Survival and 14-year growth of black, white, and swamp white oaks established as bareroot and RPMm®-Containerized planting stock

Abstract

In this study, we report the results of a comparison of 5-year survival and 14-year growth of black, white, and swamp white oaks grown from planting stock produced by a conventional bareroot method and stock produced by the Root Production Method (RPM) of Forrest Keeling Nursery. Five-year survival was 100% for black and white oak grown from RPM-stock, but only 63 and 75%, respectively, for trees grown from bareroot stock. The odds ratio for survival of RPM-planting stock of black and white oaks compared to bareroot stock were 21.9 and 12.1, respectively. All swamp white oak survived. After 14 years, diameter growth was greater for the RPM-than bareroot planting stock and ranged from a 35% increase in black oak to a 6% increase in swamp white oak. Average aboveground fresh weight for trees from RPM-planting stock equaled 530 lb compared to 333 lb for trees from bareroot seedlings (P < 0.0001). Compared with traditional bareroot seedlings, survival and growth of RPMm® oak planting stock was greater through 14 years © 2013 by the Society of American Foresters.