Growth and Structural Development of Red Oak Sprout Clumps

Abstract

Abstract Living sprouts were found on 41 percent of 542 northern red oak ( Quercus rubra L.) stumps in 4- to 23-year-old stands originating from 73- to 117-year-old parent stands. Percent of stumps with living sprouts is predictable from parent tree dbh: sprouting declined from 56 percent for 8-inch (20.3 cm) trees to 0 percent for 26-inch (66.0 cm) trees. Stumps of large parent trees initially tended to produce greater numbers of sprouts per clump, but by age 23 the number averaged about four stems per clump regardless of parent tree dbh. Height growth of the dominant stem in each clump was positively associated with site quality and number of stems per clump; the effect of site increased with age but that of number of stems decreased with age. Results suggest that 30 to 40 red oak sprout clumps per acre (74 to 99 per hectare) might account for one-third or more of stand basal area by age 20. Forest Sci. 21:413-418.