Summary
In December 1981 a 2 ha site of 54-yr southern California chaparral was burned. A frequent species on this site wasAdenostoma sparsifolium. This shrub regenerates after fire with stump sprouting. The total fine root (diam. <1.0 mm) density of the matureA. sparsifolium stand was estimated to be 50–100 g m−2. This value was obtained in late summer. At this time fine root density in chaparral is at its lowest. In the growing season after the burn no signs for reduced fine root density were detected. Indeed, indications for a fire-enchanced flush of fine root growth were found.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Christensen N L and Muller C H 1975 Effects of fire on factors controlling plant growth inAdenostoma chaparral. Ecol. Monogr. 45, 29–55.
DeBano L F and Conrad C E 1978 The effect of fire on nutrients in a chaparral ecosystem. Ecology 59, 489–497.
DeBano L F, Eberlein G E and Dunn P H 1979 Effects of burning on chaparral soils: I. Soil nitrogen. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 43, 504–509.
Hanes T L 1965 Ecological studies on two closely related chaparral shrubs in southern California. Ecol. Monogr. 35, 213–235.
Jones M B and Laude H M 1960 Relationship between sprouting in chamise and the physiological condition of the plant. J. Range Manag. 13, 210–214.
Kummerow J, Avila G, Aljaro M E, Araya S and Montenegro M 1982 Effect of fertilizer on fine root density and shoot growth in Chilean matorral. Bot. Gazette 143, 498–504.
Kummerow J, Krause D and Jow W 1978 Seasonal changes of fine root density in the southern California chaparral. Oecologia 37, 201–212.
Kummerow J and Mangan R 1981 Root systems inQuercus dumosa Nutt. dominated chaparral in southern California. Acta Oecol. Oecol. Plant. 2 (16), 177–188.
Kummerow J, Montenegro G and Krause D 1981 Biomass phenology and growth.In Resource Use by Chaparral and Matorral: A Comparison of Vegetation Function in two Mediterranean Type Ecosystems. Ed. P C Miller. Ecological Studies 39, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp 69–96.
Mooney H A and Conrad C E Technical Coordinators 1977 Proceedings of the Symposium on the Environmental Consequences of Fire and Fuel Management in Mediterranean Ecosystems. Forest Service, USDA, Washington, DC, Palo Alto, California.
Persson H 1980 Spatial distribution of fine-root growth, mortality and decomposition in a young Scots pine stand in Central Sweden. Oikos 34, 77–87.
Persson H 1980 Fine root dynamics in a Scots pine stand with and without near-optimum nutrient and water regimes. Acta Phytogeographica Suecica 68, 101–110.
Persson H 1979 Fine-root production, mortality and decomposition in forest ecosystems. Vegetatio 41, 101–109.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kummerow, J., Lantz, R.K. Effect of fire on fine root density in red shank (Adenostoma sparsifolium Torr.) chaparral. Plant Soil 70, 347–352 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374891
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374891