Prescribed burning for oak savanna restoration in central Minnesota.

Alan S. White

doi:10.2737/NC-RP-266

Treesearch

Prescribed burning for oak savanna restoration in central Minnesota.

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Alan S. White

Year:

1986

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/NC-RP-266

Source:

Research Paper NC-266. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station

Download (PDF 2.49 MB)

Download (PDF 2.49 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/10053.pdf

Abstract

Low intensity, spring prescribed burns have been used since 1964 at the Cedar Creek Natural History Area in Minnesota in an attempt to restore the area to an oak savanna. Burned areas are now more savanna like (having greater grass and forb and lower shrub and lower tree representation) than unburned areas but still have higher overstory densities than apparently existed in presettlement times. No particular burning frequency could be distinguished as best for savanna restoration. Results indicated a possible interaction between fire effects and pretreatment and stand structure and composition.

Keywords

fire ecology, fire effects, prescribed burning, oak, savanna

Citation

White, Alan S. 1986. Prescribed burning for oak savanna restoration in central Minnesota. Research Paper NC-266. St. Paul, MN: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experiment Station