Effects of fire on shortleaf and loblolly pine reproduction and its potential use in shortleaf/oak/hickory ecosystem restoration (1998)Williams, R.A. (1998) Effects of fire on shortleaf and loblolly pine reproduction and its potential use in shortleaf/oak/hickory ecosystem restoration. Proceedings of the Ninth Biennial Southern Silvicultural Research Conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-20. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station, p. 321-325. Retrieved from https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/gtr/gtr_srs020/index.htm The shortleaf pine/oak-hickory (Pinus echinata Mill, Quercus spp., Carya spp.) forest, once the dominant forest community across north Louisiana, has slowly disappeared from the landscape, and is being replaced by loblolly pine (P. taeda L.), mixed hardwood/loblolly, and loblolly/shortleaf forests. One of the reasons for the demise of this fire-dependent ecosystem has been effective fire suppression programs. A study was established in three stands of the Kisatchie National Forest in north Louisiana, comprising a loblolly/shortleaf pine overstory, that were prescribed burned. A regeneration survey two growing seasons following fire revealed that 52 percent to 86 percent of the post-fire pine regeneration was from sprouts, and that 92 percent to 100 percent of these sprouts were shortleaf pine. Loblolly pine accounted for 55 percent to 100 percent of the new seedling germinants after fire. Sprout size averaged 11.2 inches in total height and 0.116 inches in groundline diameter, compared to 4.8 inches total height and 0.060 inches groundline diameter for post-fire seedling germinants. No significant difference was found in sprout size between shortleaf and loblolly pines. Loblolly pine seedlings produced an average of 1.7 sprouts per seedling compared to 2.1 sprouts for shortleaf. The role of fire in the shortleaf pine/oak-hickory forest ecosystem and its potential use in ecosystem restoration is discussed https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/gtr/gtr_srs020/index.htm
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