Post-burn study of herbaceous understory plots at Jacobs Branch and Devils Den burn sites, 1992

Establishment and maintenance of pitch pine/hardwood ecosystems in the southern Appalachians depends on intense wildfire. These ecosystems typically have a substantial evergreen shrub component (Kalmia latifolia) which limits regeneration of future overstory species. Wildfires provide microsite conditions conducive to pine regeneration and reduce Kalmia competition. Recent droughts in the region have resulted in significant acreages of southern pine beetle killed pine/hardwood stands. Site conditions are amenable to the high intensity fires needed to regenerate pine; however, fire suppression limits the role of wildfire in these ecosystems. Research shows that pines will not regenerate in the absence of severe disturbance, such as a high intensity fire, and mixed pine/hardwood ecosystem will not be maintained. On three sites in the southern Appalachians, stands characterized by sparse overstories and dense Kalmia latifolia L. shrub layers were felled in early summer and burned in early fall. Amounts of aboveground vegetation and forest floor mass, nitrogen (N), and carbon (C) were measured before and after treatment by sampling wood, foliage, herbs, grasses, and forest floor (Oi and Oe + Oa layers). This data set constitutes the post-burn study of herbaceous understory plots at Jacobs Branch and Devil's Den burn sites, 1992.