Prescribed Burning in an Aspen – Mixed Hardwood Forest

The effects of prescribed burning and complete clearcutting on Populustremuloides and associated hardwoods and shrubs were compared for 8 years after commercial harvest of a 60-year-old P. tremuloides stand. Because of the lack of suitable burning weather, P. tremuloides suckers were 2 years old before the burn could be made. All suckers were killed by fire and new suckers were more numerous but less vigorous, probably because of heat damage to shallow sucker-producing roots, loss of nitrogen, and reduced root carbohydrate reserves. Although prescribed fire can effectively control residual hardwood overstories detrimental to P. tremuloides sucker growth and survival, the long term effect of fire on sucker growth is unknown. Fire can be used to prepare sites for P. tremuloides regeneration when other methods are unavailable or impractical. Burning should be done during the first dormant season following logging. Effort should be made to distribute slash uniformly to provide even burning conditions. Burning prescription guidelines are given.