FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Pinus echinata | Shortleaf Pine 



IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT : 
Mature shortleaf pine is killed by high-severity crown fires, but
withstands low- to moderate-severity surface fires [9,23].  Shortleaf
pine is most susceptible to fire in the first 6 to 10 years after
establishment [1].  Seedlings up to 5 feet (1.5 m) tall are usually
top-killed, and saplings often suffer bark char, needle scorch, or
needle consumption [23].  Seeds in the duff will be killed by fire [42].

Shortleaf pine mortality from fire is dependent on the degree of crown
scorch, basal damage, and season of fire.  After a summer fire, there
was 60 percent mortality of shortleaf pines of any size that had
complete crown scorch combined with extensive basal damage.  After a
winter fire, less than 50 percent died from similar injuries.  If basal
damage was not extensive but crown scorch complete, there was 30 percent
mortality from the summer fire [12].  Trees greater than 5 feet (1.5 m)
tall seldom die if less than 70 percent of the crown is scorched [42].

Because of thick bark, basal injury is not common.  In areas with
frequent fire, only 11 percent of shortleaf pine showed basal injury
[14].


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT : 
NO-ENTRY


PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE : 
Sprouting:  Seedlings and saplings top-killed by fire will sprout from
dormant buds at the root collar.  Sprouting is not as consistent in
trees larger than 8 feet (2.4 m) tall [14].  There are usually 4 to 8
new sprouts per tree, but as many as 70 sprouts where fires are frequent
[42].  The sprouts grow 1 to 2 feet (30-61 cm) in the first year.
Multiple sprouts act as a firebreak for the central leader.  When the
leaders are 3 to 4 feet (1-1.2 m) tall they can survive defoliation by
fire as long as the terminal leaders are not charred.  Many of the
sprouts die back when the leader is no longer affected by fire [20].

A well-developed basal stem crook protects dormant buds in seedlings.
In a study in which 100 shade-grown 1-year-old shortleaf pine seedlings
were subject to a prescribed fire, 33 percent with no basal crook
sprouted, 39 percent with a slight basal crook sprouted, 81 percent with
a well-developed basal crook sprouted, and 93 percent with a very
well-developed basal crook sprouted [28].  Garren [14] found 56 percent
of shortleaf seedlings survive by sprouting.

Growth:  Crown scorch usually results in growth losses in young trees.
Diameter growth rate of shortleaf pine decreased as much as 75 percent
after one fire [14].  In older trees, there is no growth loss if there
is little or no needle scorch [23].  Trees 4 to 10 inches (10-25 cm)
d.b.h.  continue to grow at normal rates after severe groundfire, even
if the crowns are scorched [20].  Yocum [46] found light to moderate
summer fires had no effect on the growth of 60-year-old shortleaf pines
in Arkansas.  If trees are not damaged and hardwood and herbaceous
competition is eliminated, pine growth will inrcease.

Reproduction:  Seeds released from on- and off-site sources will
germinate in the soil exposed by fire.


DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE : 
NO-ENTRY


FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Fire is important to shortleaf pine management.  Fire effectively
prepares the necessary seedbed for shortleaf pine regeneration and can
be used to control competing hardwoods [42].  Fire may not be
beneficial, however, in areas where competing hardwoods sprout
vigorously after fire.  A controlled fire on the Cumberland Plateau in
Kentucky resulted in a greater number of hardwood stems and made
regeneration of shortleaf pine almost impossible [44].  Ferguson [13]
concluded that an ideal fire in which hardwoods are killed and pines are
not killed may be unattainable.

In some areas, fire has been effective in controlling hardwoods.  In the
Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas, 3 consecutive years of summer fires
reduced the number of 5.5 inch (14 cm) d.b.h. and smaller hardwood stems
[46].  In upland New Jersey and in the Piedmont, light fires at 5-year
intervals are recommended as soon as the young pines are able to
withstand fire [9,27].  In the Piedmont, however, understory vegetation
and litter are often too moist to carry fire [9].  In eastern Texas, a
headfire during the growing season with a followup fire to control the
hardwood sprouts resulted in at least temporary control of hardwood
stems less than 1.5 inches (4 cm) d.b.h. and negligible mortality of
greater than 4 inch (10 cm) d.b.h. shortleaf pines [13].

If fire occurs 5 years after establishment, shortleaf pine will have an
edge over loblolly pine because of shortleaf pine's ability to sprout.
Loblolly will overtake shortleaf, however, if fire intervals are 10
years or more [45].  Shortleaf pine sprouts that start from seedlings or
saplings have good form and can produce commercial timber [28].  In a
mixed hardwood-pine forest, fire more frequent than every 10 years can
eliminate or decrease shortleaf pine [14].

Fire-damaged trees are more susceptible to insect infestation [24].
Southern pine beetle attack on shortleaf pine is aided or induced by
fire [4].  Fire should not be prescribed in shortleaf pine stands that
are habitat for the federally endangered red-cockaded woodpecker if
southern pine beetles are present.  A stand infected with littleleaf
disease should not be burned because fire will destroy the organic
material necessary for soil build-up [42].

Related categories for Species: Pinus echinata | Shortleaf Pine