The impact of strip clearcutting on red oak seedling development

A mature upland yellow-poplar/red oak stand was harvested using an alternating strip clearcut method. Red oak seedlings were planted across a light gradient between the cut and residual strips to assess the potential ability of the residual strips to foster the development of competitive oak seedlings over time. After one growing season, no differences in seedling diameter and height growth or survival were detected across the planting positions. Planting shock and drought were assumed to have affected year 1 results.