Funded Project Detail

Project ID: 11-3-1-21

Year: 2011

Date Started: 08/01/2011

Ending Date:  09/30/2013

Title: The Influence of Prescribed Fire and Understory Fuels Mastication on Soil Carbon Respiration Rates

Project Proposal Abstract: The understanding of soil carbon dynamics in forested systems has increased in importance as global climate change discussions recognize the key role forest soils play in global carbon cycles. The majority of carbon sequestered in most forested systems lies within the soils, with soil carbon respiration comprising a significant portion of total ecosystem carbon budgets. One method for assessing how management affects forest carbon dynamics is the measurement of soil carbon respiration rates. A variety of forest management activities, including prescribed fire, have been shown to significantly influence soil carbon respiration rates in the Western United States, yet these relationships are not well known in southern forests. Prescribed fire is the most prevalent forest management tool employed in the Southeastern US, and mechanical fuels mastication treatments are becoming more common in the region as concerns over smoke in the wildland urban interface grow. This study seeks to understand the influence of prescribed fire management regimes and mechanical fuels mastication treatments on soil carbon respiration rates in the flatwoods forest of the Osceola National Forest, representing the most common natural forest type in Florida.

Principal Investigator: Leda N. Kobziar

Agency/Organization: University of Florida

Branch or Dept: School of Forest Resources & Conservation

There is no final report available for this project.

Other Project Collaborators

Type	Name	Agency/Organization	Branch or Dept
Budget Contact	Brian X. Prindle	University of Florida	Office of Research
Co-Principal Investigator	David R. Godwin	University of Florida	School of Forest Resources & Conservation
Grants and Agreements Contact	Brian X. Prindle	University of Florida	Office of Research

Project Locations

Level	State	Agency	Unit
STATE	FL	FS	Osceola National Forest

Project Deliverables

Type		Description	Citation
	Conference/Symposia/Workshop	Preliminary research results booklet from the 2011 field workshop held in the Osceola National Forest in collaboration with the USDA Forest Service, University of Florida Fire Science Lab, Southern Fire Exchange, Joint Fire Science Program, and the Conserved Forest Ecosystems Outreach and Research Cooperative.
	Poster	Poster presentation from the University of Florida School of Forest Resources and Conservation Spring Forestry Symposium.

Supporting Documents

There are no supporting documents available for this project.

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