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Seedbed Requirements For Regenerating Table Mountain Pine With Prescribed Fire

Informally Refereed

Abstract

High-intensity, stand-replacement fires have been recommnded to regenerate stands of Table Mountain pine (Pinus pungens Lamb.) because its seeds require mineral soil to germinate and seedlings are intolerant of shade. Early prescribed fire efforts resulted in poor regeneration success where crown fires created seedbeds with abundant insolation. This study examnined regeneration success over a range of shading and duff depth conditions in the field and in a greenhouse. in both trials, stem denisties what would adequately regenerate Table Mountain pine stands were found on seedbeds with abundanct insolation and this duff. However, stem density was significantly higher under moderate shade and on duff up to 3 in. think. Thesse findings suggest that prescribed fires of suffcient intensity to eliminate shade and expose mineral soil are unnecessary to successfully regenerate Table Mountain pine.

Citation

Waldrop, Thomas A.; Mohr, Helen H.; Brose, Patrick H.; Baker, Richard B. 1999. Seedbed Requirements For Regenerating Table Mountain Pine With Prescribed Fire. Paper presented at the Tenth Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference, Shreveport, LA, February 16-18, 1999
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/2149