Aspen Stands as Wildfire Fuel Breaks,

摘要

Fire ignition rates in quaking aspen stands are less than half those for all other cover types in Colorado. These stands do not support rapidly spreading or intense fires due to their low burning index and spread component. Crown fires drop to the ground when they reach quaking aspen stands,and prior to autumn leaf fall,fire spreads only a short distance into the stands. Quaking aspen propagation can be encouraged in the field by severing roots from the main stem;under suitable temperature and light intensity,this stimulates abundant sucker formation. Artificially, quaking aspen can best be propagated through the use of root cuttings.