Forests 2017, 8(9), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/f8090353
Direct Seeding of Pinus halepensis Mill. for Recovery of Burned Semi-Arid Forests: Implications for Post-Fire Management for Improving Natural Regeneration
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Department of Agroforestry Technology and Science and Genetics, Higher Technical School of Agricultural and Forest Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Universitario s/n, CP 02071 Albacete, Spain
2
Renewable Energy Research Institute (Section of Environment and Forest Resources), University of Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Universitario s/n, CP 02071 Albacete, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editors: Xavier Úbeda and Victoria Arcenegui
Received: 20 June 2017 / Revised: 12 September 2017 / Accepted: 14 September 2017 / Published: 20 September 2017
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Post-Fire Management Activities on Forests)
Abstract
Background: In order to maximize the resiliency of Pinus halepensis in semiarid forests, we analyzed direct seeding methods to recover burned stands by simulating post-fire soil treatments. Methods: Seeding was done by installing spot seeding (100 seeds in a 50 × 50 cm plot), using five methods: (1) covering seeding with wood chips; (2) seeding in branch piles; (3) seeding along trunks on contour-felled logs (on the shaded side); (4) seeding next to grass (Stipa tenacissima); and (5) seeding on the bare ground (control). The experiment was replicated according to aspect (northern and southern aspects). The response variables were seed germination (%), and seedling survival after the summer (measured in autumn 2015 and 2016). Direct seeding was carried out in 32 plots with 160-spot seeding, and data were analyzed using general linear models, including nested random effects. Results: Wood chips as a surface-covering material represented the only treatment that significantly improved seed germination and seedling survival (by 12.4%, and 17.4 seedlings m−2 in year 2, respectively) compared with the control in the two topographic aspects. Conclusions: Covering seeding with wood chips, and thus chipping wood within the burned stand, form a recommended post-fire treatment to improve regeneration in Pinus halepensis semiarid stands. View Full-Text
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García-Morote, F.A.; Martínez-García, E.; Andrés-Abellán, M.; Caballero, E.R.; Miettinen, H.; López-Serrano, F.R. Direct Seeding of Pinus halepensis Mill. for Recovery of Burned Semi-Arid Forests: Implications for Post-Fire Management for Improving Natural Regeneration. Forests 2017, 8, 353.
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