Influence of Mixed Conifer Forest Thinning and Prescribed Fire on Soil Temperature and Moisture Dynamics in Proximity to Forest Logs: A Case Study in New Mexico, USA

Forest management activities often include fuels reduction through mechanized thinning followed by prescribed fire to remove slash. Management prescriptions may the retention of logs for wildlife habitat and microsites enhanced tree regeneration. We examined aboveground microclimate belowground soil temperature volumetric water content (VWC) dynamics beneath adjacent at 10, 20, 30 cm depths in a mixed conifer forest. assessed variables over 7 years during pre-treatment, post-thinning, post-fire using Before–After/Control–Impact experimental design. found that burning caused large increases solar radiation mean maximum wind speeds, but only small changes air humidity. The treatments increased temperatures up 2.7 °C spring, summer, fall; VWC from 0.05 0.08 m3/m3 year-round 20 depths. Microsites 1–2 m away also showed 3.6 fall, while measurements produced variable results (moderate decreases). late winter/spring likely resulted reduced plant transpiration greater snow amounts reaching ground without being intercepted forest canopy. Log on thinned burned sites provided with moisture top cm, which can enhance ecosystem processes provide refugia invertebrate vertebrate wildlife.