Day 3 highlights were all about our site visit and sampling in a reforestation stand in the College Forests. After a brief introduction on sampling methods and the statistics around the reforestation numbers, we drove out to the site and met up with Eric Dinger. Eric gave a great presentation on the biology and management of reforestation including a discussion on how reforestation fits in the scheme of succession dynamics. Good discussion on stand targeting and management practices from the critical point of nursery quality, to planting practices and competition release.

Students were sent out to make personal observations and then we all came back together to discuss.

Great discussion on the importance of root quality and morphology and the importance of the fine root hair system to rapid seedling growth and survival. Eric then dug down along the side of  one of the seedlings to expose the root system structure and the importance of the fibrous nature of a good and viable seedling

Eric showing how to assess damage in a dead seedling, looking for cause whether it be browse, or other aspect. He showed students how to pull and assess dead seedling by examination of the roots, or lack of. In this case, very evident of a seedling that was probably dead on planting due to the container root still being in it’s planted condition.

After the talk we had lunch on the landing and students went out to put in plots and perform the stocking survey. At the end of the day we returned to the Cabin and worked on calculation and results. Spent time on the correct calculation of confidence limits. The day wrapped up with a discussion on the preparation of a summary report and the importance of being brief yet precise on writing the summary. Spent time doing a verbal writing of the abstract.