and diameters of 56 cm in 40 years. The spacing of interacting trees appears to be responsible for the differences between the two development patterns in the timing and rate of cherrybark oak crown expansion, diameter growth, and length of the merchantable bole.