Secondary brush species (found as minor components of the climax community and those from lower seral stages) have increased after most prescribed burns on the Edwards Plateau of Texas. Originally, most of this area was dominated by Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei). Line and belt transects were used to estimate brush canopy cover and density on 4 soil series located on 5 topographical positions in untreated, tree dozed, and tree dozed plus prescribed burn areas. Total canopy cover and density were not correlated with time following dozing (13, 16, or 18 years) or burning (8, 9, 10, 12, 13, or 14 years). Recovery of brush canopy cover to untreated levels was dependent on the topographical location and treatment. Total brush canopy cover was not different (P lesser than or equal to 0.05) among untreated, dozed, and dozed plus burned treatments on the Speck soil series occurring on the plateau tops. However, brush canopy cover was reduced by burning on soil series occurring on the sideslopes (Oplin and Brackett variant series) and drainages. Species composition was altered with Ashe juniper being reduced approximately 80% on dozed plus burned areas. Flameleaf sumac did not occur on untreated areas but comprised an average of 38% of the woody cover on all burned areas. Other secondary brush species increased, the amount depending on the topographical position. Future management may have to include spot treatment on upland soil series where secondary brush species quickly increase. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.