Effects of prescribed fire on a drought-stressed Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides) stand

Abstract

A small stand of drought-stressed Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides) near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, was surveyed before and after a prescribed fire. A headfire in grass understorey fuel caused near complete mortality of established stems and of all aspen saplings. In the second and third years post-fire, only limited establishment of saplings was observed. Woody encroachment by aspen into grassland is challenging to control in the Aspen Parkland ecoregion; our results indicate that combining prescribed burning with secondary stress from drought conditions can enhance the fire effects