Effects of cool season prescribed fire on understory vegetation in a mixed pine hardwood forest of east Texas

Response of understory woody and herbaceous vegetation to late winter fire was evaluated in an upland Pinus taeda L. (loblolly pine) mixed hardwood forest within Mission Tejas State Park in east Texas. Understory woolly plants, which regenerated following the first fire were hardwood species less than 3 m tall. pine regeneration was scarce. After a second late winter fire, all understory woody stems decreased in number. After two growing seasons following the second fin, more stems were present than pre-treatment. Regeneration was primarily hardwoods sprouting from perennial rootstocks. Also, woody vine and herbaceous cover increased during the two growing season post-fire period. Little change in composition and numbers of species occurred in the control plots during the study period. Analyses revealed a decrease in hardwood stems and a significant decrease in pine. Low pine regeneration may have been due to drought, poor seed crop and hardwood competition during the study. Results suggest that infrequent cool season fire favors hardwood regeneration in upland pine/hardwood communities.