Prescribed Burning in the Oak-pine Forest of the New Jersey Pine Barrens: Effects on Growth and Nutrient Dynamics of Two Quercus Species
Boerner RE, Lord TR, Peterson JC. 1988. Prescribed Burning in the Oak-pine Forest of the New Jersey Pine Barrens: Effects on Growth and Nutrient Dynamics of Two Quercus Species. The American Midland Naturalist. 120(1):108-119
Growth, foliar nutrient dynamics and nutrient use efficiency were monitored in Quercus alba and Q. prinus about 60 yr old in neighbouring burned and unburned plots. On the burned plot, growth in the postburn year was 55% (Q. alba) and 38% (Q. prinus) greater than in the 4 yr prior to the fire. On the unburned plot there was no difference in growth rate between preburn and postburn years. Pinus rigida growth also increased as a result of burning but less than that of the oaks. It is concluded that, contrary to earlier reports, sporadic prescribed burning may accelerate succession towards oak dominance in these oak-pine forests. Increases were found in P resorption and Ca deposition in Q. prinus, and in Ca deposition and P growth efficiency in Q. alba as a result of burning
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Boerner, Ralph; Lord, Thomas; Peterson, John
- Units
- PINE
- Keywords
- Ecology, Environmental Impact, Growth, nutrient dynamics, Oak Trees (Quercus), oak-pine forest, Prescribed Burning, Research Article