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International Journal of Wildland Fire International Journal of Wildland Fire Society
Journal of the International Association of Wildland Fire
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Wildfire Effects on Forest Floor and Surface Soil in a Table Mountain Pine-Pitch Pine Forest

DA Groeschl, JE Johnson and DW Smith

International Journal of Wildland Fire 3(3) 149 - 154
Published: 1993

Abstract

Wildfire plays a dominant role in creating die environmental and biological conditions necessary for the natural regeneration of mixed Pinus pungens Lamb. (Table Mountain pine)-Pinus rigida Mill. (pitch pine) forests. This study of forest floor and surface soil properties following a mid-July wildfire in these forests in the Shenandoah National Park revealed significant reductions in nutrient contents. Prolific regeneration of the pines occurred following the fire, with over 9,000 seedling/ha tallied in high severity areas, compared with less than 800 seedlings/ha in unburned areas. It is hypothesized that fire degrades site quality and sets back the site succession process so that the pines are better able to compete with invasive, xeric-site deciduous species like oaks and maples. Adjacent, unburned xeric-site oak forests dominate on more moist and fertile sites.

Keywords: Shenandoah National Park; Wildfire; Pinus pungens Lamb.; Pinus rigida Mill.; Forest soil; Forest floor.

https://doi.org/10.1071/WF9930149

© IAWF 1993

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