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Project ID: 04-2-1-49

Year: 2004

Date Started: 08/31/2004

Date Completed: 01/09/2007

Title: Litter and Duff Bulk Densities in the Southern United States

Project Proposal Abstract: The organic layer (litter and duff) in forest, shrub, and grasslands can represent the bulk of the fuels consumed during wildland fires in southern ecosystems; it is imperative that organic layer depth measurements can be converted to mass as managers often measure the depth of the litter and organic duff layers. In order to convert depth measurements to mass, a bulk density is required for each layer. Also, the DMM600 Duff Moisture Meter developed through collaboration between Campbell Scientific, Inc. and the USDA, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station and Missoula Technology and Development Center measures volumetric moisture of forest floor materials. These volumetric moisture contents can be converted to gravimetric moisture content if duff bulk density values are known. Organic layer mass and duff moisture are critical variables when estimating fuel consumption and potential fire effects such as tree and shrub mortality, and smoke production during wildland fire. Some field research has been conducted to quantify organic layer bulk densities in the southeastern part of the United States, although it has generally been limited to less productive sand pine and sand hill sites at Eglin Air Force Base. The objective of this research proposal is to quantify bulk density for litter and duff layers in 6) forest, shrub, and grassland fuelbed types. The data will be compiled and analyzed to provide bulk density values for use in specific vegetation types.

Principal Investigator: Roger D. Ottmar

Agency/Organization: Forest Service

Branch or Dept: PNW-Seattle-Managing Natural Disturbances

Other Project Collaborators

Type	Name	Agency/Organization	Branch or Dept
Co-Principal Investigator	Clinton S. Wright	Forest Service	PNW-Seattle-Managing Natural Disturbances
Federal Cooperator	Roger D. Ottmar	Forest Service	PNW-Seattle-Managing Natural Disturbances

Project Locations

Consortium

South

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Project Deliverables

Final Report ("Results presented in JFSP Final Reports may not have been peer-reviewed and should be interpreted as tentative until published in a peer-reviewed source.")

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Supporting Documents

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