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Effect of Periodic Burning on Soil Nitrogen Concentrations in Ponderosa Pine
Author(s) -
Covington W. W.,
Sackett S. S.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1986.03615995005000020040x
Subject(s) - pinus <genus> , prescribed burn , nitrogen , environmental science , significant difference , zoology , forestry , agronomy , botany , chemistry , biology , mathematics , geography , organic chemistry , statistics
To determine the effects of different burning intervals on soil N status in substands of sapling‐, pole‐, and sawtimber‐sized ponderosa pine ( Pinus ponderosa Laws.) we sampled plots burned at 1‐, 2‐, and 4‐yr intervals by three strata at two depths (0–5 and 5–15 cm). Generally, NH 4 + and NO 3 ‐ concentrations were higher on plots repeatedly burned than on unburned controls. However, plots not reburned for 4 to 5 yr had concentrations similar to controls. No significant difference in total (organically bound) N was found among treatments. We conclude that frequent periodic burning can be used to enhance N availability in southwestern ponderosa pine sites.