Red Oak Transplanted to Different Bulk Density Soils Have Similar Water Use Characteristics

"Container-grown red oak (Quercus rubra L.) produced in two bulk density growing media (0.4 or 0.9 g cm-3) were transplanted into larger containers filled with Wooster silt loam soil compacted to 1.25, 1.50 and 1.75 g cm-3 densities. Growing media bulk density affected only the number of shoots elongating; there was no significant difference in stem diameter, shoot length and dry weight, leaf area and dry weight and regenerated root dry weight between plants grown in the low or high bulk density production media. Transplant media bulk density affected stem diameter in shoot length; both were significantly less when plants were transplanted to 1.75 g cm-3 than to the 1.50 g cm -3 bulk density soil. Water use, expressed either as whole plant or per unit leaf area, was greater for plants transplanted to 1.50 g cm-3 bulk density soil than those transplanted to 1.25 or 1.75 g cm-3 soil at only three times during the 80 day water use study period: 39, 55 and 69 days after leaf emergence. Transplanting container-grown red oak to high bulk density soils did not greatly affect regrowth potential under non-limiting soil moisture conditions."