Cataloging Information
Ecological - First Order
Fire Intensity / Burn Severity
Fuel Consumption
Ecological - Second Order
Soils
Fire Regime
Experimental burns were conducted on 36 plots in mixed conifer logging slash in northern Idaho to investigate consumption of duff and woody fuel. Fires were conducted in spring and fall, in YUM (yarded unmerchantable material) and non-YUM dearcuts and seed-tree cuts. Preburn duff depth averaged 3.8 cm and consisted of a shallow layer of decomposing litter, averaging 2 cm, interspersed with deep pockets of rotten wood averaging 13 cm. Preburn total woody fuel quantities ranged from 63 to 193 t/ha. Regression relationships between fuel consumption and fuel characteristics were developed. Duff depth reduction was related to preburn duff depth and to a lesser extent, duff moisture content. Percent duff consumption and mineral soil exposure were related negatively to duff moisture and positively to large fuel (diameter > 7.6 cm) diameter reduction. Diameter reduction of large fuel pieces was positively related to preburn diameter and negatively related to measured moisture content. Consumption of rotten material was greater than that of sound material. These relationships were compared to other empirical fuel consumption models and a theoretical model in predicting our fuel consumption. The relationships presented here can be used to predict duff and woody fuel consumption from prescribed burning in logging slash in the mixed conifer type of the northern Rocky Mountains.
Citation
Access this Document
Treesearch
publication access with no paywall
Check to see if this document is available for free in the USDA Forest Service Treesearch collection of publications. The collection includes peer reviewed publications in scientific journals, books, conference proceedings, and reports produced by Forest Service employees, as well as science synthesis publications and other products from Forest Service Research Stations.