Viability of Litter-Stored Quercus falcata Michx. Acorns After Simulated Prescribed Winter Burns

Abstract

Partially stratified (11 days) southern red oak (Quercus falcata Michx.) acorns were placed at three depths in a reconstructed forest floor and subjected to simulated prescribed winter burns. Within the forest floor, acorns were placed within the L layer, at the upper-F/lower-F interface, and at the lower-F/mineral-soil interface. Winds for a backfire and headfire were generated by electric box-fans. After the burns, acorns were transferred to moist sand flats, stratified for an additional 16 days, then assessed for viability during a 45-day germination test. As depth within the forest floor increased, germinative capacity of acorns increased. All acorns placed within the L layer during prescribed burning failed to germinate. Germinative capacity of acorns placed at the upper-F/lower-F interface was lower (P=0.03) in the backfire (8.75%) than in the headfire (55.00%). At the lower-F/mineral-soil interface, there was no difference (P=0.09) in germinative capacity between backfire (92%) and headfire (89%), and their mean was no different (P=0.26) than the 93% achieved by unburned control acorns.