Title: Responses of oak and other hardwood regeneration to prescribed fire: what we know as of 2005

Author: Brose, Patrick H.; Schuler, Thomas M.; Ward, Jeffrey S.

Year: 2006

Publication: In: Dickinson, Matthew B., ed. 2006. Fire in eastern oak forests: delivering science to land managers, proceedings of a conference; 2005 November 15-17; Columbus, OH. Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-1. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 123-135.

Abstract: An obstacle to using prescribed fire to manage mixed oak forests is the varied results of previous fire studies. It has been reported that fires enhanced, hindered, or had no effect on the competitive position of oak in the regeneration pool. We review a portion of the published literature and identify key factors that led to the relative competitiveness of oak reproduction benefiting from or being harmed by prescribed fires. These key factors are synthesized into general guidelines to help practitioners understand how fire can be a positive force in the oak regeneration process. We also point out some situations where fire hinders the competitive position of the oak regeneration, and provide suggestions for researchers studying fire in mixed oak forests.