Repeated use of prescribed fire in Southern US pine stands has the potential to alter litter quality as well as forest floor mineralization, which may reduce nutrient availability. There are few studies that have investigated the effects of prescribed fire on litter decomposition in stands with frequent, partial harvests. To better understand the effects of the long-term use of prescribed fire coupled with periodic harvesting, we monitored foliar litter mass loss and nutrient dynamics in three loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.)–shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.) stands located in southeastern Arkansas, USA. A reciprocal transplant method and the litterbag technique were used to determine the effects of litter source (litter quality) and litter location (environmental conditions) on decomposition. Long-term use of prescribed fire in periodically harvested stands had minimal influence on mass loss and nutrient dynamics. The proportion of foliar litter remaining after approximately 16 months did not significantly differ by litter source or location. Decay constants associated with litter incubated during the first 30 days of the study differed significantly by litter source, but thereafter were similar. Initial concentrations of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) were 13 to 22% greater for litter originating from the burn than for litter originating from the control treatment, but differences in nutrient concentrations were not found to alter decomposition or nutrient dynamics. Thirteen percent more K was lost from litter originating from the burn compared to litter originating from the control treatment, but losses of other nutrients did not differ between litter sources. Soil and forest floor environmental conditions did not differ between treatment locations, which likely contributed to the similar decomposition rates in the two treatment locations. The rapid growth of understory and the maintenance of similar canopy conditions as a result of harvesting were likely responsible for the similarity in environmental conditions. Repeated dormant season prescribed fire in these loblolly–shortleaf pine stands did not appear to have a substantial influence on mass loss or nutrient release from litter. Land managers who utilize prescribed fire with periodic harvesting in relatively mesic upper Gulf Coastal Plain pine forests likely will not alter litter decomposition or nutrient dynamics.

中文翻译：

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反复开火对不平均年龄的火炬松－短叶松林分解和养分释放的影响

在美国南部的松树林中重复使用规定的火势有可能改变垃圾质量以及林地矿化，这可能会减少养分的获取。很少有研究调查明火对频繁，部分收获的林分中凋落物分解的影响。为了更好地了解长期使用规定的火力和定期采伐的影响，我们监测了位于美国东南部阿肯色州。相互移植方法和垃圾袋技术用于确定垃圾源（垃圾质量）和垃圾位置（环境条件）对分解的影响。在定期收获的林分中长期使用规定的火种对质量损失和养分动态的影响最小。大约16个月后残留的叶面垃圾的比例因垃圾来源或位置而无明显差异。在研究的前30天内，与孵化的垫料相关的腐烂常数因垫料来源而有显着差异，但此后相似。源于烧伤的垫料的磷（P），钾（K），钙（Ca）和镁（Mg）的初始浓度比对照处理的垫料的初始浓度高13％至22％，但是养分浓度存在差异未发现会改变分解或营养动态。与对照组相比，烧伤引起的垫料损失的钾多了13％，但是其他营养物的损失在不同来源之间没有差异。处理地点之间的土壤和森林地面环境条件没有差异，这可能导致两个处理地点的分解速率相似。由于收获的原因，林下生长迅速并保持相似的树冠条件可能是环境条件相似的原因。在这些整枝短叶松林中，反复休眠的季节规定的着火似乎对质量损失或凋落物的养分释放没有实质性影响。在墨西哥湾沿岸平原上相对较贫瘠的松树林中，利用规定的火力进行定期采伐的土地管理者可能不会改变凋落物的分解或养分动态。处理地点之间的土壤和森林地面环境条件没有差异，这可能导致两个处理地点的分解速率相似。采伐导致林下树木的快速生长和类似树冠状况的维持可能是环境状况相似的原因。在这些整枝短叶松林中反复休眠的季节开火似乎对质量损失或凋落物的养分释放没有实质性影响。在墨西哥湾沿岸平原上相对较贫瘠的松树林中，利用规定的火力进行定期采伐的土地管理者可能不会改变凋落物的分解或养分动态。处理地点之间的土壤和森林地面环境条件没有差异，这可能导致两个处理地点的分解速率相似。采伐导致林下树木的快速生长和类似树冠状况的维持可能是环境状况相似的原因。在这些整枝短叶松林中，反复休眠的季节规定的着火似乎对质量损失或凋落物的养分释放没有实质性影响。土地管理人员在墨西哥湾沿岸平原上相对较肥沃的松树林中使用规定的火力并定期采伐，可能不会改变凋落物的分解或养分动态。这可能导致两个处理位置的分解速率相似。采伐导致林下树木的快速生长和类似树冠状况的维持可能是环境状况相似的原因。在这些整枝短叶松林中反复休眠的季节规定的着火似乎对质量损失或凋落物的养分释放没有实质性影响。土地管理人员在墨西哥湾沿岸平原上相对较肥沃的松树林中使用规定的火力并定期采伐，可能不会改变凋落物的分解或养分动态。这可能导致两个处理位置的分解速率相似。由于收获的原因，林下生长迅速并保持相似的树冠条件可能是环境条件相似的原因。在这些整枝短叶松林中，反复休眠的季节规定的着火似乎对质量损失或凋落物的养分释放没有实质性影响。土地管理人员在墨西哥湾沿岸平原上相对较肥沃的松树林中使用规定的火力并定期采伐，可能不会改变凋落物的分解或养分动态。在这些整枝短叶松林中，反复休眠的季节规定的着火似乎对质量损失或凋落物的养分释放没有实质性影响。在墨西哥湾沿岸平原上相对较贫瘠的松树林中，利用规定的火力进行定期采伐的土地管理者可能不会改变凋落物的分解或养分动态。在这些整枝短叶松林中，反复休眠的季节规定的着火似乎对质量损失或凋落物的养分释放没有实质性影响。土地管理人员在墨西哥湾沿岸平原上相对较肥沃的松树林中使用规定的火力并定期采伐，可能不会改变凋落物的分解或养分动态。