Effects of Fire and Mechanical Treatment on Cercocarpus montanus and Ribes cereum

Abstract

Effects of fire and of clipping stems at ground level on the quantity and quality of production (current annual growth) of true mountainmahogany (Cercocarpus montanus Raf.) and squaw currant (Ribes cereum Dougl.) were studied. For both plant species, treatments applied during the dormant season, and especially fire treatments, were more effective in increasing production than were treatments during the growing season. Dormant season burning increased production by 200 to 900% for at least 2 years. As production increased due to treatment effects, the concentrations of crude protein, phosphorus, and calcium decreased slightly in current annual growth of squaw currant. Similar, but nonsignificant trends were noted for crude protein and phosphorus in current annual growth of true mountainmahogany.