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nutrients left in ash after burning. In addition, the 

 removal of vegetation by severe fire results in 

 proportional lack of plant roots to utilize fire-released 

 nutrients as well as the normal load of available 

 nutrients. Even so, severe fires may not deplete forest 

 nutrients as much as was once thought. Earlier 

 literature (prior to 1952) was generally unfavorable 

 toward the use of fire, while research since 1970 has 

 indicated that most fires have relatively little effect 

 on forest soil properties. Some research has indicated 

 possible beneficial effects such as increased soil 

 nutrients . 



This annotated bibliography was designed to include 

 references to published literature relating to prescribed 

 burning and subsequent effects on forest soils. Because 

 of the large quantity of literature now available on the 

 subject, a review format could not clearly convey 

 individual research results. Major journals in forestry, 

 soils, and ecology written in the English language were 

 covered in the search, as well as USDA Experiment Station 

 publications. Abstracts in Soils and Fertilizers were 

 also covered. A subject index to entry number is 

 included for specific topic reference. Entries include 

 related materials since 1951, subsequent to a 

 bibliography compiled by Metz (1952). 



