Oaks are keystone species in the woodland and savanna ecosystems of the Midwestern United States. However, the current closed canopy structure is limiting regeneration of shade intolerant oaks. Current restoration practices involve canopy manipulation and controlled burning to increase available light. Soils have profound impacts on forest ecosytem functions, but the impacts of these silvicultural practices on soil properties and processes are weakly understood. In October 2007 through Feburary 2008, silvivicultural treatments were applied to a 30-acre oak forest near Big Rock Visitor Station in the The Morton Arboretum's East Woods. Three treatments (thin, gap, and thin+gap) were replicated in 6 circular (250 square meter) nested plots. Corresponding control subplots were established for each nested plot. Gap treatments consisted of removing all canopy trees and thinning involved removing understory trees to ground level within the plot. In 2008, two trees (Quercus alba) and two shrubs (Corylus americana) were planted at random loactions within each subplot. Growth measurements on these trees will be collected in March and November 2009. Annually, soil will be collected and analyzed for microbial biomass, pH, EC, exchangeable K, Ca, Mg, and Na, and soil organic matter fractions. In-situ measurments of soil temperature and moisture, soil radiation, and air temperature will be performed. This project is funded in part by the Grand Victoria Foundation. Kurt Dreisilker, Robert Fahey, and Marlin Bowles are collaborators on the project.

SOWS - Soils and Oak Woodland Silviculture (2007 and forward)

Felling trees to create gaps (left), ground view of created gap (center), and aerial view of created gap (right) in the Morton Arboretum East Woods.