Article by Dr. John Lhotka

In Kentucky and its surrounding states, much concern exists about the long-term sustainability of white oak-dominated forests. While many research studies in the region have evaluated methods for regenerating oak forests, few efforts have tested forestry practices for enhancing oak-sapling competitiveness in regenerated stands undergoing initial phases of stand development. A common issue in recently regenerated stands is that oak trees, while present, have been drastically outgrown by more aggressive non-oak competitors. 

In direct response to this critical oak management issue and the lack of existing research, a team of UK FNR faculty members has initiated a research project to study the growth and physiologic response of white oak saplings to pre-commercial thinning practices designed to promote the recruitment of oak trees into competitive, overstory crown positions. The project was established in collaboration with Berea College Forest and its research efforts synergistically blend the expertise of three FNR faculty: Dr. John Lhotka (silviculture), Dr. Lance Vickers (forest management and stand dynamics), and Dr. Sybil Gotsch (forest ecophysiology). 

The project has already served as a platform to support undergraduate research experiences. For example, Nick Harpe, a UK forestry senior, worked on the sites collecting research data throughout the summer of 2023. Beyond its research impacts, the project’s sites and data will be integrated into educational activities associated with the department’s forestry curriculum and silviculture Extension programming. Ultimately, this long-term project will expand our understanding of how white oak trees respond to early release treatments, the physiologic mechanisms behind white oak’s growth responses, and how best to implement silvicultural practices to promote successful oak recruitment.