Shumard Oaks Successfully Planted on High pH Soils

Shumard oak was successfully planted on high pH (7.8-8.0) Mississippi River alluvium soils where some other planted red oaks had failed. Survival and growth have been good through ages 10, 11, and 25 years in three separate plantings. Shumard oak on high pH soils, in addition to producing timber, would allow a consistent mast-producing tree on sites normally void of oaks. Addltional keywords: Quercus shumardii, alluvial soils, riverfront, artificial regeneration. areas had been cleared of a natural, mixed hardwood stand and prepared for planting by shearing, root raking, and disking. Oaks had not been present in the original forest. Nursery-grown, 1-O bareroot seedlings were handplanted at loby 1 O-foot spacings on 1 /l O-1 /2 acre plots. Plantings were clean cultivated during the first growing season, but no intensive weed control was applied afterwards. Sunrival, diameters, and heights were periodically measured.