Radial growth responses of post oak (Quercus stellata) to climate variability and management in southeastern Oklahoma, USA

We investigated radial growth of post oak (Quercus stellata Wangenh.) growing in a range of stand structures (forest to savanna) created in 1984 by different harvesting, thinning, and prescribed fire intervals. We related ring width index (RWI) to monthly and seasonal climate variables and time since fire to assess impacts of climate variability and interactions with management on radial growth. The RWI of all treatments was positively correlated to minimum daily temperature the previous September and precipitation late spring and early summer the current year, and negatively correlated to maximum daily temperatures and drought index late spring – early summer. June weather was most strongly correlated in four of five treatments. While stand structure affected absolute diameter growth, the RWI of savanna and forest stands responded similarly to climate variability, and low intensity prescribed fire did not influence RWI. On average, a 100 mm reduction in June precipitation decreased RWI by 7%, a 1 °C increase in previous-year September daily minimum temperature increased RWI by 3.5%, and a 1 °C increase in June maximum daily temperature decreased RWI by 3.7%. Therefore, negative effects of drought and warmer spring and summer temperatures may be reduced by a longer growing season under warmer climate scenarios. However, management did not appear to influence RWI.