Dwarf Chinkapin Oak (Q prinoides) and old fields

[Shedder]

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1428967.Forests_in_Time

I was looking at Forests in Time: The Environmental Consequences of 1,000 Years of Change in New England and saw this chart. I was surprised to see Dwarf Chinkapin Oak (Quercus prinoides) listed as doing poorly on old plowed land. I would not have thought that. Maybe the DCO I seeded in an old field, last fall, will suffer for it. A researcher I know just did a thesis on old world grass suppressing new world oaks. Maybe that is what is going on here.

 

[TreeDaddy]

What are the implications( if any) re: DCO growth success as an introduced species into old plowed fields?

bill

 

[Shedder]

"Yes, I think this little oak is strongly affected by naturalized agrarian grass species . I have not included Q. prinoides in my formal experiments, but I grow this oak a lot on my farm and in projects. It thrives in old fields that have been converted to native grass & forb cover prior to planting Q. prinoides."

Comment from the researcher.

It doesn't confirm what the limiting factor is for sure but it is a clue.

 

[Shedder]

What are the implications( if any) re: DCO growth success as an introduced species into old plowed fields? bill

It suggests it will not do well but that may be not be the whole story everywhere in all habitats.

I can provide the original paper if needed. It doesn't give clear reasons for its exclusion but it might be of interest. There may be later papers that explain it but I have not looked.