Some Slashburning Effects on Soil and Trees in British Columbia

Studies on slashburning effects in British Columbia have yielded a range ofresults. On some sites, fire effects on soil temperatures or competing vegetation may account for better tree growth on burned than unburned areas. In some cases, short-term effects on browse damage may temporarily obscure long-term effects on height growth. Slashburning effects on tree nutrient status vary between study areas, but significant impairment ofnutrition as a result ofburning, which has been inferredin the centralinterior, was notfoundin coastalstudies. On some coastalstudysites,post-burning VA mycorrhizal colonization and several soil and foliar nutrient variables are related to one or more of: fire severity class, residual duff thickness, consumption offine and medium fuels, and change in mineral soil exposure. However, it is notyet known whether such relationships apply at other locations.