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Energy content in dried leaf litter of some oaks and mixed mesophytic species that replace oaks

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Mixed-mesophytic hardwood tree species are replacing upland oaks in vast areas of the Eastern United States deciduous forest. Some researchers have suggested that the leaf litter of mixed-mesophytic, oak replacement species renders forests less flammable where forest managers wish to restore a natural fire regime. We performed chemical analyses on dried leaf litter from select oak and oak replacement tree species. The litter of oak replacement species was lower in calorific value and higher in mineral ash content than that of oaks. These results support a feedback theory that the flammability of oak litter favors the perpetuation of oaks over fire-sensitive species. Incorporating this information into fuel and fire behavior models will assist forest managers in planning prescribed burning operations in areas where mixed mesophytic hardwood tree species are replacing oaks.

Parent Publication

Citation

Stottlemyer, Aaron D.; Wang, G. Geoff; Brose, Patrick H.; Waldrop, Thomas A. 2010. Energy content in dried leaf litter of some oaks and mixed mesophytic species that replace oaks. In: Stanturf, John A., ed. 2010. Proceedings of the 14th biennial southern silvicultural research conference. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS–121. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. 295-296.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/35828