Long-term effects of single prescribed fires on hardwood regeneration in oak shelterwood stands

▶ A single prescribed fire can have long-lasting effects that are still present a decade later. ▶ Season-of-burn, fire intensity, and their interaction are major factors determining which hardwood species dominate a site postfire. ▶ Hickory and oak saplings dominate areas that experienced a medium- or high-intensity fire during the spring or summer. ▶ Red maple and yellow-poplar dominate unburned areas as well as areas that experienced a low-intensity fire in any season. ▶ No species clearly dominates areas that experienced medium- or high-intensity fire during the winter. ▶ Using prescribed fire in conjunction with shelterwood harvesting and with crop tree management as a follow-up practice appear to be an effective means of regenerating oak stands on productive upland sites.