Tree-Growth and Understory Responses to Low-Severity Prescribed Burning in Thinned Pinus ponderosa Forests of Central Oregon

摘要

The growth of ponderosa pine and associated understory vegetation was evaluated for a 6 fy period following spring underburning of surface fuels. Underburn and control (unburned) plots were paired at 15 replicate sites in pole-sized ponderosa pine forests of central Oregon. The burns were generally low in severity, as noted by low O horizon mass reduction (24/100) and tree mortality (6/100). A small but significant decline in basal area and volume growth rates of surviving trees was found in the 6 yr follwing underburning.