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Abstract

The Effects of Prescribed Burning on the Viability of Armillaria ostoyae in the Soil of a Mixed-Conifer Forest in the Blue Mountains, Oregon
by L. Erve (Oregon State University)

The main objectives of this field study were to evaluate the influence of, separately and simultaneously, prescribed burn, depth of soil, inoculation of the antagonistic Trichoderma harzianum Rifai, and the changes over time since prescribed burning on the viability of Armillaria ostovae (Romagnesi) Herink in the soil of a mixed-conifer forest in the Blue Mountains, Oregon.

The research area was divided into six blocks. Prescribed burns were conducted over the entire unit or in plots only. The viability of A. ostoyae was determined as the percent recovery of A. ostoyae from isolation attempts.

Prescribed burning in the fall significantly reduced the recovery of A. ostoyae from. the 8 cm soil depth but not from the 30 cm soil depth immediately following the burn. Adding Trichoderma inoculum to the soil caused no apparent reduction of A. ostoyae recovery immediately after the fire. The possible changes in soil induced by prescribed burning as they affect A. ostoyae recovery were also addressed. The effect of Trichoderma might occur several months or years after a prescribed burn. Differences between fall and spring prescribed burns may exist. The difficulty of performing prescribed burns on public land was also discussed.