Fire-induced water repellency in forest soils of upper Michigan

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Abstract
As prescribed burning becomes more widely used in wildlife and forest management, the effects of fire on ecosystems must be considered. Soils on 53 burned sites in the upper peninsula of Michigan were examined for fire-induced water repellency. The development of water repellency was fire related with over 40% of the burned soils showing at least some water-repellent properties. Most water-repellent layers occurred in the upper 5 cm of mineral soil and were related to burn intensity. Laboratory burning experiments with 10 hardwood and conifer litters showed that white pine, red pine and quaking aspen litter produced water repellency in underlying mineral soil. Repellency was also found on unburned sites, particularly under aspen. Water-repellent soils were widely distributed, but their nonwettable properties generally decreased rapidly over time. Fire-induced water repellency does not appear to present a major long-term management problem on most soils in this region. On certain burned sites, water repellency may influence seedling survival and subsequent stand establishment.