Prescribed fire effects on structure in uneven-aged stands of loblolly and shortleaf pines

Abstract

Structure was assessed in uneven-aged stands of loblolly (Pinus taeda) and shortleaf pine (P. echinata) that were subjected to prescribed winter burns on cycles of 0, 3, 6, and 9 years. Vegetation assessments were made in late summer of 1990, 10 years after a single hardwood control treatment (basal injection of non-pine woody plants >2.5 cm in groundline diameter with Tordon® 101 R); 1 year after the fourth 3-year burn cycle; 4 years after the second 6-year burn cycle; and 1 year after the second 9-year burn cycle. Compared to unburned controls, prescribed burning tended to increase (P # 0.008) percent ground cover from graminoids and composites. For understory woody plants that were >1 m tall but /= = 0.853) or basal area (P = 0.477, >/= = 0.898) for sapling-size stems (2.5-8.9 cm d.b.h.), but species diversity of saplings was lower (P = 0.002) on plots prescribe burned at 3-year intervals as compared to other treatments.

Citation

Cain, Michael D.; Wigley, T. Bently; Reed, Derik J. 1998. Prescribed fire effects on structure in uneven-aged stands of loblolly and shortleaf pines. Wildlife Society Bulletin. 26(2): 209-218.