Best Practice Knowledge Base

1.5 Prescribed burning

photo

Pine stand after prescribed burning in Solsona, Spain © Hernán Serrano-León

The use of fire as a site preparation method is a widely adopted practice to remove grass and shrub vegetation before regenerating tree species. Controlled burns are applied to reduce fuel loads, eliminate competing vegetation, and prepare the site for tree planting. By burning off grass and shrubs, fire clears the ground, reduces competition for water and nutrients, and can improve soil conditions by releasing nutrients stored in the vegetation. This technique not only facilitates the establishment and growth of new tree species but also enhances seedbed conditions by creating a mineral soil seedbed that is optimal for germination. Careful planning is essential to ensure that fire is applied under appropriate weather conditions to prevent unintended damage to the ecosystem.

I. Guidelines

Title Author Year Focus Region Language Summary
1 Prescribed burning - Forest land USDA 2012 US English Simple guide for prescribed burning
2 Fire as a forest management tool: Prescribed burning in the southern United States Wade and Lundsford 1990 US English Introduction and recommendations for prescribed burning for different purposes, including site preparation
3 Planning a Prescribed Burn Oregon State University Extension Service 2022 US English Guide for prescribed burning
4 Prescribed Burning USDA 2016 US English Guide for prescribed burning
5 Best Practice Principles for Prescribed Burning AFAC 2017 Australia and New Zealand English Principles and guidelines for prescribed burning
6 Prescribed Fire for Upland Oaks White Oak Initiative 2023 US English Detailed guide for prescribed burning to promote oak regeneration
7 Recomendaciones téncicas para la gestión de quemas controladas y quemas prescritas Comité de Lucha contra Incendios Forestales 2021 Spain Spanish Detailed guide for prescribed burning

 

II. Books or book chapters

Title Author Chapter Chapter author Year Focus region Language Summary
1 Forest regeneration manual Duryea and Dougherty Prescribed burning for regeneration; Chemical and mechanical site preparation; Fertilization of southern pines at establishment   1991 US English Basics on site preparation for tree planting
2 The practice of silviculture: Applied forest ecology Ashton and Kelty Site treatments - Treatment of the forest floor and competing vegetation   2017 World English Prescribed burning as a method to reduce or eliminate undersirable vegetation
3 Silviculture: Concepts and Applications Nyland Site preparation - Prescribed burning as a tool of silviculture   2016 US English Main cosniderations and methods for prescribed burning for site preparation

 

III. Scientific articles

Title Author Year Focus region Language Type Summary
1 Compares the effects of seed predation, prescribed burning and vegetation brushing on Spanish black pine recruitment Lucas-Borja et al. 2016 Spain English Experiment Compares the effects of seed predation, prescribed burning and vegetation brushing on Spanish black pine recruitment
2 Examines long-term regeneration dynamics of prescribed burning and thinning on tree regeneration Zald et al. 2024 US English Experiment Examines long-term regeneration dynamics of prescribed burning and thinning on tree regeneration
3 Effects of mechanical thinning and prescribed burning on natural Pinus ponderosa regeneration in pine forests Wassermann et al. 2021 US English Narrative review Effects of mechanical thinning and prescribed burning on natural Pinus ponderosa regeneration in pine forests
4 Effects of low-intensity prescribed fires on composition and structure of the advanced regeneration under hardwood stands Barnes and Van Lear 1998 US English Experiment Effects of low-intensity prescribed fires on composition and structure of the advanced regeneration under hardwood stands

 

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