FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Quercus havardii | Sand Shinnery Oak 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Sand shinnery oak is very fire tolerant [52,53].  Underground
regenerative structures often survive after aboveground vegetation is
consumed by fire [51].

Most acorns are characterized by a relatively high water content.  When
heated by fire, the moisture within the acorn causes the seed to expand
and burst [55].  Thus, fire generally destroys acorns present on-site.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Sand shinnery oak generally sprouts vigorously after fire [51].  When
the aboveground stem is killed, buds located near the soil surface on
rhizomes or underground stems sprout and give rise to new plants [32].
After fire in southeastern New Mexico, stem densities increased more
than 15 percent during the first postfire year.  However, no acorns were
produced during this year [52].

Limited seedling establishment may occur on good sites in unusually
favorable years from seed transported on-site by various birds and
mammals.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Fuels and flammability:  Sand shinnery oak range is described as
moderately volatile.  Sufficient grasses are generally present so that
fire can back through stands under cool conditions with relative
humidity of 50 to 60 percent, air temperature of 60 degrees F (16
degrees C), and winds of 5 to 10 miles per hour (8-16 km/hr).  However,
fires may occasionally go out under these conditions as they back
through sand shinnery oak.  Oak leaves serve as effective firebrands but
do not generally carry more than 50 feet (15 m) [50].

Prescribed fire:  Prescribed fire has been used effectively in sand
shinnery oak on sandy sites in eastern New Mexico, west Texas, and
western Oklahoma [49].  Wright reported that a 200-foot (61 m) fireline
is generally adequate for burning sand shinnery oak when relative
humidity is between 25 and 40 percent, air temperatures are 70 to 75
degrees F (21-24 degrees C), and wind speed is 5 to 10 miles per hour
(8-16 km/hr).  Where fine fuels average 2,000 to 4,000 pounds per acre
(367-735 kg/ha), satisfactory burns can be conducted under cooler
conditions.  Firelines should be burned when the relative humidity is
less than 50 percent, wind speed is less than 8 miles per hour (13
km/hr), and temperature is 45 to 65 degrees F (7-18 degrees C).  It is
important to burn at relatively high humidity to minimize danger from
oak leaf firebrands [50].

Wildlife considerations:  Acorns are generally not produced during the
first year after fire.  Fire can thus adversely affect the lesser
prairie chicken and wild turkey populations in the short-term [53].  For
best manipulation of mule deer habitat, burned patches of sand shinnery
oak should be widely distributed at distances more than 0.25 miles (0.4
km) apart.  Patches to be burned should be less than 5 acres (2 ha) and
allowed to grow for 10 to 12 years before being reburned.  Good results
have also been obtained by burning 50- to 100-acre (20-41 ha) patches
during December.  These patches should be reburned no oftener than every
4 years [4].

Forage production:  Increases in total grass yields of 300 pounds per
acre (55 kg/ha) have been reported on sand shinnery oak range after the
first postfire growing season [51].

Related categories for Species: Quercus havardii | Sand Shinnery Oak