The use of prescribed fire to maintain and restore oak (Quercus spp.) ecosystems is becoming an increasingly accepted silvicultural tool; however, specific management recommendations have been slow to develop as past studies have shown mixed results. By examining fire behavior and post-burn tree response this study attempted to offer further insight into the use of prescribed fire to effectively regenerate oak.
Prescribed burns were performed in 2004 in two Ohio mixed-oak forests that encompassed 96 and 170 hectares. One forest was burned late-March and the other was burned early-November. Within the two study areas, sites were chosen that were representative of different aspects and slope positions. In each site, selected oak and red maple (Acer rubrum) seedlings and saplings were measured, fuel was characterized, and temperature gauges were installed, prior to the burns. Immediately after the burns, temperature gauges were collected and the readings recorded. One full growing season after each burn, oak and red maple seedlings and saplings were evaluated for mortality and sprout response.
Fall burn fire temperatures were significantly hotter than the spring burn across all aspects and slope positions. Temperature gauges also indicated that flame lengths were higher during the fall burn. Oak and red maple were both found to exhibit a positive correlation between fire temperature and number of sprouts produced. Red maple
showed a more prolific sprouting response than oak in terms of sprouts per stem; however, oak stems produced significantly taller sprouts than red maple.
The results of this study did not show conclusive evidence that a single fire enhances oak regeneration. In fact, some of the data suggests that a single fire may actually benefit red maple. A longer-term study that tracks the canopy ascension of such sprouts would be needed to assess the end result of such a burn.