Effect of Prescribed Burning on the Ectomycorrhizal Infectivity of a Forest Soil

Abstract

Ectomycorrhizae formation, seedling health index, and seedling survival were assessed for two-year-old nursery-grown seedlings of Pinus resinosa and Pinus strobus two months after planting in clear-cuts that had received prescribed burning under different fire intensities. Controls consisted of seedlings planted in unburned clear-cuts. Fire intensity positively correlated with percent ectomycorrhizal roots for P. strobus but not for P. resinosa. Seedling health index and survival were highest in burned-over sites as compared to control sites for both pine species. Fire intensity correlated with seedling health index for P. strobus but not for P. resinosa. Fire intensity correlated with seedling survival for both species. Colonization of seedlings by ectomycorrhizal fungi did not correlate with seedling health index or seedling survival. P. resinosa seedlings planted in burned-over sites had a smaller number of lateral roots per unit length primary/secondary roots compared to seedlings planted in control plots.

Effect of Fire Intensity and Depth of Burn on Lowbush Blueberry, <em>Vaccinium angustifolium</em>, and Velvet Leaf Blueberry, <em>Vaccinium myrtilloides</em>, Production in Eastern Ontario

“…As reported by Herr et al (1994), the site is near the Petawawa Research Forest, and is relatively flat, with a difference in elevation of approximately 4 m over 1.0 km. The surface deposit is a fine-grained and deep sand (10-30 m deep) (Gadd 1962) and the soil is a humo-ferric podzol.…”

“…Presently, the stand comprises a mix of Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana), Red Pine (Pinus resinosa) and White Pine (Pinus strobus) with the Red and White pine forming an emergent layer (Herr et al 1994). Although the Jack and Red pine are of similar ages, the Jack Pine has higher relative density and is the dominant tree species on the site.…”

Short-term effect of removing tree competition on the ectomycorrhizal status of a declining pedunculate oak forest (Quercus robur L.)

“…Many studies also report that the ectomycorrhizal community diversity greatly alters after a sylvicultural treatment, such as a clear-cut or severe thinning (Harvey et al, 1980;Herr et al, 1994;Hagerman et al, 1999a;Ballard, 2000;Byrd et al, 2000;Jones et al, 2003;Buée et al, 2005;Smith et al, 2005).…”

Fire Effects on Soils in Lake States Forests: A Compilation of Published Research to Facilitate Long-Term Investigations

“…The effects of fire on soil microorganisms may differ among plant species. For example, colonization by ectomycorrhizae was positively correlated with fire intensity for eastern white pine (P. strobus L.) seedlings but not for red pine seedlings planted in a burned jack pine clearcut [56]. The existing data provide very limited insight into fire effects on soil ecosystem processes in the Lake States region, and the need to resolve these gaps is clear.…”