Description

Prescribed fire every 2 to 4 years is an important component of longleaf pine ecosystem restoration. Under some circumstances, repeated fire could change soil physical properties on the Western Gulf Coastal Plain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the soil bulk density, porosity fractions, and plant-available water holding capacity of restored longleaf pine on the Western Gulf Coastal Plain in response to two vegetation management alternatives that included the application of three prescribed fires over a 6-year period. Soil microporosity and plant-available water holding capacity were influenced by both vegetation management alternatives indicating that a reduction in the perturbation of soil by roots may be a mechanism of soil physical property change. Apparent soil texture effects on plant-available water holding capacity suggest that further research is needed to determine if repeated prescribed fire exacerbates the naturally low plant-available water holding capacity of some soils on the Western Gulf Coastal Plain.