Abstract
Abstract.The effects of burning cycles and pine basal area levels were assessed on natural pine regeneration and hardwood development in uneven-aged stands of loblolly andshortleafpines (Pinw taeda L. and P. echinata Mill.). The treatments included an unburned control and prescribed winter burrs at 3-, 6-, and 9-yr intervals. Basal area treatments were 9, 14, 18, and 23 m
2 ha
-1 for the merchantable-pine component and were maintained on a 6-yr cutting cycle using single-tree selection. Ten years after&e study was initiated, density and quadratstocking of pine regeneration were negatively correlated with overstorey basal area. The 6-yr burning cycle had higher pine density and better quadrat stocking of pine regeneration compared with any other bum treatment mainly because the 6-yr burning cycle coincided with a bumper pine seedcropand the 6-yr cutting cycle. Recurring fires tended to result in reduced size of hardwood competition but had less impact on hardwood density. When considering a prescribed burning program in uneven-aged stands of loblolly and shortleaf pines, more attention should be given to density, quadrat stocking, and size of established pine regeneration and to expected seedcrops rather than to the prosecution of rigid burning schedules.
Keywords
Basalarea,
Burning cycles,
Cutting cycles,
Fireline intensity,
Loblolly pine,
Shortleaf pine,
Selection management,
Southern Arkansas
Citation
Cain, Michael D. 1993. A 10-Year Evaluation of Prescribed Winter Burns in Uneven-Aged Stands of Pinus taeda L. and P. echinata Mill.: Woody Understorey Vegetation Response. Inf. J. WildFire3(l): 13-20.1993
