Postfire regeneration ofPinus halepensisMiller in a semi-arid area in Albacete province (southeastern Spain)

Abstract

Natural regeneration of Pinus halepensis Mill. was studied for the first three years after fire in a semi-arid area of southeastern Spain. In order to establish the main periods of emergence and seedling mortality, 465 seedlings were labelled in ten permanent 50 m² plots. The results showed that pine recolonization was accomplished during the first 21 months after fire. No new seedling was detected after that time. P. halepensis seedling mortality after the first post-germination summer ranged between 14.94% and 47.35%. After the second post-germination year, the increase of seedling mortality rate was not always lower than that recorded after the first year. Seedling density decreased from 0.66 seedling/m², 9 months after fire, to 0.24 seedling/m², 39 months after fire. This density should be high enough to guarantee the persistence of the pine forest in the burnt area.