Effects of Prescribed Fire on Soil Health in a Mixed Forest Stand in Portage County, WI USA
Soil Science and Land Management Ryan Winter
Prescribed fire is a common forest management practice used to reduce fuel loads and sustain ecosystem processes, but its effects on soil health vary widely among forest types due to variations in soil properties and burn intensity. This study investigated how prescribed burning affects soil health in a mixed forest stand in Portage County, WI. In October 2025, samples were collected from 30 plots across burned and unburned areas of a stand managed on a three-year burn cycle, last burned in 2023. At each plot, a soil core and topsoil sample were collected, and topsoil depth was recorded. Laboratory analyses included bulk density, soil organic matter, pH, and electrical conductivity. Soil organic carbon stock was estimated using topsoil depth, soil organic matter, and bulk density. Prescribed fire produced a marginal decrease in organic carbon stock (p=0.0575) and increase in pH (p=0.0585). These responses likely reflect the low-intensity nature of the burn, limited fuel consumption, and relatively short fire return interval, all of which minimize combustion of organic material and nutrient volatilization. Because the most recent fire occurred two years before sampling, partial recovery of soil properties may also contribute to the marginal differences between treatments. These findings suggest that well-managed prescribed fire can achieve fuel reduction and forest health goals with minimal short-term impact on soil health, supporting its role as a sustainable management practice in mixed forest stands. Continued monitoring across burn cycles is recommended to assess longer-term effects.
Advisors: Bryant Scharenbroch, Ph.D.
Subject Area: Soil Science
Type: Poster
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UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources
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