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<p>Eastern redcedar (<i>Juniperus virginiana</i>; ERC) encroachment in upland xeric oak forests of the Cross Timbers ecoregion may raise fire risk due to increased fuel loading and ladder fuels. However, the magnitude of fire risk is not well known or defined. Effects of common ERC mechanical treatments are also not well understood in upland xeric oak forests with ERC encroachment. We burned 65 plots approximately two months after applying mechanical treatments across five forest stands to better understand prescribed fire behavior under controlled and monitored conditions. Our results indicated individual fuel loading classes did not significantly affect maximum flame height. However, flame height was higher in areas with more dead ERC fuels, higher live crown ratio and high total fuel loading, whereas flame height was lower with more live ERC and higher basal area. Our ERC treatments were intended to emulate common management techniques addressing species composition, forest health and wildfire mitigation. ERC mechanical treatment which increases dead ERC fuel loading prior to using prescribed fire may result in increased fire intensity. This information is helpful for state and private non-industrial forest landowners with multiple-use objectives.</p>

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Effects of Eastern Redcedar Treatment on Prescribed Fire in the Cross Timbers Ecoregion, USA

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月2日

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  • Sydny R. Hager,
  • Ryan D. DeSantis,
  • Lu Zhai,
  • John R. Weir

摘要

Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana; ERC) encroachment in upland xeric oak forests of the Cross Timbers ecoregion may raise fire risk due to increased fuel loading and ladder fuels. However, the magnitude of fire risk is not well known or defined. Effects of common ERC mechanical treatments are also not well understood in upland xeric oak forests with ERC encroachment. We burned 65 plots approximately two months after applying mechanical treatments across five forest stands to better understand prescribed fire behavior under controlled and monitored conditions. Our results indicated individual fuel loading classes did not significantly affect maximum flame height. However, flame height was higher in areas with more dead ERC fuels, higher live crown ratio and high total fuel loading, whereas flame height was lower with more live ERC and higher basal area. Our ERC treatments were intended to emulate common management techniques addressing species composition, forest health and wildfire mitigation. ERC mechanical treatment which increases dead ERC fuel loading prior to using prescribed fire may result in increased fire intensity. This information is helpful for state and private non-industrial forest landowners with multiple-use objectives.