
%0 Journal Article
%A Groeschl, DA 
%A Johnson, JE 
%A Smith, DW 
%T Wildfire Effects on Forest Floor and Surface Soil in a Table Mountain Pine-Pitch Pine Forest
%J International Journal of Wildland Fire
%D 1993/09/01
%V 3
%N 3
%P 149-154
%K Shenandoah National Park; Wildfire; Pinus pungens Lamb.; Pinus rigida Mill.; Forest soil; Forest floor.
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/WF9930149
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/WF9930149 
%X Wildfire plays a dominant role in creating die environmental and biological conditions necessary for the natural regeneration of mixed Pinus pungens Lamb. (Table Mountain pine)-Pinus rigida Mill. (pitch pine) forests. This study of forest floor and surface soil properties following a mid-July wildfire in these forests in the Shenandoah National Park revealed significant reductions in nutrient contents. Prolific regeneration of the pines occurred following the fire, with over 9,000 seedling/ha tallied in high severity areas, compared with less than 800 seedlings/ha in unburned areas. It is hypothesized that fire degrades site quality and sets back the site succession process so that the pines are better able to compete with invasive, xeric-site deciduous species like oaks and maples. Adjacent, unburned xeric-site oak forests dominate on more moist and fertile sites. 
