Forest soil response to fuel reduction treatments in the Southern Appalachian MountainsThis article is part of a larger document. View the larger document here.
The National Fire and Fire Surrogate Study (FFS) was established to monitor the impacts of fuel reduction treatments (prescribed fire-only, mechanical fuel reduction-only, and a combination of prescribed fire and mechanical fuel reduction) on a host of ecosystem properties at 13 sites across the United States. Treatment impacts were monitored on the Southern Appalachian Mountain FFS site for three to four years following treatment. Control and treatment means for forest floor C:N ratio, soil extractable calcium, and the Ca:Al molar ratio differed one to two years posttreatment. These differences were not noted three to four years posttreatment, but differences were noted for soil extractable iron and soil pH. Results from this analysis suggest that these treatments were applied under the appropriate conditions and guidelines to conserve forest soil resources.