Prescribed Burning Effects on Total Nonstructural Carbohydrates of Roughleaf Dogwood

Abstract

phenological growth stage and evaluate effects of late-spring (-May 1) prescribed burning on TNC concentrations. Root samples were collected at 2week intervals from burned and unburned experimental plots at two locations during the 1983 and 1984 growing seasons. The low point in the TNC cycle occurred at the full-leaf stage of development, followed by increasing concentrations between the full-leaf and full-bloom stages. A second period of increasing root TNC levels occurred during seed development. Maximum TNC levels in roughleaf dogwood occurred 1 to 2 months before the average freeze date, then declined in the late season after seed maturation. Root TNC concentrations of burned plants in both years were reduced on several sampling dates compared with those of unburned plants. The low point in TNC concentration was delayed 30 to 60 days for plants on the burned sites. Reduced root TNC levels were evident in 1984 when plants in plots burned only in 1983 were compared with those in unburned plots. Burning for 2 consecutive years reduced TNC levels of roughleaf dogwood more than burning for 1 year, delaying the low point until July. Root TNC levels had recovered completely when plants entered dormancy in the fall. Effects of late-spring burning on TNC levels may be useful for developing systems of integrated (burning + herbicide) brush management.