VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Quercus muehlenbergii | Chinkapin Oak 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Wood of chinkapin oak is dark brown with a narrow, pale sapwood; it is
hard, heavy, strong, and durable [66].  These characteristics make it a
valuable wood for many uses [48].  It is commonly used as sawtimber and
is considered a member of the select white oak group [49].

When properly dried and treated, oak wood glues well, machines very
well, and accepts a variety of finishes [43].  It is widely used for
cabinets, furniture, pallets, and containers [43,53].  Oak wood was
traditionally used for railroad ties [53] and is commonly cut for
firewood [17].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Browse and acorns of chinkapin oak are important to a wide variety of
birds and mammals [23].  Oak browse is often eaten by deer and rabbits;
rabbits sometimes girdle small trees [28].  Beaver feed on the bark and
twigs [23], and porcupines consume the bark [71].

The acorns of chinkapin oak are a high quality, dependable food source
[30,52].  Mice, squirrels, voles, other small mammals, and white-tailed
deer consume the acorns of chinkapin oak [13,52,65].  Acorns are an
especially important fall food item for the black bear [54]; the
relative abundance of fall mast crops can affect black bear reproductive
success during the following year [21].

The acorns of chinkapin oak are a particularly important food item for
the red-headed woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, northern bobwhite,
and blue jay [64].  Other bird species that feed on acorns include the
ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, ring-necked pheasant, wild turkey,
common crow, northern flicker, grackle, blue jay, brown thrasher, tufted
titmouse, starling, lesser prairie chicken, chickadees, nuthatches, and
waterfowl [38,52,71].


PALATABILITY : 
Browse:  In general, the palatability of oak browse is relatively high
for livestock and many wildlife species.  Eastern oaks are preferred
browse of white-tailed deer in some locations [71].  New growth is
particularly palatable to deer and rabbits [28].

Acorns:  The acorns of chinkapin oak are sweet and highly palatable to
many species of birds and mammals [23].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Browse:  Nutrient content of oak leaves has been reported as follows
[45]:

      Dry              Crude      Ether     N-free
      matter    Ash    fiber     extract    extract     Protein      
      ---------------------percent dry matter------------------               

      100      56      27.4        2.5         54.3           10.2            
            
Acorns:  Most acorns are nutritious [28] and high in carbohydrates [29].
Acorns of the white oaks are generally low in lipids (5 to 10 percent)
and tannins (0.5 to 2.5 percent) [62].


COVER VALUE : 
Chinkapin oak provides good cover for a variety of bird and mammal
species.  Young oaks with low branches serve as particularly good winter
cover [59].  Oak leaves often persist longer than those of many other
plant associates, and in some areas, young oaks may represent the only
brushy winter cover in dense pole stands [59].  In the pine-oak zone of
Texas, species such as chinkapin oak provide shade for pronghorns [16].
Oaks frequently serve as perching or nesting sites for various species
of songbirds [18].  The well-developed crowns provide shelter and hiding
cover for tree squirrels and other small mammals.  Many species of birds
and mammals use twigs and leaves as nesting material [39].  Large oaks
provide denning sites for a variety of mammals [18].


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Chinkapin oak can be readily propagated through seed.  Attempts to root
stem cuttings or propagate through budding have been largely
unsuccessful [23].  Details on propagation techniques are available
[9,23,46].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Acorns were an important food source for Native American peoples [71].
The acorns of chinkapin oak are sweet and edible when roasted [11].
Chinkapin oak is an attractive shade tree [48]; it was first cultivated
in 1822 [46].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Silviculture:  Oaks often regenerate poorly after timber harvest.
Hannah [28] reported that the use of natural seedbeds and standard
hardwood silvicultural practices are often ineffectual in promoting oak
regeneration.  Vigorous, advanced regeneration is essential for
producing good stands of oak after timber harvest [18,47,57].  For
adequate regeneration of oaks, advanced regeneration at least 4.5 feet
(1.4 m) in height should number at least 435 per acre (176/ha) prior to
harvest.  A series of selection cuts can produce stands with several age
classes and can generate sufficient advanced regeneration for
well-stocked, postharvest stands.  Initial cuts should reduce overstory
densities to no less than 60 percent stocking.  Reduction of competing
understory species may be necessary in some instances [57].

Chemical control:  Oaks often produce basal sprouts in response to
herbicide treatments [24].  Herbicides such as tebuthiuron and triclopyr
can reduce crowns of chinkapin oaks by 88 to 98 percent and kill 74 to
94 percent of chinkapin oak trees [67].

Insects/disease:  Chinkapin oak is relatively resistant to insects and
disease [48].  It is, however, susceptible to attack by oak wilt, acorn
weevils, and the gypsy moth [23].

Related categories for Species: Quercus muehlenbergii | Chinkapin Oak